Shopping Guide
HELP / FAQs
By onemall 
TL;DR
- Door to door, plan on 2–4 weeks for a typical order: a few days for the Japanese seller to ship to the warehouse, up to 5–6 working days for packing after you pay international shipping, then the carrier’s transit time[1].
- Carrier transit times quoted by OneMall on 11 September 2026: DHL 3–7 days everywhere; EMS 4–7 days in Asia, 7–9 days to Europe, Australia and most of the world, 10–12 days to Canada; ECMS (US only) 10–20 days; Seamail 30–90 days.
- Every parcel is tracked, and the number appears in your OneMall account when the parcel ships[1]. Japan Post numbers are 13 characters ending in JP; DHL numbers are 10 digits; ECMS has its own portal.
- Customs is the variable: it adds anything from hours to a week, and “held by customs” usually means a bill is waiting for you, not a problem with the parcel.
- Tracking silent for 48 hours after customs clearance? Contact support; OneMall checks with the carrier within 72 hours and opens a search or claim if the parcel is lost[2].
Transit times and prices are live results from the OneMall shipping calculator for a 1 kg, 25×20×15 cm parcel on 11 September 2026. Last updated: 2026-09-11.
The full timeline: from “buy” to your door
- Purchase (day 0). OneMall pays the Japanese seller immediately for fixed-price items; auctions settle when they end. See how OneMall works.
- Seller ships domestically (1–7 days). Shops and Amazon Japan ship within a day or two; Mercari and Yahoo! Auctions sellers are individuals and have up to a week — a Mercari seller who does not ship within 7 days triggers a refund[3]. Japanese domestic delivery is one to two days.
- Warehouse intake (same day). The parcel is checked in and appears in your account; photo or inspection services you ordered run within 12 hours[2]. Items wait here free for 90 days plus two weeks, so you can collect several orders into one box[3].
- You choose a carrier and pay shipping. Nothing moves until you do; the quote is based on the packed weight and box size.
- Packing and dispatch (up to 5–6 working days). OneMall’s stated window after payment[1]; consolidated and reinforced parcels take the longer end. Your tracking number appears when the carrier scans the parcel.
- Export and transit (the table below). Japan Post parcels leave through the Tokyo or Osaka international exchange office, usually within a day or two of pickup; DHL flies the same night or the next.
- Import customs (0–7 days). Duty and tax assessment; see the import tax guide. Paying a bill promptly is the single biggest thing you control here.
- Final delivery (1–3 days) by your national post (EMS, Seamail) or the courier’s own network (DHL, ECMS).
Delivery times and 1 kg prices by destination (11 September 2026)
Times are the carrier windows OneMall quotes for the transit leg only — add the steps above for the door-to-door figure. A dash means the line is not offered to that country on OneMall today.
| Destination | Japan Post EMS | DHL Express | ECMS | Japan Post Seamail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | — | 3-7 days $36.22 |
10-20 days $24.55 |
— |
| United Kingdom | 7-9 days $36.21 |
3-7 days $39.16 |
— | 30-90 days $19.17 |
| Canada | 10-12 days $37.63 |
3-7 days $36.22 |
— | 30-90 days $18.46 |
| Australia | 7-9 days $31.24 |
3-7 days $28.43 |
— | 30-90 days $17.75 |
| New Zealand | 7-9 days $31.24 |
3-7 days $28.43 |
— | — |
| Germany | 7-9 days $31.24 |
3-7 days $39.16 |
— | 30-90 days $17.75 |
| France | 7-9 days $31.24 |
3-7 days $39.16 |
— | 30-90 days $17.75 |
| Netherlands | 7-9 days $31.24 |
3-7 days $39.16 |
— | 30-90 days $17.75 |
| Italy | 7-9 days $31.24 |
3-7 days $39.16 |
— | 30-90 days $17.75 |
| Spain | 7-9 days $31.24 |
3-7 days $39.16 |
— | 30-90 days $17.75 |
| Ireland | 7-9 days $31.24 |
3-7 days $39.16 |
— | 30-90 days $17.75 |
