Japan
Air freight, sea freight and customs in Tokyo
Narita is one of the world's busiest cargo airports and the main air gateway to Japan.
Services in Tokyo
- Air freight in TokyoAir freight for time-critical and high-value cargo between Europe, the Americas and Asia.
- Sea freight in TokyoFCL and LCL sea freight on the main trade lanes, with pre-carriage and on-carriage by road or rail.
- Customs clearance in TokyoImport 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 Tokyo
- AirportNarita
NRT - AirportHaneda
HND - SeaportTokyo and Yokohama
Tokyo has two international airports. Narita International Airport (NRT), in Chiba Prefecture east of the city, is Japan's main international cargo gateway and handles most long-haul freighter traffic. Tokyo International Airport, better known as Haneda (HND), sits on Tokyo Bay close to the city centre and offers extensive belly capacity on passenger flights to Asia, North America and Europe. For sea freight, the Port of Tokyo and the neighbouring Port of Yokohama together form the Keihin port area on Tokyo Bay. We route each shipment through NRT or HND depending on the destination, the airline schedule and where in the Tokyo metropolitan area the goods are collected or delivered.
The Higashi-Kanto Expressway links central Tokyo with Narita, while Haneda is reached via the Shuto (Metropolitan) Expressway and its Bayshore Route. The Ken-O Expressway rings the outer metropolitan area and connects the Tomei, Chuo, Kan-Etsu and Tohoku expressways, so suppliers in Saitama, Kanagawa and northern Kanto can be collected without crossing the inner city. JR Freight runs container trains from the Tokyo Freight Terminal on the bay front to other regions of Japan.
Industries in Tokyo and how we support them
Greater Tokyo is home to the headquarters of many Japanese electronics, pharmaceutical and trading companies, and to a dense base of precision machining and component suppliers, for example in Ota ward and along the Keihin industrial belt. Imports include high-value consumer goods, medical devices, semiconductor equipment parts and luxury products. Ziem Logistics supports these supply chains with air freight under our own air waybills via NRT and HND, Next Flight Out for production stoppages, On-Board Courier for prototypes and critical spare parts, and sea freight FCL/LCL via the Tokyo Bay ports. Customs clearance is handled by our Japanese network partner team under the Ziem Logistics brand.
Operational logistics facts for Tokyo
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Narita International Airport (NRT) | Long-haul freighter capacity, general cargo, dangerous goods, temperature-sensitive freight | Widest choice of freighter and belly connections into Japan |
| Haneda Airport (HND) | Belly cargo on passenger flights, urgent small shipments | Short distance to central Tokyo for time-critical deliveries |
| Port of Tokyo / Keihin ports | FCL and LCL to and from Asia, Europe and North America | Sea freight and customs clearance handled in one shipment file |
| Ota ward and Keihin industrial belt | Precision parts, machinery, electronics components | Pick-up and delivery arranged directly at supplier sites in the Tokyo area |
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 you route Tokyo air freight via Narita or Haneda?
Both. Narita (NRT) carries most freighter capacity and is usually the choice for heavy or bulky consignments and dangerous goods. Haneda (HND) works well for smaller urgent shipments on passenger flights. We choose the airport per booking based on routing, airline availability and the delivery address, and confirm cut-off times with every booking.
Can you send an On-Board Courier to or from Tokyo?
Yes. For critical parts, samples or documents, an On-Board Courier carries the goods as hand luggage on a scheduled flight into NRT or HND and delivers them door to door. This is often used when a production line or a service engineer in the Tokyo area is waiting for a single part.
What happens if a typhoon disrupts flights out of Tokyo?
Between August and October, typhoons can cancel flights at Narita and Haneda for short periods. We monitor airline notices, inform you about affected bookings and rebook freight on the next available flights or via the other Tokyo airport where that makes sense for the shipment.
Who clears my goods through customs at Narita or Haneda?
Clearance is carried out by a dedicated partner team in the Ziem network that works under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures. Declarations are lodged with Japan Customs through NACCS using the shipment data we prepare. You deal with one contact at Ziem Logistics from booking to release.
Does an importer in Tokyo need a NACCS importer code?
An importer code registered in NACCS is recommended for companies importing regularly into Japan, as it simplifies declarations. Some goods, such as food, cosmetics, medical devices or radio equipment, also need product-specific notifications or approvals. We check these requirements before shipping.
Can customs be pre-lodged for urgent shipments into Tokyo?
Yes. For Next Flight Out shipments we prepare the customs data while the goods are in the air, so the declaration can be submitted as soon as the flight is manifested. Release always depends on complete and correct documents, including the commercial invoice, packing list and any required permits.