Coming Soon
How to Buy from Japan — Beginner's Guide
Your first merch haul from Japan, demystified. From picking the right shop to surviving customs, this is the end-to-end primer we wish existed when we started.
What this guide will cover
Where to buy
- Official brand stores vs. retail chains (Animate, Amiami, Mandarake)
- Which marketplaces are worth it (Yahoo Auctions, Mercari JP, Surugaya)
- Japan-exclusive releases: how to spot them early
Payment & proxy
- Why most JP sites reject foreign cards
- Comparing proxy services — cost, speed, support
- When to use Anime Concierge instead
Shipping & customs
- EMS vs. Surface vs. DHL — picking by weight and urgency
- Declared value, duties, and de minimis by country
- Packing rules for figures, acrylics, and trading goods
Avoiding rookie mistakes
- Pre-orders: timing, deposits, and cancellation risk
- Bootlegs: how to spot them before you pay
- Return policies (spoiler: most sales are final)