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How to buy from Mercari and Yahoo! Auctions from abroad (2026)
Mercari and Yahoo! Auctions are where the out-of-print things are. Both need a Japanese address, a Japanese account and Japanese.
Why you can't just buy it
Where it stops
- Private sellers post inside Japan only
- Listings, questions and bidding are all in Japanese
- Condition is described in shorthand that is easy to misread
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Suruga-ya | Secondhand anime and games at low prices | — |
| Mandarake | Rare and vintage collectibles | — |
| Mercari | Japan's biggest flea market app | Private sellers. Needs a Japanese address and account |
| Yahoo! Auctions | Japan's biggest auction site | Private sellers. I bid on your behalf |
| 2nd STREET | Secondhand clothing chain | — |
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 used game or CD | 500g | ¥1,900 | ¥3,150 | ¥3,900 |
| A used camera body | 1kg | ¥3,150 | ¥4,400 | ¥5,300 |
| A box of used books | 3kg | ¥5,750 | ¥8,800 | ¥10,300 |
About used items
I look at it before you commit
- When it reaches me I photograph it. If it doesn't match the listing, you hear about it then, not after it ships.
- Used items from private sellers can't be returned. The seller won't take them back.
- For auctions, I bid up to your limit and stop. If it goes higher, I don't win it and you pay no fee.
What I can't send
Watch out for these
- Anything I judge to be counterfeit. I will not buy it
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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