Shipping from Japan to HK: Fees, Customs & Restricted Items

Top 3 Shipping Options from Japan to Hong Kong Compared

When planning to ship goods from Japan to Hong Kong, choosing the right logistics solution is vital. Below is a comparison of the top 3 most common shipping modes in the market to help you quickly find the best fit:

To help you accurately plan your cross-border logistics budget, we recommend reading our detailed guide on how to calculate international express shipping costs, or you can use our online tool—simply enter a few details to instantly get a tailored DHL Express shipping quote.

Guide to High-Risk Items (Perfume, Medicine & Battery Restrictions)

When shipping specific items from Japan to Hong Kong, you must comply with relevant regulations to avoid legal issues or shipment delays. Items like perfumes, pharmaceuticals, and electronics are subject to strict restrictions due to their special components or structure, requiring advance documentation or selecting the right logistics carrier.

Shipping Perfume from Japan to Hong Kong

Most perfumes contain alcohol, classifying them as flammable hazardous goods, and are generally not accepted for personal shipping from Japan to Hong Kong via international air express. For commercial trade purposes, strict import procedures must be followed, such as submitting Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and obtaining approval, which is highly challenging and not recommended. For personal shipments, consider alternative legal channels or purchasing directly in Hong Kong to avoid the risk of returns.

If shipping for B2B commercial trade (e.g., perfume retailers or e-commerce imports), perfume is classified as "Dangerous Goods (DG)" in international logistics. Enterprises must follow strict import procedures, such as submitting Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for approval. Rest assured, DHL Express has extensive experience handling dangerous goods and can provide corporate clients with expert approval guidance, compliant packaging advice, and safe transport solutions. For more details on logistics regulations, please refer to our Ultimate Guide to Shipping Liquids Internationally.

Shipping Medicine from Japan to Hong Kong

Products containing medicinal ingredients, such as Western or Chinese medicines, eye drops, or anti-inflammatory creams, are fully restricted and typically not accepted by DHL. Under Hong Kong law, many common Japanese over-the-counter (OTC) medicines (like specific cold remedies or painkillers) are classified as restricted "Part 1 Poisons". Please note that the legal requirements for "passengers carrying goods for personal use" and "logistics shipping" are completely different. While travelers bringing a reasonable amount for personal use may be exempted, sending them via air express requires an import license issued by the Hong Kong Department of Health, otherwise it constitutes an offense. Currently, for B2B corporate clients, DHL only transports prescription drugs or medical devices sent by business accounts with specific medical logistics qualifications, and both the sender and receiver must pass strict import and export vetting.

Shipping Electronics from Japan to Hong Kong

Electronic products containing lithium batteries (such as mobile phones, laptops, cameras) must comply with international safety standards (such as UN38.3 certification), with strict requirements for certain models/categories. Additionally, standalone lithium batteries or power banks are subject to strict air freight prohibitions.

Courier declarations must include detailed product information, such as brand, model, functions, and factory certificates, especially for high-end products or bulk imports by corporate clients, where vetting is more rigorous. It is recommended to prepare relevant documents in advance to ensure smooth customs clearance.

Customs Clearance & Tax Exemptions: What to Prepare Before Importing?

Understand import documentation

To keep your shipment on track, ensure you have all the required paperwork. Missing or incomplete documentation is one of the most common causes of customs delays. 

Essential documents for international shipping from Japan to Hong Kong include:

• Commercial invoice
• Airway bill (AWB)
• Packing list

If you're unsure about the process, DHL Express offers support for corporate clients with preparing and verifying documents, minimising delays, and ensuring that customs clearance is smooth.

Hong Kong operates as a free port, meaning most goods are duty-free. That said, exceptions apply. Items like tobacco products, alcoholic beverages (with an alcohol strength of more than 30%), hydrocarbon oil, and methyl alcohol are subject to duties and must follow the correct import procedure.

Even if your goods are exempt from duties, you still need to provide accurate documentation and make a proper declaration to customs as part of the import clearance procedure.

Declare correctly to avoid delays

Be meticulous when declaring your shipment. Undervaluing goods or misclassifying items can result in customs holds or financial penalties.

To avoid complications, ensure that your commercial invoice reflects the true transaction value, includes a clear and specific item description, and uses the correct Harmonised System (HS) code. 

Reference HS Codes for Common Items Shipped from Japan to Hong Kong

HS Codes are an internationally standardized system of names and numbers to classify traded products, directly affecting duty calculation, tax rates, and whether additional import licenses are required. If an HS Code is declared incorrectly or too vaguely, customs may demand a correction, causing clearance delays or extra fees. For the three high-risk categories mentioned above, here are reference HS Codes commonly used by B2B enterprises:

Note: The codes above are for reference only. The actual Hong Kong HS Code must be further classified based on the product's specific ingredients and purpose. To learn how to accurately find product codes, please read our Understanding HS Codes Guide, or consult the Cargo Classification Enquiry Tool provided by the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department.

DHL Corporate Logistics Solutions: Your Reliable B2B Import & Export Partner

Japanese goods have long held a special place in the hearts—and carts—of Hong Kong consumers. For import businesses, this presents a compelling opportunity.

But capitalising on this demand takes more than just sourcing the right products. As we've explored, successful international shipping hinges on choosing credible shipping modes, preparing the correct documentation, ensuring regulatory compliance, and navigating customs with care. The process may be straightforward, but precision at every stage makes all the difference.

Our knowledge of import regulations in Hong Kong means we can flag potential compliance issues for B2B corproate clients before your shipment even leaves Japan—whether it’s a food item needing proper shelf-life documentation or an electronic device that must meet safety certification standards.

We also support importers with tailored documentation review, pre-clearance checks, and commodity code classification to ensure accurate declarations. With a dedicated team familiar with the nuances of both Japanese export processes and Hong Kong’s import clearance procedures, we help businesses avoid costly delays and streamline every step of the shipping journey. 

Shipping from Japan to Hong Kong: FAQs