FAQ
Kokoro Japan has shipped Japanese beauty, health and food products worldwide from Saitama, Japan since 2019. Here are quick answers about shipping, customs, payment and returns.
Last updated: October 2026
Shipping
How much does shipping cost?
Premium Shipping is free on orders over US$45 (US$30 for orders to Asia), or the equivalent in your currency. Courier Shipping is free on orders over US$100 (not available to Asia).
For smaller orders, the shipping cost is shown at checkout before you pay. See our Shipping Information page for full rates.
Which shipping methods do you offer, and how long do they take?
Every method includes tracking and insurance.
| Method | Delivery time | Insured up to | Free on orders over |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium | 3–9 business days | US$80 | US$45 (US$30 to Asia) |
| Express | 3–5 business days (2–4 to Asia) | US$200 | – |
| Courier | 1–3 business days | US$300 | US$100 (not available to Asia) |
Delivery times are estimates and can vary depending on the situation and your destination country.
When will my order ship?
We generally ship your order within 3–6 business days of it being placed. If an item is out of stock, it can take 7–9 business days. Your shipping confirmation email includes your tracking number.
Who delivers my parcel in my country?
Once your parcel reaches your country, it's usually delivered by your local postal service, for example USPS (United States), Royal Mail (UK), DHL (Germany), La Poste (France), Correos (Spain), CTT (Portugal), PostNL (Netherlands) or Bpost (Belgium).
If your parcel is held for collection or by customs, you're responsible for collecting it, including paying any customs fees and providing any documents required.
Why is my parcel taking longer than expected?
Delivery times are estimates and can vary depending on the situation and your destination country.
You can follow your parcel with the tracking number in your shipping confirmation email. We can't refund shipping fees because of delays.
My parcel arrived damaged or was lost. What should I do?
Please contact us with your order number, plus photos if anything arrived damaged. Every shipping method is insured, and we'll work with the carrier on a claim. Damaged or defective items can be exchanged.
Customs & duties
Will I have to pay import duties or taxes?
It depends on your country. For orders to the United States, import duty is collected at checkout (see below).
For other countries, import duties, taxes and any carrier handling fees are set by your country. They aren't included in our prices or shipping costs and are paid by you.
I'm in the United States. What should I know?
Since August 29, 2025, the US no longer exempts low-value parcels from import duty, so duty now applies to every order, whatever its value.
US import duty is added at checkout together with your shipping fee, and it's calculated from your order value. You'll see the full cost before you pay.
I'm in the European Union. What should I know?
Since July 1, 2026, parcels to the EU worth less than €150 are no longer duty-free. A flat €3 customs duty generally applies per type of product in your order, on top of local VAT. For example, an order with a skincare product, a supplement and a snack counts as three types, so €9 in duty.
Import VAT applies to every parcel to the EU, whatever its value, at your country's VAT rate (between 17% and 27%). EU VAT, customs duty and any carrier handling fee aren't charged at checkout. You pay them to the delivery carrier when your parcel arrives.
Can you mark my order as a gift or declare a lower value?
No. We're required to declare the full value of every order.
What if customs holds or returns my parcel?
Some countries restrict medicines, supplements or certain ingredients, so please check your country's rules before ordering.
We can't refund orders that are refused because of customs charges. If an item is prohibited in your country, any return shipping fees are your responsibility.
Orders & payment
Can I cancel my order?
Please contact us as soon as possible. Orders can be cancelled before they ship, with a 10% cancellation fee. Once an order has shipped, it can't be cancelled.
Which payment methods do you accept?
We accept credit and debit cards, PayPal, Shop Pay, Apple Pay and Google Pay. [Check Settings → Payments and delete any you don't offer.]
Our checkout is run by Shopify, which meets PCI DSS Level 1, the highest security standard for card payments. Your payment is encrypted, and we never see or store your card details.
Which currency are prices shown in?
Prices are shown in your local currency, based on your location.
Returns
Can I return an item?
Yes, within 30 days of delivery, as long as the item is unused and in its original condition and packaging. Food and other perishable items can't be returned.
How do I start a return?
Contact us with your order number and the item you'd like to return, and we'll send you instructions.
Return shipping is paid by you and isn't refundable. Once we've received and checked the item, we refund it to your original payment method.
Can I exchange an item?
We exchange items only if they arrive damaged or defective. Please contact us with your order number and photos.
Products
Are your products genuine?
Yes. Every product is bought from authorised suppliers in Japan and shipped from our warehouse in Saitama, Japan.
How long before products expire?
When your order ships, every product has at least this long before its expiry date:
- Beauty and cosmetics: 6 months
- Supplements: 4 months
- Food: 2 months
Are the labels in English?
Most packaging is in Japanese, because these products are made for the Japanese market. Each product page includes an English description and directions.
Why are your prices so competitive?
We buy directly in Japan and ship from our own warehouse, so our prices stay close to what you'd pay in a Japanese store.