Japanese kitchen knives shipped from Japan, duties included

How these knives get from Japan to you

We buy each knife in Japan from the maker or their wholesaler after you confirm the quote, and ship it from Tokyo within two business days if the maker has it in stock. It goes by DHL Express or FedEx (about three to five days door to door) or Japan Post EMS (five to ten), tracked and insured for the full value.

Most shops in Japan ship duty unpaid, so the box is held until you pay US import duty, about 31% of the knife's value as of 2026-10, plus a carrier clearance fee of around $17 to $35. Our prices already include that duty, so nothing is owed at the door. The rates and how they changed during 2026 are on the shipping and duties page, and the buying guide compares ordering from Japan with buying in the US.