Shipping Knives to the United Kingdom
Under current Japan Post rules, knives and all other bladed items cannot be shipped to the United Kingdom.
This restriction applies throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
We sincerely apologize, but we are currently unable to accept orders with delivery addresses in the United Kingdom.
Why can’t we ship to the United Kingdom?
In the United Kingdom, age verification is required when knives purchased online are delivered, to prevent them from being handed to anyone under the age of 18.
A delivery company handling an order from an overseas seller may face legal liability if it delivers a knife to someone under 18.
Japan Post has not published the specific reason for its prohibition, but the United Kingdom’s age-verification requirements for the delivery of bladed items may be a contributing factor.
Royal Mail offers age-verified delivery
Royal Mail offers an Age Verification service that confirms the recipient is 18 or over before handing over a parcel.
Unfortunately, Japan Post’s international mail services currently do not allow us to request this service when a parcel is transferred to Royal Mail.
To everyone at Japan Post and Royal Mail: if you happen to be reading this, please make age-verified delivery available for international mail.
Knife lovers across the United Kingdom are waiting patiently.
How can I buy a knife?
At present, the following options may be available.
1. Receive your order outside the United Kingdom
You may have your order delivered to a family member or friend who lives outside the United Kingdom. You may also receive it at your accommodation if you will be staying outside the United Kingdom for an extended period.
International delivery from Japan usually takes around 10 days, but depending on the destination and customs clearance, it may take up to one month. Delays may also occur because of transportation conditions or the local delivery company.
For this reason, we do not recommend delivery to a hotel during a short trip.
If you wish to receive an order at a hotel or other accommodation, please order well in advance and contact the accommodation before shipment. Please confirm:
- Whether it can accept an international parcel on your behalf
- Whether it can store a parcel that arrives before check-in
- Whether the recipient name must exactly match the reservation name
- Whether it can handle any customs duties or import taxes due on arrival
- What will happen if the parcel arrives after you have checked out
Delivery dates cannot be guaranteed. If a shipping delay prevents you from receiving the order during your stay, we cannot compensate for additional accommodation, forwarding, return shipping, reshipping, transportation, or other related expenses.
If you do not have sufficient time, we recommend using the address of a family member or friend who lives outside the United Kingdom instead of a hotel.
Forwarding the parcel to the United Kingdom by post or courier may be subject to the same restrictions. Please consider bringing it into the United Kingdom yourself.
2. Buy one while visiting Japan — the least expensive option
If you plan to visit Japan, the least expensive option is to place your order during your stay and have it delivered to a hotel or another address in Japan.
Domestic shipping within Japan applies, so you can avoid the high cost of international shipping. If you use a hotel or ryokan address, please confirm in advance that it can accept a parcel for you.
When returning home, do not place the knife in your carry-on baggage. Pack and protect the blade securely and place it in your checked baggage. Please also check the rules of your airline before travelling.
Ordinary kitchen knives are not generally prohibited from being brought into the United Kingdom. However, you may need to declare the purchase and pay tax or duty if the total value of the goods you are bringing exceeds the applicable personal allowance. Please check the latest UK customs rules before travelling.
3. Wait for Japan Post and Royal Mail to work together
We are waiting too.
We hope it will not take too long.
4. Change UK law
This may be a rather ambitious project.
It would probably be quicker to start by making age-verified international delivery available through Japan Post and Royal Mail.