Proxy Forwarding in Japan: Your Complete Guide

Proxy forwarding in Japan is a service that gives international shoppers a Japanese address for online shopping and then ships their purchases to their home country.

It is the standard solution for accessing Japanese online shops that only ship domestically, Japanese auction sites that require a local buyer, and Japan-only products not available on international versions of Japanese sites.

This guide explains how proxy forwarding works in Japan, the four main forwarding services available in 2026, their fee structures, and what items cannot be shipped internationally.

What is a proxy service in Japan?

Proxy forwarding is a service where individuals can receive mail, packages, and parcels in one country and have it forwarded to another address in another country. 

This service is useful for expats, travelers, and international shoppers wanting to receive items from one country to another.

Mail forwarding and package forwarding are the same as proxy forwarding.

How does proxy forwarding work in Japan?

Proxy forwarding works differently depending on the service. But here are the general steps:

1. Registration: Sign up for your proxy forwarding choice. Some services will give you a Japanese address, while others function like shopping platforms that will handle the purchase and shipping for you.

2. Shop: Shop on various Japanese shopping sites or in e-commerce. Input the Japanese address that was given to you. Some proxy forwarding sites are shopping platforms allowing you to buy directly through their sites without inputting a Japanese address.

3. Receiving your items: The proxy forwarding service in Japan will receive your items on your behalf.

4. Forwarding: Your items, usually in one package, will be forwarded to your home address to save shipping time and costs. You’ll receive a tracking number to monitor where your items are.

5. Delivery: Your items are shipped to your specific international address outside Japan.

Costs vary depending on the weight and size of the package. So heavier packages will tend to be more pricer when sending it abroad from Japan.

Why use a proxy forwarding service in Japan?

Don't most Japanese sites have an English version that ships internationally? 

Yes and no. The answer has more nuance. 

1. Domestic-only shipping

Many Japanese shopping and auction sites, such as Mercari Japan, Yahoo! Shopping Japan, Tower Record, and HANDS (formerly Tokyu Hands), only ship to Japanese addresses, making it difficult for international buyers to receive orders.

2. Japanese-only products

Some Japanese online shops, such as Amazon.co.jp, Uniqlo Japan, and Rakuten, have Japan only products. Although these sites have an English version that offers international shipping, the full range of these Japanese items is only available on the Japanese version. 

So, proxy forwarding services in Japan let you shop freely from any Japanese site without worrying about whether or not the site offers international shipping.

Forwarding service versus proxy service: which do you need?

Before choosing a service, it is important to understand that there are two fundamentally different types of Japan shipping services that are often grouped under the term proxy forwarding.

A forwarding service gives you a Japanese address. You shop on Japanese sites yourself, enter your Japanese forwarding address at checkout, and the service ships your purchases to your home country. This works for sites that accept foreign payment methods and do not require Japanese identity verification.

A proxy service goes further. It creates a Japanese buyer account on your behalf and purchases items for you using a Japanese payment method. This is the only way to buy from sites that require Japanese identity verification, such as Mercari Japan, Yahoo Auctions Japan, and some smaller Japanese online shops that do not accept foreign credit cards. ZenMarket and Buyee are the most widely used examples.

If you want to buy from Japanese auction sites or C2C marketplaces like Yahoo Auctions or Mercari, you need a proxy service, not just a forwarding service. If you are buying from mainstream retail sites like Amazon Japan or Uniqlo Japan that accept your credit card, a forwarding service is sufficient and usually cheaper.

4 proxy forwarding services available in Japan

For proxy forwarding in Japan, here are four services that cover the main use cases, from forwarding-only services that give you a Japanese address to full proxy shopping platforms that purchase on your behalf.

