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Your view of a Japanese temple, surrounded by sakura blossoms, overlooking Mount Fuji in Japan

Removals to Japan

Expert Door-to-Door Removals from the UK

BAR registered Est. 1997 4.5/5 Excellent on Trustpilot

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Boxes/bags

Boxes / Bags

Boxes, bags, or personal items. No furniture

Small Move

Small Move

Partial move; Boxes + a few furniture items.

1 Bed

Studio / 1 Bed

Contents of a studio or 1-bed flat

2 Bed

2 Bed Home

Contents of a two-bedroom home

3 Bed

3 Bed Home

Contents of a three-bedroom home

4+ Bed

4+ Bed Home

Contents of a four+ bedroom home.

Moving to Japan is a leap like few others: a new language, a different rhythm of life, and your belongings travelling to the other side of the world. The shipping is one part you should not have to worry about.

1st Move International provides specialist removals from the UK to Japan, with bespoke export packing, regular departures and full door-to-door delivery to Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Kobe and destinations across Japan.

In a country that takes care and precision seriously, it helps to have a mover that does too. We are trusted members of BAR and IAM with over 28 years' international removals experience.

Quick links:

UK to Japan Removals: Costs, Shipping Times and Customs

Removals from the UK to Japan typically cost from £900 for a small shared container move, from £5,000 for a 3-bed house in a 20ft container and up to £8,000 for a 4+ bed house in a 40ft container. Final pricing depends on the size of your shipment, your destination port and whether you choose a shared or full container service. Most household moves travel by sea freight, with sea transit times of 5 to 6 weeks and total door-to-door delivery in 7 to 11 weeks to Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Kobe and destinations across Japan.

We provide a complete door-to-door removals service from anywhere in the UK, with collection, export packing, sea freight, Japanese customs documentation and final delivery handled by our team end to end. Smaller shared-container shipments are individually palletised, so your belongings stay together and are handled less on a journey of this length.

What's Included in Every Move to Japan

In the UK

  • UK collection from any nationwide address Our packing teams collect throughout mainland UK, normally 1 to 2 weeks before your planned sailing date.
  • Bespoke packing and palletisation Your belongings are professionally export packed and secured onto their own pallets using our Shrink-Fast system, reducing handling on one of the longest sea routes we ship.

Your Shipping Service

  • Shared or full container options Choose a shared container service for smaller moves, where you pay only for the space your belongings use, or a dedicated 20ft or 40ft container for larger household moves.
  • Weekly departures to Japanj Our shared container services depart every week, so your move can be booked onto the next suitable sailing rather than waiting for a traditional shared removals container to fill.

Arriving in Japan

  • Japanese customs clearance We prepare the required unaccompanied personal effects documentation and coordinate clearance with Japan Customs through our destination agent.
  • Door-to-door delivery across Japan Once your belongings have cleared customs, our destination network arranges final delivery to your home in Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Kobe or elsewhere in Japan.

Protecting your move

  • Move Protect insurance Specialist marine transit cover for international removals, based on your declared replacement valuation.
  • BAR, BIFA and CTSI Approved Code credentials 1st Move International is a British Association of Removers member and IAM Premier Member, with BAR Advanced Payment Guarantee protection and CTSI Approved Code membership.
  • Shipment tracking Track your shipment from UK departure through to arrival in Japan.

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How We Pack Your Belongings for Japan

Your household goods and personal effects are professionally wrapped, palletised and securely prepared for the journey to Japan.

Our Shrink-Fast packing system keeps each shipment together and reduces handling. On a route as long as the UK to Japan, where your belongings pass through multiple ports and transfers, less handling means less opportunity for damage.

For shared container moves, your belongings are secured onto your own individual pallets before shipping, so your shipment stays together and separate from everyone else's for the entire journey.

Learn More About our Safer Packing

After Before

Tailored Shipping Options to Japan

Full Container

Exclusive use of a 20ft or 40ft container for larger household moves. Sealed from collection through to door-to-door delivery across Japan.

  • Around 6 weeks sea transit
  • 3+ bed moves
  • 20ft or 40ft
Most popular

Shared Container

The most cost-effective option for smaller moves to Japan. Pay only for the space your palletised shipment uses, on a weekly sailing.

  • Around 6 weeks sea transit
  • Small moves
  • Pay by volume

Air Freight

The fastest option, for small urgent shipments such as essential items or documents that cannot wait for sea freight.

  • 3-7 day delivery
  • Documents & essentials
  • Charged by weight
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Your Door-to-Door Timeline

What is the step-by-step timeline for removals from the UK to Japan?

