Japan
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Sendai
Sendai is the economic centre of the Tohoku region in northern Japan.
Services in Sendai
- Air freight in SendaiAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in SendaiFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in SendaiImport and export clearance by our in-house customs teams in 8 countries and by partner teams in the Ziem network.
Airports, seaports and connections in Sendai
- AirportSendai
SDJ - AirportNarita
NRT - SeaportSendai-Shiogama Port
Sendai Airport (SDJ), located on the coast south of the city in Natori and Iwanuma, is the main airport of the Tohoku region and offers domestic routes plus a limited number of international flights within Asia. Most international air freight from Sendai is therefore trucked to Narita International Airport (NRT) or Haneda (HND) for departure. The seaport is Sendai-Shiogama Port, with the Sendai container terminal serving Tohoku importers and exporters, and Ishinomaki Port further north handles bulk and fisheries cargo.
The Tohoku Expressway runs north-south through Sendai and connects the region with Tokyo and the Kanto airports. The Sendai-Tobu Road follows the coast past the airport and port, while the Joban Expressway offers an alternative route south along the Pacific coast and the Sanriku Expressway leads north to the fishing ports of the Sanriku coast. The Tohoku Shinkansen links Sendai with Tokyo.
Industries in Sendai and how we support them
Sendai is the economic centre of Tohoku. Miyagi Prefecture hosts vehicle assembly and automotive suppliers, semiconductor equipment and electronics production, and research institutions linked to Tohoku University. The Sanriku coast north of Sendai is known for seafood such as oysters and scallops, and food processing is an important local industry. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with air freight under our own air waybills via Narita and Haneda, Next Flight Out and On-Board Courier for urgent electronics and automotive parts, sea freight FCL/LCL through Sendai-Shiogama, and customs clearance by our Japanese network partner team.
Operational logistics facts for Sendai
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Sendai-Shiogama Port | Containers for Tohoku industry and food | Regional sea freight gateway without routing via Tokyo Bay |
| Sendai Airport (SDJ) | Domestic and regional connections | Local option for small urgent and hand-carried consignments |
| Tohoku Expressway corridor to Narita and Haneda | Road feeder for international air freight | Access to Japan's main air cargo hubs |
| Sanriku coast seafood industry | Fresh and frozen seafood | Planning of temperature-controlled exports |
Customs clearance in Japan
Ziem network
Customs clearance in Japan is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
For air freight to and from Japan we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in Japan need an importer code registered in NACCS (recommended) and, for some goods, product-specific notifications.
Frequently asked questions
Do Sendai air shipments go via Sendai Airport or Narita?
International air freight from Sendai usually leaves from Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND) after road transport on the Tohoku Expressway, because Sendai Airport (SDJ) has limited international cargo capacity. We confirm the routing and cut-off times with every booking.
Can you export fresh seafood from the Sendai region by air?
Yes. We plan temperature-controlled transport from the Sendai area to Narita or Haneda and book airlines with suitable perishable handling. Health certificates and destination country requirements are checked with you before shipping.
Does winter weather affect shipments from Sendai?
Snow between December and February can delay road transport, especially on routes into the mountains. We plan extra buffer for trucking to Narita or Haneda in winter and inform you if road conditions affect a shipment.
Who clears customs for imports into Sendai?
A dedicated partner team in the Ziem network handles clearance under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures, filing declarations with Japan Customs through NACCS. This applies whether goods arrive at Sendai-Shiogama Port or by air via Narita or Haneda.
What documents are needed to export seafood from Miyagi?
Usually a commercial invoice, packing list, health certificate and any certificates the destination country requires. Some markets have special requirements for Japanese seafood. We review destination rules with you before shipping, because clearance depends on complete documents.
Can export clearance be done before goods are trucked to Narita?
Export customs data can be prepared in advance by our Japanese network partner team so the declaration is ready when the goods reach the airport. Release depends on complete and correct export documents.