Japan proxy forwarding services compared (2026)

Service	Model	Fee per item	Free consolidation	Auction site access	Best for
tenso.com	Forwarding	150 yen system fee per package	No, paid service	No	Shopping sites that accept your payment method
ZenMarket	Proxy	500 yen per item	Yes	Yes (Yahoo Auctions, Mercari)	Auction buyers, multi-seller hauls
Buyee	Proxy	Varies by site	No, paid add-on	Yes (Yahoo Auctions, Rakuten, more)	Wide site coverage, auction buyers
MailMate	Virtual address and mail	500 yen + 3% processing fee	On request	No	Expats, residents, ongoing mail and package handling

Note: The Japan Post US suspension (August 2025) affects all services using Japan Post for US shipping. Private couriers (DHL, FedEx) remain available for US shipments but at higher cost. Always confirm current US shipping options with your chosen service before ordering.

1. Tenso

Note for 2026 readers: there are two separate services that use the Tenso name. tenso.com is operated by Tenso Inc. (the same company that runs Buyee) and is the most widely used. Tenso Japan (tensojapan.com) is a separate service operated by Navibird Inc. They have different fee structures and storage policies. Always confirm which service you are registering with before signing up.

Tenso.com is a well-known proxy forwarding service that provides you with a Japanese address to use on Japanese online shopping sites. Once you make a purchase and your item arrives at their warehouse, you receive a notification. You can then request international forwarding with your preferred shipping method.

Tenso revised its fee structure in October 2025 due to rising labour, utility, and packaging costs.

Current fees as of 2026 include a system usage fee of 150 yen per package (increased from 100 yen), a consolidation application fee of 200 yen for standard service (increased from 150 yen), and a consolidation handling fee of 200 yen per package for standard service (increased from 150 yen).

Tenso offers multiple international shipping methods including EMS, airmail, SAL, and surface mail, with up to 10% discount on EMS rates.

Important for US-based shoppers: Japan Post suspended international mail and parcels bound for the United States in August 2025. If you are shipping to the US, Tenso recommends using private couriers such as DHL or FedEx instead of Japan Post services. Verify current US shipping availability directly with Tenso before placing an order.

2. Zen Market

Zen Market is a popular proxy forwarding service that simplifies the online Japanese shipping process.

Unlike other proxy forwarding services, you shop directly on Zen Market's website, as they have integrated various Japanese online stores from Amazon Japan, Rakuten, and Yahoo! Auctions onto their platform. 

You will not receive a Japanese address, so you will have to find your items on the Zen Market website.

ZenMarket's fees include the cost of the item, a 500-yen fee per item, a deposit fee, a domestic delivery fee, and an international shipping fee.

3. Buyee

Buyee is a little different from the rest of the proxy forwarding services as it’s better known for being a Japanese auction site that international shoppers can use.

They partner with major Japanese e-commerce sites like Yahoo! Japan Auctions, Rakuten, and Amazon Japan. With a wide range of sites, you can buy anything from clothing, accessories, technology, and Japanese goods all in one place.

Buyee fees are harder to calculate, but they include the consumption tax, a purchasing fee, a shipping rate (which varies between sites), delivery compensation, a domestic shipping fee, and an international shipping fee. 

They will also have additional services at an added cost, such as package consolidation, protective packaging, and photo service.

4. Bonus: MailMate

If you frequently buy from Japanese online shopping sites, consider MailMate. You’ll get a Japanese virtual address to use.

MailMate is not the typical proxy service. It is a virtual address service that handles and forwards its customers’ mail and packages, making it a possible and reliable service for proxy forwarding.

a) Online dashboard

MailMate handles surface mail as well as parcels and packages.

When an item arrives at MailMate, you’ll receive a notification via email or Slack. MailMate scans the outside content and will not open any of your items unless you request it with the “Open It” button. 

On your account, you can request a forwarding for your items.

b) Flexible forwarding

Like any proxy forwarding service in Japan, MailMate offers the option to forward your items to your international address. 

The total shipping cost is the international shipping cost plus a processing fee (500 yen + 3% of the cost). So, if an item weighs 300 grams and is shipped with Japan Post EMS, it will be 4517 yen.

c) Bilingual support

MailMate’s bilingual staff will handle your items with care for any mail room issues you may have. 

