How to Buy from Rakuten Japan: Complete Guide
Step-by-step instructions for foreign shoppers.
Why Buy from Rakuten Japan?
Rakuten is Japan's largest online marketplace โ bigger than Amazon Japan for many product categories. It offers incredible deals, a massive point system, and products you won't find anywhere else.
The Challenge
Rakuten Japan is entirely in Japanese and doesn't ship internationally for most items. You need a proxy shopping service.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Choose a Proxy Service
Services like ZenMarket, Buyee, or Neokyo will buy items on your behalf and ship them internationally. Create a free account.
Step 2: Find Your Item
Browse Rakuten Japan (rakuten.co.jp) using Google Translate or the proxy service's built-in search. Copy the product URL.
Step 3: Submit Your Order
Paste the Rakuten URL into your proxy service. They'll purchase the item using their Japanese address.
Step 4: Consolidate & Ship
Items arrive at the proxy's warehouse. Consolidate multiple purchases into one package to save on international shipping.
Costs to Expect
- Item price (in yen)
- Proxy service fee: ยฅ300-500 per item
- International shipping: ยฅ2,000-5,000 depending on weight
- Possible customs duty in your country
Looking for more? Browse our curated product picks โ all available to ship from Japan.