A complete relocation hub for anyone moving to Japan — whether you are relocating for work, joining family, retiring or moving a household internationally for the first time. Costs, shipping, visas, customs, housing, schools, pets and vehicles in one place.
Transit depends heavily on your origin — the trans-Pacific lane from the US West Coast is one of the shortest in the world, while European and Middle Eastern origins take considerably longer. Either way, Japanese delivery is where the budget goes: containers are devanned at a depot and shuttled into cities by small truck.
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Quick facts
Indicative planning benchmarks for an international household move — not a quotation.
Typical moving cost
from $5,000
Door-to-door benchmark, 20ft container entry point
Typical transit time
4–6 weeks
Ocean freight transit varies by origin — for example, 12–16 days from US West Coast ports to Yokohama or Kobe, and longer from Europe and the Middle East
Cost of living
$$$
Tokyo is the highest-cost hub
Key visa routes
Engineer / Specialist in Humanities · Highly Skilled Professional
Intra-Company Transferee · Spouse of Japanese National
Customs difficulty
Moderate
Japan Customs (Zeikan) grants relief on Form C-5360 — Declaration of Accompanied/Unaccompanied Articles, filed within 6 months of arrival, but the paperwork must be complete before arrival.
Major arrival cities
Tokyo · Yokohama · Osaka
Tokyo Haneda (HND) · Tokyo Narita (NRT) · Osaka Kansai (KIX)
Plan
Overview
How households actually arrive in Japan: where they move from, how their goods travel, and what customs and tax treatment to expect.
Customs treatment depends on your origin as much as on Japan — see the origin selector below.
| Household | Volume | Usual shipping option |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / partial load | 3–5 CBM | LCL groupage or luggage express |
| 1-bedroom apartment | 8–12 CBM | LCL consolidated groupage |
| 2-bedroom home | 18–22 CBM | 20ft sole-use container |
| 3-bedroom home | 28–32 CBM | 20ft high-cube or 40ft container |
| 4+ bedroom home | 45–60 CBM | 40ft high-cube container |
Japan Customs (Zeikan) grants relief on Form C-5360 — Declaration of Accompanied/Unaccompanied Articles, filed within 6 months of arrival, but the paperwork must be complete before arrival. Required registration: Customs Form C-5360.
Household goods entering Japan are in principle liable to import duty and 10% import VAT. Unaccompanied Articles Declaration (Customs Form C-5360) is the relief that removes that charge for genuine transfers of residence, filed with Japan Customs (Zeikan). New purchases, goods owned for less than the qualifying period, alcohol, tobacco and vehicles are assessed separately and are the most common source of unexpected charges.
Shipments arriving from the United States are treated as a third-country import into Japan. Relief from duty and the 10% import VAT normally depends on Form C-5360 — Declaration of Accompanied/Unaccompanied Articles, filed within 6 months of arrival filed with Japan Customs (Zeikan), evidence that you lived in the United States for the required qualifying period, and an itemised inventory. Documentation issued in the United States (proof of address, visa, ownership records) is what customs will ask for.
| Shipping option | Typical volume | Indicative cost | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean LCL (shared container)Partial household moves and apartment shipments | Under 14 CBM | $35 – $90 / CBM ($1,500 minimum) | 3 – 8 weeks |
| Ocean FCL — 20ft container1–3 bedroom full household moves | 14 – 33 CBM | $2,500 – $13,000 per container | 3 – 8 weeks (EU) / 6 – 10 weeks (Oceania) |
| Ocean FCL — 40ft container3–5 bedroom moves plus vehicle transport | 33 – 67 CBM | $4,000 – $19,000 per container | 3 – 8 weeks (EU) / 6 – 10 weeks (Oceania) |
| Air freight (expedited)High-value gear and time-critical relocations | Any — charged by weight | $2.50 – $8.50 / kg | 3 – 7 days |
Price
Households typically budget from $5,000 door-to-door for a container move, with the final figure set by volume, service level and season. Use the estimator for a route-specific range.
Volume in cubic metres is the single largest driver — decluttering before survey is the cheapest saving available.
Port-to-port, partial pack and full door-to-door packing differ by thousands on the same load.
Narrow streets, stairs and permit parking in Tokyo can require a shuttle vehicle and extra crew.
May to September sailings and vans book out first and price highest; shoulder months are materially cheaper.
Terminal handling, Japan Customs (Zeikan) inspection, quarantine and storage are billed to you and are usually excluded from headline freight rates.
We're building detailed benchmarks for the world's most-used relocation corridors, so you get your move size, recommended shipping method and a realistic door-to-door cost before you request quotes. If your route isn't benchmarked yet, we generate a modelled planning estimate from distance, volume and service level.