Week 1-2

Booking and Preparation

Your moving quote is accepted and your move date is agreed. We prepare your shipping documentation and talk you through the Japanese customs paperwork you will need, including your visa and residency details. Home collections are scheduled 1 to 2 weeks before the vessel's sailing date.
Request your free quote now

Week 2-3

Moving Day and Packing

Your shipment is professionally packed at your home and a detailed inventory is completed. Once returned to our UK warehouse, your packed goods are secured onto pallets, shrink-wrapped and prepared for loading into the container. Your inventory doubles as the packing list Japanese customs will need.

Week 3-4

Port Processing and Departure

Containers arrive at the UK port to meet vessel closing dates. UK customs clearance is completed and your shipment departs on the next weekly sailing to Japan.

Week 4-10

Sea Transit

Sea freight transit from the UK to Japan typically takes around 6 weeks, depending on your final destination port. You can track your shipment live throughout the voyage.

Your arrival in Japan

Declaring Your Unaccompanied Goods

This step is yours, and it matters. When you first enter Japan, you must declare your unaccompanied belongings at the airport using two copies of customs form C-5360-B. Customs stamps both and returns one to you. That stamped copy is what your shipment is cleared against, so keep it safe and send it to our destination agent before your goods arrive. Your shipment should also arrive within six months of your entry date.

Week 10-11

Japanese Customs Clearance

On arrival in Japan, our destination agent lodges your stamped C-5360-B, packing inventory, passport and visa or residence card with Japan Customs. Used household goods owned and used before your move are normally cleared duty-free, and shipments are occasionally selected for physical inspection.

Week 11

Delivery

Once cleared, our trusted agents arrange delivery and unpacking at your address in Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Kobe or elsewhere in Japan. Japanese homes and access roads can be compact, so we confirm access, parking and lift or stairway restrictions with you in advance.

Most door-to-door removals from the UK to Japan take between 7 and 11 weeks, depending on shipment type, destination port and customs processing times.

Your view of a Japanese temple, surrounded by sakura blossoms, overlooking Mount Fuji in Japan

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How Much Do Removals to Japan Cost in 2026?

Quick Answer

On average, removals from the UK to Japan cost from around £900 for a small move via shared container, £2,500 to £5,000 for a 1-bed flat, £5,000 to £8,000 for a 3-bed house using a 20ft container, and £8,000 to £12,000 for a larger 4+ bedroom move using a 40ft container.

Removal Costs from the UK to Japan

Shipment Size Container Size & Method Typical Range (GBP)
Boxes / Small Move Shared Container £900 - £2,500
1-Bed Flat Shared Container £2,500 - £5,000
3-Bed House 20ft Container £5,000 - £8,000
4+ Bed House 40ft Container £8,000 - £12,000

Final costs are based on shipment size, declared value for insurance, and your collection and delivery locations. These costs include packing, collection, sea freight shipping, customs & bio-security and delivery to your door.

Packing included UK collection Sea freight Customs & biosecurity Door-to-door delivery
Get Your Removals Quote to Japan

To get a removals quote for your move to Japan, you can complete our quote form or use our WhatsApp home survey by sending photos or videos of your items.

Now you've seen typical removals costs, the next step is to get a tailored quote based on your own shipment. Many customers prefer WhatsApp because they can send their details and images in their own time, without needing to book a surveyor or schedule an appointment.

When you send your images, please include your UK collection point, destination in Japan and your email address so we can prepare and send your quote.

Easy home surveys via WhatsApp
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Weekly Shipping Times to Japan

Current sea transit times are typically around 6 weeks, depending on the destination and sailing. Your overall door-to-door moving time will also include UK collection and packing, Japanese customs clearance and final delivery to your new home.

We normally collect and pack your belongings 10 to 14 days in advance of the planned departure. This allows sufficient time to prepare your inventory and customs documentation and have your belongings ready for loading onto the next suitable sailing.

Your move coordinator will confirm the next available departure when arranging your shipment.

Estimated Shipping Times to Japan

  • Tokyo: around 40 days
  • Yokohama: around 40 days

These are typical scheduled sea transit times based on current services. Final delivery times can vary depending on Japanese customs clearance and your final delivery address.

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Real Customer Moves to Japan

Packed, measured and photographed before shipping.

These are genuine 1st Move customer shipments, photographed after packing and palletisation and before container loading.

For shared-container moves, the final packed volume directly affects what you pay. We measure the finished shipment accurately in cubic metres (cbm) and photograph it with its measurements clearly recorded - giving customers visible evidence of both how their belongings were packed and the actual volume they are being charged for.

We are the only international removals company to provide this photographic proof of the finished, measured shipment.

