International Shipping Guide — Countries, Delivery Times, and Customs
Ordering a handcrafted wooden nameplate from Japan is simpler than most people expect — but shipping, customs, and delivery times differ by country, and we'd rather you know exactly what to expect before you order. This guide covers all of it.
Where We Ship
We currently ship to these countries and regions:
- Australia
- Hong Kong
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- Taiwan
- United Arab Emirates
Two products are exceptions: the solid wood record frame and record bar ship within Japan only. If your cart mixes one of these with other items, checkout will flag it for international addresses — remove it to continue. Everything else — nameplates, wooden tags (Mukufuda) — ships to all the countries above.
How Ordering Works
Every piece is made to order. Here's the flow:
- Design your nameplate — use the simulator to choose the wood, size, font, and engraving text (our Name to Kanji tool can help if you'd like your name in Japanese characters)
- Place your order — prices are charged in Japanese yen
- Review your design — the simulator preview is a rendering of the finished piece. After you order, we email you the actual design data to review. Production begins only once you approve it, so you can order with confidence even for the first time
- We craft and ship it — orders are dispatched within 3 to 5 business days after you approve the design. For most orders, that works out to dispatch within 5 to 10 business days of ordering, assuming a smooth design review
Shipping Method and Costs
International orders ship with Japan Post's International Air Packet — an airmail service with tracking. Shipping cost is calculated by weight at checkout, so you see the exact amount before paying. As a reference, a standard nameplate to Australia or Singapore is around ¥1,000–1,500 in shipping.
One practical limit: each parcel can weigh up to 2kg. A single nameplate or wooden tag is always well within this, but if you order several pieces at once, your cart may exceed it — in that case checkout will show no shipping method. Simply split your purchase into separate orders — note that each parcel is charged its own shipping, so the combined shipping cost is usually somewhat higher than for a single parcel — or contact us and we'll arrange a larger shipment individually.
Customs, Duties, and Taxes
This is the part most shops leave vague, so let's be precise. Product prices and shipping charges do not include destination-country import duties, taxes, or handling fees. Where these apply, they are charged to the recipient, usually on or shortly before delivery. Here's what to expect, country by country, as of 2026:
- Hong Kong — a free port. No duties or import taxes.
- Australia — orders up to AUD 1,000 generally enter free of duties and import taxes, so a typical nameplate order clears without extra charges.
- Singapore — orders under SGD 400 from an overseas seller like us generally arrive without additional import charges.
- Taiwan, Malaysia, UAE — import taxes, duties, or handling fees may apply depending on the shipment value and product classification. The amount is determined by the destination authorities and is payable by the recipient.
We declare every shipment accurately, based on its actual contents and transaction value — we cannot mark orders as gifts or declare lower values.
Delivery Times and Tracking
After dispatch, transit time depends on the destination — typically 1 to 3 weeks. Every shipment includes a Japan Post tracking number; tracking coverage after arrival varies by the destination country's postal service.
Adding it up: from placing your order to receiving it, most international orders arrive within 3 to 5 weeks, depending on your country's postal and customs handling.
Start with Your Design
The best first step is to see your name on a nameplate — wood, font, layout, and all — before deciding anything.