| Sweden | 7-9 days $31.24 |
3-7 days $39.16 |
— | 30-90 days $17.75 |
| Switzerland | 7-9 days $31.24 |
3-7 days $39.16 |
— | 30-90 days $17.75 |
| Singapore | 4-7 days $22.37 |
3-7 days $26.75 |
— | 30-90 days $14.91 |
| Philippines | 4-7 days $22.37 |
3-7 days $26.75 |
— | 30-90 days $14.91 |
| Malaysia | 4-7 days $22.37 |
3-7 days $26.75 |
— | 30-90 days $14.91 |
| Thailand | 4-7 days $22.37 |
3-7 days $26.75 |
— | 30-90 days $14.91 |
| Indonesia | 4-7 days $22.37 |
3-7 days $26.75 |
— | 30-90 days $14.91 |
| Vietnam | 4-7 days $22.37 |
3-7 days $26.75 |
— | 30-90 days $14.91 |
| India | 7-9 days $22.37 |
3-7 days $28.43 |
— | 30-90 days $14.91 |
| Korea | 4-7 days $15.62 |
3-7 days $25.59 |
— | 30-90 days $12.78 |
| United Arab Emirates | 7-9 days $31.24 |
3-7 days $45.79 |
— | 30-90 days $17.75 |
| Saudi Arabia | 7-9 days $31.24 |
3-7 days $54.41 |
— | 30-90 days $17.75 |
| Mexico | 7-9 days $31.24 |
3-7 days $36.22 |
— | — |
| Brazil | 7-9 days $36.21 |
3-7 days $54.41 |
— | — |
Patterns worth knowing: the United States has no Japan Post option on OneMall at present, so US buyers choose between ECMS (economy, 10–20 days) and DHL. Canada’s EMS is slower than Europe’s (10–12 vs 7–9 days) because of Canada Post’s handling on arrival. Seamail is not offered to New Zealand, Mexico or Brazil. Prices scale with weight; see the shipping methods guide for how volumetric weight is calculated and the US guide for the ECMS-vs-DHL decision.
Tracking your parcel: the three systems
Japan Post (EMS, Seamail): the 13-character number
Japan Post tracking numbers are two letters, nine digits and “JP” — EMS items begin with E (for example EJ…JP or EM…JP), international parcels including Seamail begin with C, and small packets with R or L. Enter it on Japan Post’s international tracking page[4]; the same number works on your national post’s site (USPS, Royal Mail, Australia Post, Canada Post, Deutsche Post) once the parcel has been handed over, and on universal trackers such as 17TRACK. Statuses read in order: Posting/Collection → Arrival at outward office of exchange → Dispatch from outward office of exchange (it has left Japan) → Arrival at inward office of exchange (it is in your country) → Held by import customs or Processing at delivery post office → Final delivery.
Japan Post’s tracking page has an English version (the language switch is at the top of the page) and gives the detailed scan history; national trackers show a summary. Other Japan Post services you may see on a Japanese seller’s domestic shipment — ePacket Light, international air small packet, registered mail, EMS to Sri Lanka, Nepal or Pakistan — use the same 13-character format (ePacket Light numbers begin with L). Universal trackers such as 17TRACK and AfterShip accept the number and show both the Japan Post and destination-post events in one timeline, which is the easiest way to read a parcel that has been handed over. Japan Post posts service delays and suspensions on its international news page; check it before assuming a parcel is lost during a disruption.
DHL Express: the 10-digit waybill
DHL numbers are ten digits and track on dhl.com or in the DHL app, which also lets you pay duties online and redirect delivery. DHL clears customs itself, so a “clearance event” or “payment required” status is the duty bill; the parcel moves the day you pay.
ECMS (United States)
ECMS is the US economy line, processed through an automated system with real-time tracking on the ECMS portal[5]; the last mile is handed to a US carrier and a second tracking number may appear at that point. Expect fewer scan events than DHL and a longer gap between export from Japan and the first US scan.
Where to find the number
In your OneMall account under Parcels, once the parcel has shipped[1]. It is not available while the parcel is still being packed.
