Shipping to the USA

Yes — we ship authentic Japanese swords to the United States. We have been doing so for years, and American collectors are the largest part of our clientele. Every sword leaves Japan with formal export permission from the Agency for Cultural Affairs, travels fully tracked and insured, and arrives with free shipping.

Nationwide Delivered anywhere in the United States

Free Shipping No delivery charge on your sword

Tracked & Insured Protected from Kyoto to your door

Legally Exported Permitted by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs

“Can a Japanese Sword Really Be Exported to America?”

This is the question we are asked most often by collectors in the United States, and it is a fair one. A nihonto is a blade, and buyers reasonably wonder whether such an object can cross an ocean and clear customs without difficulty.

The answer is yes — because a genuine Japanese sword does not leave Japan as a weapon. It leaves as a registered work of cultural property, formally examined and approved for export by the Japanese government. That distinction is the foundation of everything we do.

How Your Sword Leaves Japan Lawfully

Within Japan, every sword must hold a torokusho — an official registration certificate confirming it is a legitimate registered blade. Before that sword may leave the country, it must additionally receive export permission from the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the government body responsible for Japan’s cultural property.

This means your sword is not dispatched the day you order it. The blade must first be reviewed and approved for export. We regard this as one of the strongest assurances we can offer you: the same process that takes time is the process that confirms your sword is genuine and properly registered. A seller who bypasses it is not exporting lawfully.

You will not be left wondering. After you order, we contact you directly with the expected timeline for your particular sword, and we keep you informed at each stage — from approval, to dispatch, to delivery.

From Our Kyoto Showroom to Your Door

Approved for export in Japan Your sword receives export permission from the Agency for Cultural Affairs, confirming its status as a genuine registered sword.
Prepared and documented in Kyoto Our specialists pack your sword for international transit, together with all documentation required for it to leave Japan lawfully.
Flown to the United States Your sword travels as a tracked, insured international shipment, and we provide you with the tracking details.
Cleared and delivered Your sword passes through U.S. customs and is delivered to your address.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you ship a Japanese sword to the United States?

Yes. We ship authentic Japanese swords throughout the United States, and American collectors make up the largest share of our customers. Each sword is exported from Japan with formal permission from the Agency for Cultural Affairs and arrives tracked, insured, and with free shipping.

Is it legal to import an antique Japanese sword into the USA?

Antique Japanese swords are collected openly across the United States, and we have shipped to American collectors for many years. On the Japanese side, we handle every requirement: your sword is registered in Japan and formally approved for export before it leaves the country.

Rules governing the possession of blades can vary by state and by city. We do not restrict any U.S. destination, but we encourage you to confirm the regulations that apply where you live. If you have any question at all, please contact us before ordering and we will help however we can.

When will my sword be dispatched?

Every sword must first receive export permission from Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs, so swords are not dispatched immediately after purchase. This is a formal government process and an essential part of exporting a genuine Japanese sword lawfully.

After you place your order, we will contact you directly with the expected timeline for your sword, and we will keep you updated as it progresses. Once dispatched, your sword travels quickly — tracked and insured for the entire journey.

How much does shipping to the USA cost?

Shipping is free on swords sent to the United States.

Please note that any import duties, taxes, or customs fees charged by U.S. authorities are separate from shipping and are the responsibility of the recipient.

Will I have to pay customs duties?

Any duties, taxes, or customs charges levied by the United States are payable by you as the recipient. These are set by U.S. authorities rather than by us, and they are not included in the purchase price or shipping.

Is my sword insured while in transit?

Yes. Your sword is insured for its entire journey from Japan to your address, and you can track it along the way.

Do I need to arrange any paperwork myself?

No. We obtain the export permission and prepare all documentation required for your sword to leave Japan lawfully, including its Japanese registration papers. You simply receive the parcel.

Is the sword I receive a genuine Japanese sword?

Yes. Our antique blades are genuine nihonto, legally registered in Japan, and NBTHK certification is our standard for authentication where applicable. Each sword is personally examined by our specialists in Kyoto before it is offered for sale, and each is formally approved for export by the Agency for Cultural Affairs.