International Shipping Procedures for Tourists in Japan Are Often Difficult
For tourists staying in Japan, the process of shipping items they’ve purchased back to their home country can be very difficult. They often need to understand and fill out documents written in Japanese.
However, there’s now a device that makes these complex Japanese documents easy for travelers to manage: ShipStation.
ShipStation: A Device That Simplifies International Shipping Procedures
The ShipStation device offers multilingual support, document-filling functions, and an easy search feature for Japanese domestic sender and recipient addresses. It also supports special alphabet notations used in names, making it a device specifically tailored for tourists visiting Japan.
ShipStation is Now in Tokyo’s Akihabara
More and more tourists are visiting Japan, and many are buying items that can only be found here. Especially in Akihabara, a hub for Japanese electronics and anime merchandise, not only Japanese people but also many tourists purchase so many souvenirs that they can’t fit them all into their travel suitcases.
Many travelers end up buying new suitcases just to carry their purchases. This is often because they don’t understand the international shipping procedures, so they opt to carry their new purchases in an extra suitcase throughout their trip. It’s also not uncommon for tourists to give up on shopping because of the increased baggage.
To address these challenges, a trial of “ShipStation” is being conducted in Akihabara, a popular spot for Japanese subculture like anime and manga. The trial runs from July 24, 2025, to August 25, 2025.
Easily Ship Anime Merchandise and Souvenirs Home
If you’re a tourist who doesn’t understand Japanese and wants to ship items purchased in Akihabara back to your home country, head to “Luggage storage Tokyo Akihabara” in Akihabara. You can use the international shipping service with ShipStation from Thursday to Monday, 9 AM to 7 PM.
Simply bring the items you wish to ship to the “ShipStation” terminal located inside the store. Follow the on-screen instructions to prepare the necessary international shipping documents. After paying the shipping fee at the integrated payment terminal, place the printed waybill, customs declaration, and invoice into a pouch, attach it to the shipping box, and hand the package to the reception desk. That’s it!
This service allows non-Japanese-speaking tourists to ship unique Akihabara items like anime goods, arcade prizes, electronics, and purchases from Don Quijote back to their home country without worrying about suitcase capacity. This means they can enjoy their trip without the hassle of excessive luggage.
Luggage storage Tokyo Akihabara
Ship Luggage and Souvenirs from Stations and Airports to Your Home Country
If you need to ship luggage overseas from locations other than Akihabara, Sagawa Express offers a service where international visitors can directly ship their luggage and souvenirs overseas via their courier counters located at tourist spots, major stations, and airports. This service package also includes support for necessary documents like export invoices and international waybills, confirmation of prohibited items, and suitable packaging for international shipping. Additionally, domestic shipping packaging materials are available for purchase directly at the courier counters. You can ship from Japan to six regions: China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, South Korea, and the United States.
eSIM for Comfortable Communication in Akihabara
In popular tourist areas like Akihabara, Asakusa, and Shibuya, there are many shops. Most tourists use Google Maps to find stores, but using Google Maps requires a stable internet connection in Japan. An eSIM is recommended for reliable communication in tourist areas like Akihabara and beyond.
I am Japanese and my nickname is Momo.
I have been working in the mobile telecommunications industry for about 7 years and am familiar with Japanese telecommunications services. Although my English is not very good, I would like to provide useful telecommunication-related information to those who stay in Japan as accurately as possible.
