How to Use Blackship

Buying from Japanese online stores can be difficult since many shops do not ship internationally and require a domestic shipping address. Blackship solves this by giving you a personal Japanese address. You can shop from thousands of stores and have your packages forwarded directly to you.

Our service is designed for users who can handle their own payments and communications with Japanese retailers. If you run into payment issues or language barriers, our sister service Japan Rabbit can handle the purchasing process for you.

• Sign up and verify. Create a free Blackship account. To comply with Japanese law, we verify your identity before issuing your address, so you’ll upload a valid photo ID and a document showing your current address. Details here.

• Get Your Address: Once your documents are approved, your account is verified and you’ll receive your personal Blackship address.

• Shop Online: Start ordering from any Japanese store, entering your Blackship address at checkout. Always include your mailbox ID (K-number) in the address so we can link the package to your account.

  • A missing or incorrect K-number can delay matching your package. See Guide to Using Your Address.

  • Check your item first in our Prohibited Items List, as some items are restricted by carrier or destination.

  • Some stores don’t ship to forwarding addresses, and some require a Japanese phone number to register; it is best to confirm this with them directly. See Can I Order from a Shop That Requires Phone Verification?.

• Get Notified: You don’t need to tell us anything in advance; we match incoming packages to your account by your name and mailbox ID. Within 24 to 48 hours of delivery to our warehouse, we process your package into your mailbox and notify you by email and in the app.

• Manage Your Shipment: Log in to complete a quick customs declaration and choose your shipping method. You can also add optional services such as consolidation, photo requests, or priority processing. If you’re visiting Japan, you can collect your packages in person instead; see Picking Up Your Package at Blackship.

• 1 Step Checkout (Pack and Ship). Submit your packing request and pre-approve a shipping threshold; payment is taken once dispatched. If the final cost exceeds your preferred threshold, we’ll cancel the shipment request.

• 2 Step Checkout (Pack and Hold). Choose a shipping method and submit your packing or consolidation request. The package then moves to “Ready to Ship,” where you can review the final cost and pay when you’re ready. Ready-to-Ship packages get 7 days of free storage, then 45 days of paid storage.

• Pre-orders are OK. You can send pre-order items to your address even if they release months later, with no need to notify us. See Can I ship preorder items to Blackship?.

• Shipping is priced after packing. The checkout figure is an estimate based on the package as received; the final price is set by the packed size and weight. See How Much Does Shipping Cost?.