Shipping from Dubai
to Japan.
We ship from Dubai and from anywhere in the UAE to Japan every week, by sea and by air. Japan has five sea ports worth knowing about and three international cargo airports, spread between the east and the west of the country. We ship business and personal cargo, do the paperwork at both ends, and deliver to your address.
Overview
Sea and air freight
to Japan.
Shipping from Dubai to Japan takes about 17 to 26 days by sea, and 1 to 4 days by air. Services from Jebel Ali reach Tokyo either directly or through an Asian relay, depending on the carrier, and that is where most of the range comes from. Tokyo and Yokohama serve the Kanto region around the capital. Nagoya serves Aichi and the industrial centre, and handles a lot of vehicle and machinery traffic. Osaka and Kobe serve Kansai and the west. Air cargo flies into Narita for the east, Kansai for the west and Centrair for Nagoya. We deliver everywhere, including Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Fukuoka, Kobe, Kyoto, Kawasaki, Saitama, Hiroshima and Sendai. We move machinery, aluminium, copper, plastics, electrical goods, iron and steel products and household goods. Navo Shipping handles the sea freight, air freight and customs clearance on the Dubai to Japan route, door to door. Tell us what you are sending and where it is going, and we will tell you which way is cheaper.
Ports and gateways
Sea ports and airports
we ship to from Dubai.
Every bill of lading carries two ports: where the cargo loads, and where it discharges. We load at Jebel Ali or another UAE port. Japan has five sea ports we use and three airports. They suit different cargo and different inland legs, so the loading port and the discharge port are worth choosing separately.
POLPort of loading
We collect anywhere in the UAE, free zones included, and load at whichever of these eight suits the cargo.
- Jebel AliAEJEA
- Port RashidAEPRA
- Khalifa PortAEKHL
- Zayed PortAEAUH
- Port KhalidAESHJ
- Khor FakkanAEKLF
- Port of FujairahAEFJR
- Ajman PortAEAJM
PODPort of discharge
The right one is whichever leaves the shortest inland leg to your delivery address. On a long lane that leg is a shipment in its own right, so it is planned rather than assumed.
- Port of TokyoJPTYOSea port, Tokyo BayTokyo, Saitama, Chiba and the Kanto region
How cargo reaches Port of Tokyo
Shipping from Dubai to Tokyo runs about 17 to 26 days port to port. Services from Jebel Ali reach it either directly or through an Asian relay depending on the carrier, and that difference is most of the range. It is the default gateway for anything delivering around the capital. Sea freight is priced per container on a full load and per cubic metre on a shared one. Get a rate for Port of Tokyo - Port of YokohamaJPYOKSea port, Tokyo BayYokohama, Tokyo and the wider Kanto industrial region
How cargo reaches Port of Yokohama
Shipping from Dubai to Yokohama can use a confirmed suitable vessel booking, normally relayed through a Southeast or East Asian hub rather than sailed direct. It is the deep water gateway for Tokyo and the Kanto region, so it takes the larger ships. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. The Port of Tokyo is the alternative for city deliveries. The quote separates ocean freight, transshipment, carrier surcharges, terminal handling, customs and final delivery charges. Get a rate for Port of Yokohama - Port of NagoyaJPNGOSea port, Ise BayNagoya, Aichi, Gifu and central Japan
How cargo reaches Port of Nagoya
Nagoya is the industrial and automotive gateway, serving Aichi and the manufacturing belt around it. For machinery and vehicle-related cargo going to central Japan it saves a long road leg from either Tokyo or Osaka. Routing from Dubai depends on the carrier rotation, so tell us the delivery town and we will confirm what is running. Get a rate for Port of Nagoya - Port of OsakaJPOSASea port, Osaka BayOsaka, Kyoto and the Kansai region
How cargo reaches Port of Osaka
Shipping from Dubai to Osaka can use a confirmed suitable vessel booking, normally relayed through a Southeast or East Asian hub rather than sailed direct. It shares Osaka Bay with Kobe, so the two are often interchangeable and the cheaper booking usually decides. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Kobe is the alternative. The quote separates ocean freight, transshipment, carrier surcharges, terminal handling, customs and final delivery charges. Get a rate for Port of Osaka - Port of KobeJPUKBSea port, Osaka BayKobe, Osaka, Kyoto and western Japan
How cargo reaches Port of Kobe
Shipping from Dubai to Kobe can use a confirmed suitable vessel booking, normally relayed through a Southeast or East Asian hub rather than sailed direct. It has the deeper berths of the Osaka Bay pair, so larger ships call here. Times vary from ship to ship, so we confirm the days when we quote. Osaka is the alternative when delivery is into the city itself. The quote separates ocean freight, transshipment, carrier surcharges, terminal handling, customs and final delivery charges. Get a rate for Port of Kobe - Narita International AirportNRTAirportTokyo, Chiba and eastern Japan
