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Links Information
Post Office
http://www.post.yusei.go.jp/english/index.html Gaijin Pot - This site offers useful links to most shipping companies:
http://www.gaijinpot.com/shipping.php U.S. Transportation Security Authotity (TSA) - Travelers guide for carry-on baggage, prohibited items, etc. http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/index.shtm Excess baggage - Most airline sites can give you information, but one example is:
http://www.britishairways.com/travel/baggag/public/en_gb The Excess Baggage Company doesn't offer door to door shipping but has useful info:
http://www.excess-baggage.com/ Some companies handle excess or unaccompanied baggage, Jetta Express is one example:
http://www.jetta.com.au
Other Shipping Sites Japan Express http://www.japanexpress.co.jp/e/moving/index.html Nippon Express http://www2.nittsu.co.jp/rem/nhp/html/english/index.html Pakmail http://pakmail.co.jp/en/ Japan Luggage Express Ltd. http://www.jluggage.com Economove Japan Co Ltd. (Economove apparently offers a 5% discount to those who use the "jetsetjapan" website.) http://www.economovejapan.com OCS Japan Pack Service http://www.tabit-usa.com/e/index-etc-ocn.htm
Things to bear in mind when sending stuff home You may need - bubble wrap/newspaper, very strong tape, scissors, permanent marker, strong boxes (try supermarkets or buy at the PO). You cannot send - firearms, explosives, fireworks, weapons, fresh food, drugs, soil or plants, obscene materials, ammunition, goods for resale. Label your boxes, and keep your own lists of what is in each (numbered) box. Have an estimate of the boxes' value and insure things that you are worried about. Have prescriptions for any medicines. Keep non duty free goods on a separate list. List serial numbers of goods that have them.
The Post Office charges around ￥10,000 to ship a 20kg box DOOR TO DOOR. This is the maximum weight per box. There are also some restrictions on the size of your suitcase or box, so please check this with your post office. You can get special packaging for books from the post office, called tokubetsu yutai insatsubutsu, that you can send for the cheaper printed matter rate. Many shipping companies DON'T deliver door-to-door, so extra charges may mount up. You would also need to consider how you would get your baggage to and from the ports. Shipping companies don't charge by weight, but by volume (minimum is one cubic metre) so it's usually only worth it if you have more than 100kg to send. The exceptions are odd shaped or fragile items. If you intend to ship a car, be careful how you go about it. It may take a considerable amount of time to organise before departure, and even once it arrives in your home country. There are formalities such as customs inspections to get through which can take up to 6 months.
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