What items can not be shipped with proxy forwarding in Japan?

All proxy forwarding services must follow customs regulations and inspections when shipping internationally. 

Most items can be shipped internationally. However, some items can not be shipped due to legal and safety concerns. Here are some examples: 

• Explosives and flammable goods: Fireworks, gunpowder, and flammable liquids.

• Weapons: Including firearms, ammunition, knives, and other weapons.

• Hazardous materials: Chemicals, toxins, and radioactive materials.

• Drugs and medications: Illegal drugs, prescription medications, and certain over-the-counter medicines.

• Perishable goods: Food items that can spoil or require refrigeration.

• Alcohol and tobacco: Some countries have strict regulations on importing alcohol and tobacco products.

• Currency and valuable items: Cash, checks, and certain high-value items like precious metals and stones.

• Electronics: Items with lithium batteries may have shipping restrictions.

Additionally, some countries will have specific restrictions on certain products, such as cosmetics and personal care. Be sure to research these restrictions before making any purchases. 

For shoppers shipping to the United States: Japan Post suspended acceptance of EMS and parcel services bound for the US in August 2025 due to unclear US customs regulations. As of April 2026, some Japan Post services to the US have resumed with new customs duty prepayment requirements, but availability varies by service and proxy provider. If you are shipping proxy forwarding purchases to the US, confirm the current shipping methods available with your chosen service before ordering, and budget for potential private courier costs (DHL, FedEx) as an alternative to Japan Post services.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a proxy service and a forwarding service in Japan?

A forwarding service gives you a Japanese address and ships items you purchase yourself to your home country. It works for sites that accept foreign payment methods. A proxy service purchases items on your behalf using a Japanese account and payment method, which is necessary for auction sites and marketplaces like Mercari Japan and Yahoo Auctions Japan that require Japanese identity or payment. If you want to buy from Japanese auction sites, you need a proxy service. If you are buying from mainstream retail sites that accept your credit card, a forwarding service is sufficient and usually cheaper.

How to get a Japanese proxy address?

Sign up with a proxy forwarding service in Japan. Forwarding services like Tenso (tenso.com) and MailMate provide you with a Japanese shipping address you can enter at checkout on Japanese online shopping sites. Proxy services like ZenMarket and Buyee do not give you a Japanese address because they make purchases on your behalf through their own Japanese accounts.

Can I use proxy forwarding for Yahoo Auctions Japan?

Yes, but you need a proxy service rather than a simple forwarding service. Yahoo Auctions Japan requires a Japanese account and Japanese payment method, so you cannot purchase items yourself and have them shipped to a forwarding address. ZenMarket and Buyee both support Yahoo Auctions Japan and will bid and purchase on your behalf, then consolidate and ship your items internationally.

How much does proxy forwarding from Japan cost?

Costs depend on the service, the number of items, and the international shipping method. ZenMarket charges 500 yen per item as a service fee, with free consolidation and standard international shipping costs on top. Tenso charges 150 yen per package as a system usage fee, plus consolidation fees and international shipping. MailMate charges 500 yen plus 3% of the shipping cost as a processing fee. All services charge the international shipping cost separately, which varies by weight, destination country, and shipping method. For US customers, Japan Post services are limited following the August 2025 suspension, so budget for private courier rates when estimating total costs.

What is a Japanese proxy service?

A Japanese proxy service is a company that purchases items from Japanese online stores on behalf of international customers who cannot buy directly. It is used for Japanese auction sites, C2C marketplaces, and shops that require Japanese payment methods or identity verification. The proxy service bids, purchases, receives, consolidates, and ships your items to your international address. ZenMarket and Buyee are the most widely used proxy services for Japan.

In closing

Proxy forwarding in Japan allows international shoppers to receive Japan-only products. Whether you are an expat, traveler, or fan of Japanese goods, these services offer a seamless way to shop and receive items from Japan.