How cargo reaches Narita International Airport
Air freight from Dubai to Narita can use accepted belly or freighter capacity, with the routing confirmed live, subject to commodity, space, screening and local cargo handling approval. It is Japan's largest air cargo gateway, so space is rarely the constraint. Times vary from flight to flight, so we confirm the days when we quote. Kansai is the alternative for western Japan. The quote separates uplift, connection, screening, terminal, customs and final delivery charges. Get a rate for Narita International Airport - Kansai International AirportKIXAirportOsaka, Kobe, Kyoto and western Japan
How cargo reaches Kansai International Airport
Air freight from Dubai to Kansai can use accepted belly or freighter capacity, with the routing confirmed live, subject to commodity, space, screening and local cargo handling approval. Built on an artificial island, it works around the clock with no night curfew, which helps a late arrival clear the same day. Times vary from flight to flight, so we confirm the days when we quote. Narita is the alternative for Tokyo. The quote separates uplift, connection, screening, terminal, customs and final delivery charges. Get a rate for Kansai International Airport - Chubu Centrair International AirportNGOAirportNagoya and central Japan
How cargo reaches Chubu Centrair International Airport
Air freight from Dubai to Chubu Centrair can use accepted belly or freighter capacity, with the routing confirmed live, subject to commodity, space, screening and local cargo handling approval. It sits closest to Nagoya and the Aichi manufacturing belt, which is what most cargo here is for. Times vary from flight to flight, so we confirm the days when we quote. Kansai is the alternative for wider uplift. The quote separates uplift, connection, screening, terminal, customs and final delivery charges. Get a rate for Chubu Centrair International Airport
- Port of TokyoJPTYOSea port, Tokyo BayTokyo, Saitama, Chiba and the Kanto region
Before you ship
Import rules
for Japan.
Japan is more straightforward than most lanes, and it is worth being clear about why, because a lot of pages get this wrong. Japan has no reference number that has to exist before the ship leaves Dubai. The import declaration and the import permit are customs steps handled around arrival by your buyer or their broker, not something to chase at booking. What does need looking at early is the product itself. Food, plants, animal products, medicines and various other regulated goods fall under separate Japanese laws and need their own permit, inspection or approval, and those are worth confirming before the goods travel. Ordinary commercial cargo needs nothing beyond the usual paperwork. Tell us what you are sending and we will confirm which side of the line it falls on.
Documentation
Documents you need
for Japan.
These 8 cover most shipments to Japan. The exact list depends on the commodity and its HS code, so send us both and we confirm what applies before the cargo is booked.
- 01Invoice showing what you paid for the goods
- 02Packing list showing what is inside
- 03Certificate of origin showing where the goods were made
- 04Bill of lading or air waybill, which is the shipping ticket
- 05Dubai export paper, which we do for you
- 06Japanese import declaration, filed by your buyer or their broker
- 07Insurance certificate, where the terms of sale require one
- 08Permit, approval or inspection certificate required under another Japanese law
Get the paperwork right in Dubai and clearance at destination is routine. Fixing a document after arrival is slow, and storage accrues the whole time it takes.
How it works
Dubai to Japan
shipping, step by step.
Send the cargo details: what it is, where it is going, rough weight and dimensions. We come back with the routes that suit it, sea against air, and a written rate with a validity date on it. You pick one, we book it, and one coordinator stays with the shipment until it is delivered in Japan.
- 01
Send the details
Tell us what you are sending, how heavy it is, how big it is, and where in Japan it goes.
- 02
Get a price
We send you a price in writing, with every charge shown. No surprises later.
- 03
We book and clear
We pick the port nearest your delivery address, check any product approval, collect, load, and handle the papers at both ends.
- 04
We deliver
We track the shipment and keep you updated all the way, then bring the goods to your door.
Questions
Cargo to Japan
questions, answered.
The 16 we are asked most on the Dubai to Japan route. If yours is not here, send it with the commodity and we will answer it directly.
Do you offer movers and packers for a house move from Dubai to Japan?