Estimated moving cost range
A realistic low-to-high bracket for your route
Recommended shipping method
Shared container, full container or air freight
Typical transit time
How long your belongings are likely to travel
About 2 minutes · No account required · No obligation
This is an estimated relocation cost for planning purposes, not a binding quote. Final pricing is confirmed by a vetted international moving partner after a survey.
Plan
High-level educational overview of the residence routes most relocating households use. This is not legal or immigration advice.
Most commonly used by: Professionals, Families.
Educational information, not legal advice. Immigration rules, thresholds and processing times change frequently and depend on your nationality and circumstances. Confirm current requirements with the Japan immigration authority or a qualified adviser before you commit to a moving date.
Execute
Japanese leases commonly require key money, a guarantor and several months of deposit, so most arriving families use serviced accommodation for the first weeks while a bilingual agent secures a lease.
Find furnished temporary housing through our AltoVita partnership.
MyExpatGo helps connect you with temporary housing options. Availability is subject to AltoVita and provider inventory — MyExpatGo does not guarantee or book accommodation.
| City | Profile | Cost index |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | Largest expat base, strict street-width and delivery-hour rules | $$$$ |
| Yokohama | Port city, easiest container access, family housing | $$$ |
| Osaka | Commercial hub, lower rents than Tokyo | $$$ |
| Nagoya | Manufacturing corridor, spacious housing stock | $$ |
Plan
Local schools in Japan teach in Japanese. Relocating families typically choose between international schools (IB or a home-country curriculum, fee-paying, waiting lists in the main cities), bilingual schools, and local state schools, which offer the fastest language immersion for younger children.
Working language: Japanese. Apply to schools before you ship — admission dates rarely align with container transit.
Plan
Japan sits in our extreme-complexity band for pet imports. Lead times are driven by rabies titre testing, microchipping order and any quarantine requirement — start the timeline before you book freight.
Execute
Imported cars need JAI inspection and Shaken roadworthiness certification, plus proof of a registered parking space (Shako Shomeisho) before plating.
Calculate landed vehicle taxesExecute
Traffic drives on the left in Japan.
Tokyo and the other main cities in Japan are generally served by public transport networks, while smaller towns and rural areas are usually easier with a car. Main international gateways: Tokyo Haneda (HND), Tokyo Narita (NRT), Osaka Kansai (KIX).
Whether you can drive on your existing licence, for how long, and whether it can be exchanged rather than re-tested depends on the country that issued it and on your residence status in Japan. Check the national licensing authority before your current entitlement runs out.
Execute
Form C-5360 must be stamped when you first enter Japan and presented when the shipment clears, within six months.
Japan Customs expects itemised detail. Vague descriptions such as 'kitchen items' invite a physical inspection.
Urban access restrictions mean the container rarely reaches your door. Costs for shuttle vehicles and extra handling should be quoted upfront.
Japanese doorways, stairwells and elevators are compact. Oversized North American sofas and refrigerators frequently cannot be delivered.
Prove continuous residence outside the destination country for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before the move.
Every shipped item must have been owned and personally used for at least 6 consecutive months before departure. Newly purchased goods are valued and taxed normally.
Goods must arrive within 12 months of the formal residency transfer, and cannot be sold, rented, pledged or transferred for 12 months after import.
Execute
The first-30-days sequence specific to Japan, in the order most households need it.
Complete local registration
Register your address as required in Japan — Customs Form C-5360.
Confirm customs clearance status
Your mover or broker lodges the import declaration with Japan Customs (Zeikan); keep the cleared declaration.
Open a local bank account
Needed for a long-term lease, utilities and salary payments.
Register for healthcare
Enrol in Japan's health system or activate private cover from day one.
Arrange utilities and connectivity
Electricity, water, internet and a local mobile number for delivery coordination.
Sort driving entitlement
Short trans-Pacific sailings, safety and infrastructure, large corporate and contractor presence.
Book school places
International and bilingual schools in the main cities admit on waiting lists.
Schedule delivery and unpack
Confirm access, parking and lift booking before the container is released.
Customs step
Your moving company or licensed broker lodges the import declaration with Japan Customs (Zeikan).
Customs step
Ports of entry commonly used: Yokohama, Kobe, Nagoya, Tokyo.
Plan
Japan runs a statutory or mandatory health insurance system, with private cover available alongside it. New residents usually have to enrol in a scheme, and the route you enrol through depends on whether you are employed, self-employed or not working. Many households keep international or travel medical cover in place for the gap between departure and local enrolment. This is general information, not medical or insurance advice — confirm cover for your own circumstances before you move.
