Tokyo, Japan
Air freight in Tokyo
Ziem Logistics books air freight to and from Tokyo via Narita (NRT). We arrange pick-up and delivery in the Tokyo area and prepare the customs entries before the cargo flies. For air freight to and from Japan we issue our own air waybills.
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.
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 |
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.
Next Flight Out and On-Board Courier in Tokyo
Next Flight Out means your shipment travels on the first available flight to or from Narita (NRT), booked and documented by our operations desk.
An On-Board Courier is the option when even that is too slow or the goods need to stay in sight: a courier travels with the shipment and delivers it to the consignee in the Tokyo area.
Booked directly with the airline
For Japan we issue the air waybill ourselves. The booking, the shipment data and the advance cargo information come from one desk, which reduces handovers and keeps the documents consistent.
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.
How do I get a quote for air freight to or from Tokyo?
Send us the origin, destination, goods description, weight and dimensions. Our operations desk replies with a routing via Narita (NRT) and an itemised quote.