Yes. Our movers and packers do the packing, wrapping and listing in Dubai, then we ship your furniture and household goods in a full container, or share one if you have less to send. The item by item list matters, because customs clear personal effects against it. Fuel, gas cylinders, paint, aerosols and loose batteries cannot travel, and we give you the full list before packing day.
How long does shipping from Dubai to Japan take?
Sea freight to Japan takes about 17 to 26 days, and air freight to Japan takes 1 to 4 days. The sea range is wide because some services run direct from Jebel Ali and others relay at an Asian hub. We give you a date in writing when we quote.
How much does shipping from Dubai to Japan cost?
It depends on what you send, how big it is, and where in Japan it is going. We do not publish prices because every shipment is different. Sea freight to Japan is priced per container when you fill one, and per cubic metre when you share one. Air freight to Japan is priced on weight or size, whichever is greater. Send us the details and we send you a price in writing, usually the same day.
Which cities in Japan do you deliver to?
All of them. Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Fukuoka, Kobe, Kyoto, Kawasaki, Saitama, Hiroshima, Sendai, Chiba, Kitakyushu, Niigata and Shizuoka. Just give us the address and we bring it to the door.
Which ports in Japan do you ship to?
Tokyo and Yokohama for the Kanto region around the capital. Nagoya for Aichi and the industrial centre. Osaka and Kobe for Kansai and the west. For air cargo we fly into Narita, Kansai or Centrair.
Which Japanese port should my cargo go to?
Whichever is nearest the delivery address. Japanese domestic trucking is expensive, so landing in the wrong half of the country costs real money. Tokyo or Yokohama for the east, Osaka or Kobe for the west, Nagoya for the centre. Tell us the delivery town and we will pick.
Do I need to arrange anything before the goods ship?
Usually not. Japan has no reference number that must exist before the ship leaves Dubai. The import declaration and permit are customs steps handled around arrival. What is worth checking early is whether your product is regulated under another Japanese law, because those approvals do take time.
Do you deliver door to door?
Yes. We handle freight forwarding to Japan door to door. We collect the goods in Dubai, move them, clear them through customs, and bring them to your address. You deal with one company for the whole journey.
Can I send a small shipment, or do I need a full container?
You can send as little as one box or one pallet. We put small shipments from different customers into one shared container. This is called LCL, or less than container load. Your goods load at Jebel Ali and come into Tokyo. When you have more goods, you move up to your own full container, which is called FCL. We will tell you which one is cheaper.
Can you ship a car from Dubai to Japan?
Yes. We do car shipping to Japan, and used vehicles can be imported. After customs clearance the car goes through Japanese inspection, compliance and registration, which is the longer half of the process. We could not confirm any blanket maximum vehicle age. Send us the make, model, year and chassis number and we will check your case before you buy.
Do you handle customs clearance in Japan?
Yes, at both ends. We handle customs clearance in Dubai and customs clearance in Japan. You do not need to find your own clearing agent.
Can you collect the goods from my supplier in Dubai?
Yes. We collect anywhere in Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and the rest of the UAE. We can also hold your goods in warehousing and storage in Dubai until you are ready to ship. That helps when you are buying from several suppliers and want everything to travel to Tokyo in one container.
Can you ship machinery and heavy equipment to Japan?
Yes. We move project cargo to Japan as well. Big, heavy items go in open top or flat rack containers, or loose on the ship. Yokohama and Kobe both handle project and out of gauge cargo. Send us the size and weight and we will work out the best way to move it.
Can you move my household goods to Japan?
Yes. We move full house moves and part loads to Japan, including Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. We pack, collect, move and deliver, and we handle the customs clearance so your things are not waiting on paperwork.
Do I pay duty on my household goods?
If you are moving to Japan for more than a year, qualifying relocation goods can come in duty free. They generally need to arrive within six months of you entering the country, so the timing of the shipment matters. Vehicles can fall under separate household provisions subject to customs conditions. Tell us your situation and we will explain what to expect.
What is the difference between Narita, Kansai and Centrair?
They serve different parts of the country. Narita is for Tokyo and the east, Kansai for Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto in the west, and Centrair for Nagoya and the industrial centre. Flying into the nearest one saves a domestic leg, and domestic transport in Japan is not cheap.
Ready to ship from Dubai
to Japan?
Send the commodity and its HS code, the weight and dimensions, and the delivery address. We confirm what Japan checks before you ship, then the routing options, then a written rate with a validity date on it.
- Written rates
- One coordinator
- Customs handled in house
- UAE-wide collection