Moving to Japan? Before you leave, review how you'll handle healthcare and international coverage in your new country — and make sure you understand what is and isn't covered for your situation. SafetyWing offers two Nomad Insurance options to explore; check current pricing, eligibility and full policy details directly with SafetyWing.
Coverage, eligibility, pricing and exclusions vary. Review the current policy details before purchasing.
Partner recommendation · MYEXPATGO may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
Compare
Accredited international moving companies in our network with proven capability on this destination. MyExpatGo is an independent platform — we are not a moving company.
🇭🇰 Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR · since 1968
Asia's leading relocation group with 14 country offices across the region's primary commercial centres.
🇮🇳 Chennai, India · since 2010
India-based global relocation specialist offering fine art and pet relocation services.
🇮🇳 Bangalore, India · since 1971
India's longest-established international mover, with a door-to-door network spanning 180+ countries.
🇲🇾 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia · since 1996
Malaysia corporate-relocation specialist and UniGroup Worldwide UTS partner with a 1,200-office network.
🇮🇳 Chennai, India · since 2014
Chennai-based customs-clearance and LCL-consolidation specialist for household goods and personal effects.
🇮🇩 Jakarta, Indonesia · since 2024
Jakarta-based moving and relocation specialist serving Indonesia and global destinations.
Partner availability on any specific corridor is confirmed when you request quotes. How we vet our partners.
Plan
Small things that make the first months easier — and the ones people most often leave too late.
Resources
There is no single country-wide price: the cost depends on where you are moving from, how much you ship, the service level and the season. Households moving a container to Japan typically budget from $5,000 door-to-door as a planning benchmark. Use the MyExpatGo estimator for a route-specific range, or request quotes from vetted movers for a real price.
Plan for around 4–6 weeks door-to-door on a typical lane. Ocean freight transit varies by origin — for example, 12–16 days from US West Coast ports to Yokohama or Kobe, and longer from Europe and the Middle East. Customs clearance, destination handling and delivery access all sit on top of the sailing time, so confirm the schedule with your mover for your specific route.
Used household goods and personal effects are the normal shipment. Relief from duty and the 10% import VAT is applied for through Form C-5360 — Declaration of Accompanied/Unaccompanied Articles, filed within 6 months of arrival with Japan Customs (Zeikan), subject to eligibility. New purchases, alcohol, tobacco, vehicles and any restricted items are assessed separately — check the current rules with Japan Customs (Zeikan) before you pack.
Visa requirements depend on your nationality, purpose of stay and intended length of residence. Routes commonly used by relocating households include Engineer / Specialist in Humanities, Highly Skilled Professional, Intra-Company Transferee. Confirm current requirements with the Japan immigration authority or a qualified adviser.
Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka are the main arrival cities for international households. Most people rent first, often using temporary or serviced accommodation for the first weeks while they view long-term homes and wait for their shipment to clear.
Japan runs a statutory or mandatory health insurance system, with private cover available alongside it. New residents usually have to enrol in a scheme, and the route you enrol through depends on whether you are employed, self-employed or not working. Many households keep international or travel medical cover in place for the gap between departure and local enrolment. This is general information, not medical or insurance advice — confirm cover for your own circumstances before you move.
We rate it moderate. Japan Customs (Zeikan) grants relief on Form C-5360 — Declaration of Accompanied/Unaccompanied Articles, filed within 6 months of arrival, but the paperwork must be complete before arrival. Complete, accurate paperwork filed before arrival is the single biggest factor in avoiding storage and demurrage charges.
Confirm your visa or residence route, get a moving cost benchmark, compare quotes from accredited movers, file your customs relief paperwork, arrange temporary accommodation, and plan pets, vehicles and school places well ahead of your shipping date.
My Move Pro · Coming soon
My Move Pro turns this Japan guidance into your own plan: the steps that apply to your household, the documents behind them, when each one is due, and what it is likely to cost.
Start with an independent cost benchmark for your route, then compare quotes from vetted movers who work this destination.
This Japan guide is published for general education and planning. It is not legal, tax, immigration or customs advice, and it is not a quotation. Always confirm current requirements with Japan Customs (Zeikan), your visa authority or a qualified professional before shipping. Costs and transit times are indicative benchmarks.
Regulatory and customs content last reviewed 2 September 2026.
Moving cost guide
How international moving pricing is built up.
Customs & Transfer of Residence guide
Relief rules, eligibility and paperwork.
LCL vs Groupage
Which shared-container option suits your load.
Moving money abroad
Transfers, currencies and setting up banking after you arrive.