Common tracking situations, decoded
| What you see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No result / “not found” for 1–2 days | The label is printed before the first scan; Japan Post numbers go live at the exchange office, not at pickup | Wait 48 hours before worrying |
| “Dispatch from outward office of exchange” then nothing for a week | In transit or awaiting a flight; Seamail can show nothing for weeks | Normal within the carrier window; for Seamail, normal for a month |
| “Held by import customs” / “Retention” | Assessment in progress or a bill waiting; in the UK the parcel is held about three weeks for payment | Check for a card, text or email from the carrier; pay online |
| “Returned to sender” | Wrong address, unpaid duties or a prohibited item | Contact support at once; the original shipping is not refunded and some carriers charge a return fee[1] |
| “Delivered” but nothing arrived | Misdelivery or left in a safe place | Check neighbours and the delivery photo; report to support the same day |
| No update for 48 hours after customs clearance | Possible loss in the last mile | Report it; OneMall confirms with the carrier within 72 hours and files a claim if lost[2] |
How to make it faster
- Choose DHL when time matters — it is often within a few dollars of EMS on light parcels (compare the table) and clears customs itself.
- Pay international shipping the day the last item lands; the 5–6 working-day packing clock starts then, not at warehouse arrival.
- Answer the duty bill immediately; unpaid bills are the most common cause of a two-week “stuck” parcel.
- Get the address right — postcode, phone number and, for the US and Canada, a full street address with unit number; corrections after dispatch cost time and money.
- Avoid the two peaks: Japan’s year-end/New Year week and Golden Week (late April–early May), when Japan Post exchange offices back up.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from Japan to the USA / America take?
By DHL 3–7 days, by ECMS 10–20 days in transit, plus packing and customs. Japan Post is not offered to US addresses on OneMall at present.
How long does EMS take from Japan to the UK (England), Australia, New Zealand or Germany?
7–9 days in transit on 11 September 2026, typically arriving 10–14 days after you pay shipping once packing and customs are included. Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and Korea are 4–7 days.
How long does shipping from Japan to Canada take?
EMS 10–12 days, DHL 3–7 days, Seamail 30–90 days. Canada Post’s customs handling adds a few days and a C$9.95 fee on taxed items.
Why is my Japan Post tracking not working?
Most often because the parcel has not yet reached the international exchange office, where the first scan happens; give it 48 hours. Make sure you are entering all 13 characters including the final JP, and try your own country’s postal tracker as well as Japan Post’s.
Does OneMall provide a tracking number?
Yes, for every parcel, in your account once it ships[1].
Is Seamail worth the wait?
For heavy, non-urgent items — books, manga lots, vinyl, ceramics that you are happy to wait for — it is often half the EMS price. The window is 30–90 days and tracking is sparse in the middle; do not choose it for anything you need by a date.
What does the tracking number look like? Can I get redelivery?
A sample Japan Post number is EJ123456789JP: two letters, nine digits, JP. Redelivery after a missed attempt is arranged with your local post or courier using that same number; Japan Post’s redelivery form only applies to deliveries inside Japan.
How long does shipping from Japan take on eBay or from a Japanese shop directly?
The same carriers and windows apply; the difference is that a shop or eBay seller ships one order, while a proxy lets you combine several into one parcel. A forwarded or “care package” style consolidated box follows the EMS/DHL times in the table once it leaves the warehouse.
Can I send a package from Japan to Russia or China through OneMall?
Availability follows the carriers: check the calculator for your country; if no line returns a price, the destination is not served at the moment.
References
- OneMall Support — International Shipping FAQ (dispatch within 5–6 working days, tracking numbers, returned parcels)
- OneMall Support — Online Value-Added Services (lost-package and damage after-sales, photo service timing)
- OneMall Support — Important Purchase Notice (seller shipping deadlines, storage period)
- Japan Post — International mail tracking
- OneMall Support — International shipping method (carrier descriptions and tracking systems)
Transit windows are carrier estimates quoted on 11 September 2026 and exclude packing and customs. Last updated: 2026-09-11.