It's About Trust

Trusted. Accredited. Protected.

Moving your household goods overseas means trusting a company with some of your most important possessions. 1st Move International has been providing international removals since 1997 and is backed by recognised UK and international accreditations and consumer protection.

Established 1997 • BAR Member • CTSI Approved Code • Worldwide APG • IAM Premier Member
BAR membership logo

BAR Accredited International Mover

1st Move International is a member of the British Association of Removers (BAR) and is regularly audited and inspected to ensure we meet BAR's professional standards and Code of Practice.

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BAR Membership →
Trading Standards Approved Code Scheme logo

Approved Code Consumer Protection

We follow the BAR Code of Practice, approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, providing recognised consumer safeguards and access to an established complaints and dispute-resolution process.

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Approved Code Membership →
BAR Advanced Payment Guarantee logo

Advance Payments Protected

Your advance payments to 1st Move International are protected under the BAR Advanced Payment Guarantee for worldwide moves, giving you added financial protection when booking your move.

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APG Certificate →
International Association of Movers logo

IAM Premier Member

As an IAM Premier Member, we are part of a worldwide network of professional moving and relocation companies, helping us provide trusted destination support in more than 170 countries.

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IAM Membership →

These accreditations mean you can move with confidence, knowing your belongings are in the hands of a professional mover committed to high standards and consumer protection.

Japan: Customs & Import Requirements for Household Goods and Personal Effects

Clearing Japanese Customs

Household goods and personal effects shipped to Japan must be declared to Japan Customs as part of the import-clearance process.

Declare your shipment as “unaccompanied articles” when you arrive. If your household goods are arriving separately, you must declare them to Customs when you enter Japan.

For the paper procedure, two copies of the Declaration of Accompanied Articles and Unaccompanied Articles (C-5360-B) are required. Customs will certify and return one copy to you.

Keep the certified original safe. It is needed when your removal shipment arrives, and Japan Customs states that the declaration cannot be completed retrospectively if it was missed when you entered Japan.

We’ll guide you through the paperwork needed for your move. Once your shipment reaches Japan, our appointed customs agent will coordinate the clearance process, check your documentation and advise if Customs requires anything further from you. You can also read our general guide to overseas customs clearance.

1

What paperwork do I need?

For most household goods and personal effects shipments to Japan, you will typically need:

  • Declaration of Accompanied Articles and Unaccompanied Articles (C-5360-B) – for an unaccompanied shipment, this must be declared when you enter Japan. Keep the certified copy returned by Customs.
  • Passport – required as part of the clearance process when your shipment arrives.
  • Detailed packing inventory – listing the household goods and personal effects being shipped.
  • Shipping documentation – provided as part of your international removal.
  • Any additional customs or destination-agent documentation required for your individual shipment.

Japan Customs also supports electronic customs declarations through Visit Japan Web. For an unaccompanied household-goods shipment, follow the arrival instructions provided for your move so that you retain the declaration evidence needed for later customs clearance.

See the official Japan Customs guidance on declaring unaccompanied articles for more information.

When we ask you to send copies of passports or other sensitive documents, you can use our secure document upload service.

2

How should I prepare items for Japanese customs?

Japan has strict plant-quarantine controls. Anything used outdoors should be thoroughly cleaned before packing and should be free from soil and plant material.

Pay particular attention to:

  • Bicycles and outdoor sports equipment
  • Camping and hiking equipment
  • Gardening tools and equipment
  • Boots and outdoor footwear
  • Plant pots and gardening equipment
  • Outdoor furniture

Soil and plants with soil attached are prohibited from import into Japan. Many plants, seeds, bulbs, fruits and vegetables are also prohibited or require phytosanitary certification and quarantine inspection.

For current requirements, see the official Japan Plant Protection Station import guidance .

We’ll help you review your inventory before shipment and advise if anything needs further attention before being packed for Japan.

3

Which items are restricted or need special attention?

Check before shipping:

  • Food, particularly meat, fresh fruit and vegetables
  • Plants, seeds, bulbs and soil
  • Meat and other animal products
  • Medicines and controlled drugs
  • Alcohol and tobacco
  • Firearms, ammunition and weapons
  • Explosives and fireworks
  • Products made from protected animal or plant species

Some of these goods are prohibited, while others may be permitted subject to declaration, certification, permits, quantity limits or quarantine inspection.

Japan applies particularly strict controls to meat, animal products, plants and soil. See the official Japanese plant and animal quarantine guidance before including these types of goods.

Medicines are also subject to personal-use limits and additional rules for controlled substances. See the Japanese Ministry of Health guidance on bringing medicines into Japan .

