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How to buy anime figures from Japan (2026)
Figures are preordered six to twelve months ahead, and release dates slip. The bigger problem is the box.
Why you can't just buy it
Where it stops
- Preorders are taken a year ahead and dates move
- Shop exclusives never reach overseas retailers
- The box is large and light, so shipping is priced on its size
The shops
Where to find it
Every link goes to the shop's own site, and I checked each one loads. Shops not listed here are usually fine too — if it's a Japanese site, I can probably buy from it.
| Shop | What it sells | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Bandai | Made-to-order exclusives you cannot buy anywhere else | Preorder only in many cases — months ahead |
| Ichiban Kuji | Lottery prizes sold in convenience stores | Sold in shops only. I buy in person |
| AmiAmi | Preorders and discounts on figures | — |
| Good Smile Company | Nendoroid and figma | — |
| Kotobukiya | Model kits and scale figures | — |
Shipping
What it costs to send
Japan Post's own published EMS rates, as of October 2026. I don't mark these up — you pay what it actually cost.
| What you are sending | Weight | India | UK | US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Nendoroid in its box | 500g | ¥1,900 | ¥3,150 | ¥3,900 |
| A 1/7 scale figure | 2kg | ¥4,550 | ¥6,700 | ¥7,900 |
| Two scale figures | 5kg | ¥8,150 | ¥13,000 | ¥15,100 |
- Big boxes are charged on volumetric weight, not what they weigh. Length × width × height in cm, divided by 5000. Whichever is greater is what you pay. Figure boxes are light and large, so it's nearly always this one.
What I can't send
Watch out for these
- Figures with built-in lights that use a lithium battery
A quote costs you nothing
Send me a link if you know what you want. If you don't, describe it and I'll go looking. You'll hear back within two working days.
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