Short answer: most Japanese parts stores, auction sites and second-hand marketplaces only ship inside Japan. To buy from them you need someone in Japan to purchase the part, receive it, check it and post it to you. Small parts usually arrive in Australia or New Zealand in 1–3 weeks, and for orders of A$1,000 / NZ$1,000 or less there's normally nothing extra to pay at the door.
Step 1: Find the right part
Japan has the best supply of genuine and used parts for Japanese cars, and plenty for older cars that were never sold new in Australia. The main places to look:
- Genuine OEM parts: Japanese dealer and parts-supply channels, including Monotaro, still carry many parts that show as unavailable in Australia.
- Used and rare parts: Yahoo! Auctions Japan and Mercari, plus Japanese wreckers and second-hand shops.
- Aftermarket JDM parts: Japanese tuning shops and retailers.
Before you buy, get the part number and check it against your chassis (frame) number, engine code and gearbox. Japanese catalogues split parts by production date, so the same model can use different parts. Our guide to buying genuine JDM parts covers this in more detail.
Step 2: Get it to an address in Japan
This is where most people get stuck. Many Japanese sites need a Japanese address, phone number and payment method, and the sites themselves are only in Japanese. Monotaro, for example, doesn't offer international shipping, and Yahoo! Auctions requires a Yahoo! JAPAN ID and its own Japanese payment system. We explain the details in how to buy from Yahoo! Auctions, Mercari and Monotaro.
Your options are a proxy-buying service, a forwarding address, or a person in Japan who buys for you. That's what our import-from-Japan service does: we live in Japan, buy the part, inspect it when it arrives, and pack it properly for the trip.
Step 3: Choose how to ship it
We use Japan Post for small and medium parcels, and our own business courier accounts with DHL and ECMS Express for bigger boxes. As of October 2026:
| Service | Typical use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Japan Post International Air Packet / small packet | Bushes, seals, badges, small trim | Up to 2 kg, tracked, cheapest for small parts |
| Japan Post air parcel | Medium parts | About 10 days from Tokyo to Australia, about 12 to New Zealand |
| Japan Post EMS (express) | Urgent or valuable parts | Fast and fully tracked |
| Courier (DHL or ECMS Express) | Heavy or bulky boxes | Door to door with tracking. With our business rates, often the best value for big boxes |
| Japan Post surface (sea) mail | Heavy parts that aren't urgent | Australia only, takes 1–3 months |
What our shipping rates save you
Courier shipping from Japan is expensive if you book it yourself. DHL's published 2026 rate for an 18 kg box from Japan to Australia is ¥73,500 before the fuel surcharge, and with fuel it comes to over ¥100,000 (around A$900+). With our business rates, the same 18 kg box to Melbourne costs about ¥25,600 (around A$235).
| 18 kg box, Japan to Australia | Price |
|---|---|
| DHL published rate (2026, before fuel) | ¥73,500 |
| DHL published rate including fuel surcharge (approx.) | ¥100,000+ |
| With Emdawg's business rates | about ¥25,600 |
Courier prices depend on weight, box size and the exchange rate, so we compare carriers for every quote and charge shipping at our discounted business rates.
Size limits matter. Japan Post parcels to Australia are limited to 20 kg, 1.05 m long and 2 m length plus girth (EMS allows 3 m length plus girth). New Zealand allows up to 30 kg and 1.5 m. Japan Post's economy SAL service is suspended, and its international prices go up on 1 February 2027. Bigger items like bumpers, aero and engines need a courier or freight instead, see importing big and used parts.
Some things can't be posted at all, including airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, engines, batteries, fuel, paint and aerosol sprays.
Step 4: GST, duty and customs
Australia
- A$1,000 or less: GST (10%) is normally charged at the point of sale by the seller or the service, not at the border, so there's usually nothing to pay when it arrives.
- Over A$1,000: the parcel needs a full import declaration. GST is 10% of the value plus shipping, insurance and any duty, and there's an import processing charge and a biosecurity charge on top.
- Duty: the general rate on car parts is 5%, but goods made in Japan can come in duty-free under the Japan–Australia trade agreement (JAEPA) with the right origin paperwork.
New Zealand
- NZ$1,000 or less: GST (15%) is collected at the point of sale by registered overseas sellers. Customs doesn't collect anything else, apart from a small per-parcel levy on air shipments.
- Over NZ$1,000: Customs collects GST and any duty, plus border levies per consignment.
Step 5: Biosecurity and banned items
Used parts must arrive clean: no dirt, mud, grass, seeds or insects, and no heavy grease where dirt collects. Dirty parts can be held, cleaned or destroyed at your cost. Australia and New Zealand also ban imports of anything containing asbestos, which can catch old brake pads, gaskets and clutch linings, so these should be new or confirmed asbestos-free.
Step 6: Delivery
Your parcel is delivered by Australia Post, NZ Post or the courier, and you can track it the whole way. Allow extra time around holidays and for customs checks.
The easy way: let us do it
Send us the part number, a link or a photo, plus your car's make, model and year. We'll check fitment and availability and send a quote before you pay anything.
What it costs – no hidden fees
- The item: the price in Japan, plus any shipping within Japan to us
- Our service fee: 15% of the item price, minimum A$35, covering finding, checking, buying and inspecting your part
- Packing & handling: A$10 per box for boxes, padding and tape
- International shipping: at our discounted business rates (see above)
Our import service is provided by Rees Solutions, our Japan-based partner business run by the Emdawg team. Your quote and invoice come from Rees Solutions, and no GST is added to the service fee or packing charge.
Yen prices are converted to Australian dollars at the day's exchange rate plus a small 3% currency buffer. For example, a part that costs ¥30,000 in Japan (about A$278) has a service fee of about A$41.70, plus A$10 packing and shipping. Get an import quote.
FAQ
How long does it take?
Small parts usually take 1–3 weeks from order to delivery. Items from auctions depend on how quickly the seller ships within Japan.
How much do you charge?
15% of the item price (minimum A$35) plus A$10 packing per box, on top of the item and shipping. Everything is in your quote before you pay.
Why is your shipping cheaper than booking DHL myself?
We ship regularly, so we have business rates with our couriers that aren't available to one-off customers, and we pick the cheapest suitable carrier for each box.
Can you send things other than car parts?
Yes, within the rules. See what else we can send from Japan.
Do you import whole cars?
No, we only import parts and other goods.