If you've ever searched for a rare JDM part, you've probably ended up on Yahoo! Auctions Japan (ヤフオク), Mercari or Monotaro. They have the best range of used, rare and genuine parts anywhere, but they're designed for people living in Japan. Here's how each one works and how Aussies and Kiwis can still buy from them.
Yahoo! Auctions Japan
Japan's biggest auction site for used car parts: wreckers, private sellers and tuning shops all list there. To bid yourself you need:
- A Yahoo! JAPAN ID
- To be able to read and write Japanese (it's in Yahoo!'s own bidding rules)
- Yahoo!'s Japanese payment system (Yahoo!かんたん決済)
- Access from a region where Yahoo! JAPAN is available – many Yahoo! JAPAN services stopped in the UK and Europe in 2022
- An address in Japan, because most sellers only post domestically
Yahoo! is cracking down on new accounts
Yahoo! has been tightening up to fight fraud and non-paying bidders. Sellers now go through identity checks, and sellers can block bidders with low ratings or unverified accounts. In practice, a brand-new account with no history often can't bid on the items you want, or gets its bids cancelled. Buying through an established Japanese account avoids this.
Mercari
Mercari is Japan's biggest second-hand app, and it's great for interior trim, badges, gauges and small parts. Mercari has started selling overseas through its own Global App, but as of October 2026 it covers Taiwan, Hong Kong and the US – not Australia or New Zealand. Most sellers also post with Japan-only services, and many items sell within hours, so you need to move fast.
Monotaro
Monotaro is a Japanese online parts and tools supplier, and one of the best places to buy genuine OEM parts by part number for Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, Honda, Subaru and Mitsubishi. The Japanese site has no international shipping and no English version (its overseas businesses in Korea, Indonesia and India are separate companies). It also doesn't tell you what a part fits, so you need the exact part number first.
Your options for buying from these sites
1. Proxy-buying services
Large proxy services like Buyee connect directly to Yahoo! Auctions and Mercari. They're convenient, but they're general shopping services: they won't tell you whether a part fits your car, and you pay service, handling and shipping fees on each order.
2. A forwarding address
A forwarding company gives you a Japanese address. You still need to set up and pay on the Japanese sites yourself, which is where most overseas buyers get stuck.
3. Someone in Japan who knows cars (what we do)
We live in Japan and run Emdawg as car people. With our import-from-Japan service we:
- Check the listing and the part number against your car before buying
- Bid or buy on Yahoo! Auctions, Mercari, Monotaro and Japanese parts stores using our established accounts
- Inspect the part when it arrives and send you photos
- Pack it properly and ship it to Australia or New Zealand with tracking
You get a full quote before you pay anything. For the whole process from start to finish, read how to import car parts from Japan.
Tips before you send us a link
- Check the listing end time. Yahoo! auctions often end in the evening Japan time, and Mercari items go quickly.
- Look at the seller's rating. Used parts are sold as-is, so a good seller history matters.
- Ask about size and weight. Bumpers, seats and wheels cost a lot more to ship than the part itself. See importing big and used parts.
FAQ
Can I just make my own Yahoo! JAPAN account?
You can make an ID, but to bid you need Japanese, a Japanese payment method and usually a Japanese address, and many sellers block new accounts.
Is Mercari available in Australia yet?
Not as of October 2026. Mercari's Global App currently covers Taiwan, Hong Kong and the US.
Can you find a part if I don't have a link?
Yes. Send us the part number or a photo and your car details and we'll search for you.