Top 10 Japanese Proxy Buying Services: How to Buy from Japan with No Japanese Address
- Admin
- Feb 22
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 24
It can be tough to narrow down the best Japanese proxy services with so many options available. Here's a list of 10 popular choices, along with a short explanation of each and why people use them:
1. Buyee
Best for: Beginners and those who want to buy from Mercari or Yahoo! Auctions.
Buyee is one of the largest and most well-known services, with official partnerships with Mercari and Yahoo! Auctions. Their platform is directly integrated, making it incredibly easy to browse and buy without leaving their site.
✅ Pros:
Seamless, official integration with Mercari and Yahoo! Auctions.
User-friendly interface and a helpful browser extension.
Frequently offers coupons and discounts on international shipping fees.
❌ Cons:
Fees can add up; watch for the service fee, plan fee, and optional service costs.
Package consolidation is not as streamlined as some competitors.
2. Neokyo
Best for: Cost-effectiveness and buyers who want a long free storage period.
Neokyo is popular for its simple, low-cost fee structure and generous 45 days of free warehouse storage. Its clean interface makes it easy to manage orders from various stores, including Rakuten, and Amazon Japan.
✅ Pros:
Low service fee of only 250 JPY per item.
45 days of free storage is perfect for consolidating many items over time.
Simple, transparent pricing model.
❌ Cons:
Customer support can be slower during peak times.
Does not support bidding on Yahoo! Auctions directly.
3. ZenMarket
Best for: International users who need multilingual support and a simple all-in-one platform.
ZenMarket offers a polished experience in multiple languages, making it highly accessible for beginners. They support a massive range of stores and have a straightforward fee of 500 JPY per item, with no hidden charges.
✅ Pros:
Excellent multilingual customer support (English, Spanish, French, Russian, and more).
60 days of free storage, one of the longest available.
Lets you add funds to your wallet to simplify payments.
❌ Cons:
The 500 JPY fee can be expensive for very cheap items.
Package photography costs extra.
4. FromJapan
Best for: Auction experts and buyers of high-value or fragile items.
FromJapan has been around for years and excels at auction bidding. Their "Protection Plan" options offer peace of mind, ensuring your items are inspected and covered against damage.
✅ Pros:
Specializes in navigating Yahoo! Auctions with powerful bidding tools.
Different service "Plans" allow you to choose your level of inspection and insurance.
Excellent packaging for fragile collectibles.
❌ Cons:
The fee structure with different plans can be confusing for new users.
5. Japan Rabbit
Best for: Excellent customer support, pre-orders, and in-store pickups.
A sister service to White Rabbit Express, Japan Rabbit focuses on a high-touch, personalized experience. They can assist with complex orders, pre-orders from sites like the Pokémon Center, and even purchase items from physical stores.
✅ Pros:
Top-tier customer service known for being responsive and helpful.
Can handle in-store pickups and complex pre-orders.
100% money-back guarantee if they make a mistake with your order.
❌ Cons:
Percentage-based fee can be costly for expensive items.
6. Sendico
Best for: A wide selection of stores and competitive shipping prices.
Sendico offers a straightforward platform to access popular stores like Mercari, Yahoo! Auctions, and Rakuten. They are known for competitive pricing and free content insurance on valuable parcels.
✅ Pros:
Supports a broad range of popular Japanese retailers.
Free insurance for parcels valued over 50,000 JPY.
User-friendly and easy to navigate.
❌ Cons:
Service fee is higher than some budget options.
Best for: Price negotiation and shipping difficult items like perfume and lighters.
This service offers a highly personalized, quote-based experience. A key feature is their ability to negotiate prices on your behalf on platforms like Mercari. They specialize in handling items that are typically banned from international mail. For example, they can properly dismantle lighters for safe shipping following correct procedures.
For other restricted items like perfume, they offer unique solutions such as arranging a hand-carry service to the US or shipping it to a specified address within Japan (like a hotel).
✅ Pros:
Price negotiation with sellers on Mercari.
Specialist handling for restricted items (e.g., dismantling lighters for shipping, hand-carrying perfume to the US).
"Mark as gift" option may help with import duties in some countries.
❌ Cons:
Percentage-based fee is less ideal for very expensive products.
8. DeJapan
Best for: Consolidating multiple items from major retailers like Amazon Japan and Rakuten.
DeJapan stands out with a unique pricing model. For many major Japanese marketplaces, they charge a 0 JPY service fee per item. Instead, they charge a single processing and packaging fee when you decide to ship your consolidated package from their warehouse. This structure makes DeJapan extremely cost-effective for shoppers planning a large haul from different stores.
✅ Pros:
0 JPY service fee for most major stores like Rakuten, Amazon Japan, and Yahoo! Shopping.
Highly economical for large, multi-store shopping orders that will be consolidated.
Clean and straightforward interface for placing orders.
❌ Cons:
The mandatory package processing fee can be less cost-effective for single-item shipments.
The free storage period is shorter than some competitors.
Best for: Personalized service and finding rare, hard-to-find collectibles.
As a smaller proxy service, Treasure Japan focuses on providing a personalized, concierge-like experience. They excel at hunting down rare items and communicating directly with sellers to answer specific questions you might have.
✅ Pros:
Highly personalized service and attention to detail.
Specializes in sourcing difficult-to-find items and collectibles.
❌ Cons:
Percentage-based fee is higher than many competitors.
Slower processing times due to its smaller scale.
Best for: DIY shoppers who can purchase from Japanese stores themselves.
Important Note: Tenso is a package forwarding service, not a proxy buyer. This means you must buy the items yourself. Tenso provides you with a Japanese shipping address, receives your packages, and forwards them to you.
✅ Pros:
No proxy buying fees, making it potentially cheaper if you can place the order yourself.
Gives you the freedom to shop from any store that accepts your payment method.
❌ Cons:
You handle the purchasing and language barrier yourself.
Useless for stores that do not accept foreign credit cards or require a Japanese phone number.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What's the difference between a proxy service and a forwarding service?
A: A proxy service buys the items for you. A forwarding service (like Tenso) only provides a Japanese address for you to ship your own purchases to. You need a proxy if the store doesn't accept your credit card or won't ship to a forwarding address.
Q: Are Japanese proxy services safe to use? A: Yes, the established services listed here are reputable and safe. They handle thousands of packages daily. Always check recent user reviews, but you can generally trust them with your purchases.
Q: How can I save money on international shipping?
A: Consolidate! The biggest way to save is by combining multiple small orders into one large box. Also, choose your shipping method wisely. Surface Mail is the cheapest but can take months, while express couriers like FedEx/DHL are fastest but most expensive.
Q: Will I have to pay customs fees or import taxes?
A: This depends entirely on your country's laws and the value of your shipment. The proxy service does not handle these fees. You will be responsible for paying any import duties or taxes charged by your local customs office.
Remember to consider factors like fees, shipping options, customer service, and restrictions when choosing a proxy buying service. Each service has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it's important to select the one that best meets your individual needs and preferences.
Also read: Who Can Help you to Buy From Mercari?