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How to buy Japanese traditional crafts from abroad (2026)
These are heavy, breakable, and in the case of knives, restricted. All three are solvable, but you should know before you order.
Why you can't just buy it
Where it stops
- Makers sell to domestic shops and rarely post abroad
- Ceramics and lacquer need real packing, which adds weight
- Knives are restricted or banned in some countries
The shops
Where to find it
Every link goes to the shop's own site, and I checked each one loads. Shops not listed here are usually fine too — if it's a Japanese site, I can probably buy from it.
| Shop | What it sells | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Hands | Everything from stationery to crafts | — |
| Nakagawa Masashichi | Crafts from makers across Japan | — |
| Aoyama Square | Government-designated traditional crafts | — |
| Nousaku | Takaoka cast metalwork | — |
Shipping
What it costs to send
Japan Post's own published EMS rates, as of October 2026. I don't mark these up — you pay what it actually cost.
| What you are sending | Weight | India | UK | US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A pair of chopsticks and a small dish | 500g | ¥1,900 | ¥3,150 | ¥3,900 |
| A lacquer bowl, packed | 1kg | ¥3,150 | ¥4,400 | ¥5,300 |
| A Nambu iron kettle | 3kg | ¥5,750 | ¥8,800 | ¥10,300 |
- Breakable things need real packing, which can weigh more than the item itself. Packing is charged at cost.
What I can't send
Watch out for these
- Knives — allowed into some countries, refused by others. Tell me where you are and I will check before buying
A quote costs you nothing
Send me a link if you know what you want. If you don't, describe it and I'll go looking. You'll hear back within two working days.
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