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We ship within Japan, and to your hotel.

Guida

Can you ship sake or Iga beef outside Japan?

Shipping alcohol out of Japan needs an export licence for liquor wholesalers, which we are still obtaining. Until then we cannot send it abroad. Meat cannot leave Japan under animal quarantine rules, and it cannot be left at a hotel. Japanese addresses only. Sweets, seasonings and drinkware ship to the countries listed below. The list and the rates come from the same settings the checkout charges from.

Updated 24 August 2026

What can go abroad today?

What we can ship, and where
Kind of productAddress in JapanYour hotel in JapanOverseasTransit
Sake (5 items)YesSome items (3/5)Not Hoshinami Awaboshi Sparkling, 300ml, Akari Nigori Yukiakari, 720mlNot yet2–4 working days
Iga beef (3 items)YesNoNo3–6 working days
Sets (2 items)YesSome items (1/2)Not An Evening in Iga: Iga beef sirloin with junmai daiginjoNot yet2–6 working days
Pantry & seasonings (1 item)YesYesYesAU, DE, FR, GB, HK, SG, TW, US2–4 working days
Sweets (1 item)YesYesYesAU, DE, FR, GB, HK, SG, TW, US2–4 working days
  • Hotels store parcels at room temperature, so chilled and frozen items can't go there.
  • We can't ship alcohol overseas yet; the export licence is in progress. Items without alcohol can be sent abroad today.
  • Meat is delivered to Japanese addresses only — no hotels, no overseas.

For overseas delivery, duties and local taxes are paid by the recipient.

The product page is authoritative for any single item.

This table is generated from the shipping settings. Alcohol reads "not yet" while the export licence is pending; when the setting changes, this table, the product pages and the feeds change with it. Shipping alcohol out of Japan needs an export licence for liquor wholesalers, which we are still obtaining. Until then we cannot send it abroad.

Which countries do you ship to?

Countries we can send alcohol-free items to
Country or regionCode
AustraliaAU
GermanyDE
FranceFR
United KingdomGB
Hong KongHK
SingaporeSG
TaiwanTW
United StatesUS

The list follows Japan Post's country conditions and the routes we have actually seen a parcel arrive on. If a country is not on the list, we cannot send there.

What does overseas shipping cost?

A flat rate per region. The table below is generated from the shipping settings, so it is the same figure the payment screen confirms. Duty and local taxes are not included.

Domestic shipping (examples)
ZoneFee
Anywhere in Japan¥990

Chilled and frozen items add a cold-chain charge of ¥330. Domestic shipping is free on orders over ¥15,000.

Overseas shipping (examples)
ZoneFeeCountries
Asia¥3,200SG · HK · TW
Oceania¥4,200AU
Europe¥5,400GB · DE · FR
North America¥5,600US

Who pays customs duty and local tax?

The recipient pays, on arrival (DDU). We do not collect duty in advance, and the carrier or the customs authority bills it when the parcel lands. Rates depend on the item and the destination, so we cannot quote the amount beforehand — and it can be higher than people expect.

Import treatment by destination (as of September 2026 — verify before you rely on it)
DestinationLow-value reliefAlcoholNotes
United StatesSuspended (2026)Direct-to-consumer alcohol is restricted by state lawDuty applies even on small parcels
EU (Germany, France)€150 relief endedAlways excise + VAT€3 flat duty per declaration
United KingdomCollection changes at £135Always excise + VATImport VAT applies
AustraliaGST under A$1,000Always taxed — outside the thresholdFood is subject to biosecurity checks
SingaporeGST on low-value imports tooHigh excise on alcoholGST charged on import
Hong KongGenerally no import duty0% on drinks at or below 30% ABVThe easiest destination we ship to
TaiwanSmall-value allowanceImport permit requiredSome prefectures of origin are restricted

We never use the words "tax-free". That scheme applies to goods handed over in a shop and carried out of the country by a traveller; mail order is outside it. Prices include Japanese consumption tax. Export tax exemption is not yet available. An overseas order is charged the same tax-inclusive price.

When will alcohol ship abroad?

The tax office takes roughly two months to review an export licence for liquor wholesalers, and two to three months including the paperwork. The moment it is granted, this page and the product pages change together.

Until then there are two ways round it for people living outside Japan: send the bottle to a friend or relative at a Japanese address, or have it delivered to your hotel while you are visiting. Both work today.

Why can't beef leave Japan?

Sending meat by international post is not permitted under animal quarantine rules. Exports run only through commercial routes with an approved facility, a health certificate and the destination country's import conditions — none of which a parcel to a private address can satisfy.

International post also cannot hold a cold chain. Iga beef is delivered to addresses inside Japan only, and not to hotels, which store parcels at room temperature.

Questions

Can I use a forwarding service?
We can deliver to a Japanese forwarding address. Be aware that most forwarders restrict alcohol and none of them handle meat, so check their terms first. We cannot take responsibility for what happens after the parcel leaves that address.
What does overseas shipping cost?
One rate per region — the figures are in the table above, under "What does overseas shipping cost?". Duty and local taxes are not included; the recipient pays those on arrival.
What if a bottle arrives broken?
Send us photographs of the outer box and the contents within seven days of delivery and we will replace it or refund you. The same applies to overseas orders.

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If your question is not here, email us. info@guida.jp

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