For a broader official list, see Japan Customs: Goods with Prohibitions, Controls and Restrictions .

Do not assume an item is permitted simply because it is for personal use. If you are unsure about anything you intend to ship, check with us before packing.

Reviews from Customers Moving to Japan

Real feedback from customers who have used 1st Move International for removals from the UK to Japan.

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James C

Chippenham to Tokyo, Japan

I just wanted to let you know that my shipment arrived safely in Tokyo and was delivered to my door by the local team. Thank you to all the staff at 1st Move International. It's so hard to choose a good company from all the options, but I am happy to recommend 1st Move International. Thanks to Tessa especially.

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Yoshie

UK to Japan

Thank you very much for booking the room for our goods so immediately and informing us about the shipment. That’s great. We are really looking forward to their arrival. I really appreciate your support and great service.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

UK to Japan Removals FAQ

Sea transit from the UK to Japan is typically around 6 weeks, depending on the destination and scheduled sailing.

This is the shipping transit time rather than the complete door-to-door moving time. You should also allow time for UK collection and packing, Japanese customs clearance and final delivery to your new home.

We operate regular weekly departures from the UK to Japan, and your move coordinator will confirm the next available sailing when arranging your shipment.

Yes. We provide door-to-door removals from addresses throughout mainland UK to destinations across Japan.

Your service can include UK collection, professional export packing, sea shipping, customs-clearance support and final delivery to your new home in Japan.

Yes. You do not need to fill a complete shipping container.

Our shared container service is designed for smaller moves, including boxes, personal effects and selected pieces of furniture. Your belongings are professionally packed and palletised, and you pay according to the volume your shipment occupies.

For larger household moves, exclusive-use 20ft and 40ft containers are also available.

Yes. Our trained packing teams professionally export pack your household goods and personal effects before they are shipped to Japan.

For shared container moves, your belongings are secured onto individual pallets using our Shrink-Fast packing system. This keeps your shipment together, reduces unnecessary handling and helps protect your belongings throughout the journey.

We provide customs-clearance support and work with our appointed destination agent in Japan to coordinate the clearance of your household goods.

If your belongings are arriving separately from you, you must declare them as unaccompanied articles when you enter Japan and retain the customs-certified declaration for use when the shipment arrives.

See the Japan customs and import requirements section above for the paperwork and arrival procedure you need to follow.

Qualifying household goods and personal effects can generally be imported into Japan free of duty and/or tax when you are relocating your residence, provided the relevant Japan Customs conditions are met.

For qualifying long-term moves, household effects must generally be imported within six months of your entry into Japan.

The goods should be for your or your family's personal use and reasonable for the purpose of relocating your home. Final eligibility is determined by Japan Customs.

See our Japan customs section for more detail.

Japan has strict import controls on a number of goods, particularly agricultural and animal products.

Items requiring special attention include:

  • Soil and plants with soil attached
  • Plants, seeds, bulbs, fruit and vegetables
  • Meat and other animal products
  • Medicines and controlled drugs
  • Alcohol and tobacco
  • Firearms, ammunition and weapons
  • Fireworks and explosives
  • Products made from protected animal or plant species

Some goods are prohibited, while others may be permitted subject to declaration, permits, certification, quantity limits or quarantine inspection.

See the Japan customs and restricted-goods information above, and check any questionable items with us before packing.

Japan uses a 100V electrical supply, compared with 230V in the UK. Japan also mainly uses Type A plugs, so UK plugs are not directly compatible.

Japan operates at 50Hz in eastern areas, including Tokyo, and 60Hz in western areas, including Osaka. Appliances designed only for UK 220–240V power may not work correctly or safely from a Japanese supply, even with a plug adaptor.

Check the voltage and frequency rating shown on each appliance before deciding whether it is worth shipping to Japan.

For more information, see our guide to shipping UK electrical appliances overseas.

Yes. Storage can be arranged in the UK if your moving dates do not line up, your accommodation in Japan is not ready or you need to delay part of your shipment.

Tell us about your storage requirements when arranging your quotation so we can include the appropriate option in your move plan.

Yes, but vehicles are handled separately from your household goods and are subject to different Japanese import, customs, registration and compliance requirements.

Vehicle shipping can be arranged through Autoshippers, who can advise on vehicle eligibility, shipping options and the requirements for importing a car into Japan.
Resources

Useful Japan Information Resources and Guides

Planning an international move involves more than arranging the shipment itself. These official and practical resources can help with immigration, customs, healthcare, electrical goods, pets and preparing for life in Japan.

Moving & Immigration

Customs & Paperwork

Practical Information

Healthcare

Moving with Pets

1st Move Partners and Associations