Buying guide
How to buy from Japan with KAIVA
KAIVA is your personal shopper in Japan. You never touch a Japanese site or make an account there — you tell us what you want in English, we find it, and you pay in two easy steps — the item + our service fee, then the exact shipping after we've bought it.
- 1Tell us what you want
Search Japanese shops in English, or just describe the item — a name, a link, or a photo. No Japanese needed, and asking is completely free.
- 2We find it & quote
A KAIVA buyer hunts it down across Japanese shops and marketplaces, then emails you options priced at the item + our service fee (10% on the first ¥20,000, then 5%; min ¥750). Shipping is quoted later — see step 4.
- 3Approve & pay for the item
Approve the option you want on your tracking page and pay the item + fee securely by card. You only ever pay after you approve — nothing upfront.
- 4We buy it & quote shipping
We purchase your item in Japan, then weigh and measure it to work out your exact international shipping — no padded estimates. We email you the shipping cost to approve.
- 5Pay shipping & we ship
Pay the shipping and we send your item worldwide with tracking you can follow. Import duties or taxes may apply on delivery.
What it costs
You pay in two parts:
- 10% on the first ¥20,000
- 5% on the amount above ¥20,000
- Minimum ¥750
¥500 per parcel
International shipping itself is charged at actual cost after your item arrives at our warehouse in Japan (payment 2) — no padded estimates.
Import duties and taxes charged by your country on delivery are separate and are set by your local customs, not by KAIVA.
What we can find
Shop-exclusive figures, trading cards, stationery, fashion, homeware, beauty, games and more — from major shops, marketplaces and specialty stores across Japan. Some things we can't handle: prohibited or restricted items (see Terms).
Payment & safety
You pay by card through Stripe's secure checkout, only after you approve a quote — never upfront. We purchase your item only once payment is confirmed.
Returns
Because we buy each item to your order, all sales are final. Please check the item, condition and price in your quote before approving. See Returns & Refunds for the cases where a refund applies.