Shipping & Returns

Hibiki-an ships worldwide directly from Uji in Kyoto, Japan.

At last, our International Delivery bound for all countries has returned to normal, and is available by Express (DHL or Postal) and Standard International (Postal) except for a few countries. - January 9, 2024 (more info, click here)

Cost of Shipping

Order amount Express International
(trackable)
Standard International
(not trackable)
US$150 or more FREE -
US$50 to under US$150 US$8.50
US$11.50
FREE
Under US$50 + US$8.50
+ US$11.50 (*)
Actual cost - see table below

(*) Delivery Discount
- Orders of under US$150 get Express International delivery (both of DHL and Postal) for only US$8.50 ( US$11.50).
- This delivery discount is only for a limited time until April 30th.

Express International

All orders of US$150 or more get FREE Express International at no extra charge.
Add US$11.50 to standard international shipping.
Delivered to you worldwide with a faster, more precise schedule, and is traceable (package location is tracked).

Standard International

FREE International Shipping on all orders of US$50.00 or more. “Not available for North America, most of EU.”
Not trackable. Not precise or fast like Express.
For orders less than US$50.00, we charge by weight using the following rates (rates are the same worldwide).

Standard International shipping rates (for under US$50.00 orders)

100g ( 3.53oz) --- US$ 8.311100g (38.80oz) --- US$26.11
200g ( 7.05oz) --- US$10.081200g (42.33oz) --- US$27.89
300g (10.58oz) --- US$11.881300g (45.86oz) --- US$29.68
400g (14.11oz) --- US$13.671400g (49.38oz) --- US$31.46
500g (17.64oz) --- US$15.451500g (52.91oz) --- US$33.25
600g (21.16oz) --- US$17.241600g (56.44oz) --- US$35.03
700g (24.69oz) --- US$19.021700g (59.97oz) --- US$36.82
800g (28.22oz) --- US$20.811800g (63.49oz) --- US$38.61
900g (31.75oz) --- US$22.591900g (67.02oz) --- US$40.39
1000g (35.27oz) --- US$24.32

Delivery time

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Express International

Express International Delivery has a faster, more precise schedule, and is traceable (package location is tracked). The delivery time is usually 4 to 8 days (*).
This is also a good option for gifts, especially during the busy winter holiday season when international shipping gets congested.

All orders of US$150 or more get FREE Express International shipping at no extra charge.
Add US$11.50 to standard international shipping.

To track your package, please view your Order History in the Account Information section of our website, where you can check the shipment tracking details updated in real time.

(*) The delivery time is different for each destination, depending on the postal service and customs conditions in each country. Please note that we can't guarantee the delivery time or exact date of delivery.

Standard International

Once you order, the merchandise will usually reach you in 8 to 16 days from Kyoto, Japan. The delivery time is different for each destination, depending on the postal service and customs conditions in each country. This is not trackable.
In the rare case that customs checks the shipment, the package will likely need an additional week to reach its destination. Also please note that postal delivery service is especially congested at the end of the year around Christmas and New Years, or under special occasion like COVID, the Invasion of Ukraine, and so on.
Therefore we cannot know exactly what date the merchandise will be delivered. Please place your order in a timely manner to allow for shipping time.

DHL Express International

(DHL Express International Delivery can be chosen for orders bound for the US, Northern and Eastern Europe, the UAE, and some countries.)

  • - Add US$11.50 to standard shipping.
  • - Delivered to you worldwide with a faster, more precise schedule, and is traceable (package location is tracked).
  • - All orders of US$150 or more get Free International Express at no extra charge.
  • - DHL delivery option: Schedule Delivery, Signature Release, Leave with Neighbor, Collect from a DHL Service Point, Alternate Address, and Vacation Hold.

With DHL delivery option, you are able to decide how, when and where delivery takes place flexibly. You can select these options when you receive the delivery notification email from DHL.

Schedule Delivery:
You can select the most convenient delivery date and/or time.
Signature Release:
Authorize delivery without signature in a specific place at your address.
Leave with Neighbor:
Authorize DHL to leave the shipment with a specific neighbor, with reception or security.
Collect from a DHL Service Point:
No more waiting at home. Instead, you can request collection from a Service Point nearby.
Alternate Address:
Authorize delivery of the shipment to a different address, such as your workplace, school or relatives.
Vacation Hold:
When you are away on vacation, DHL can hold the shipment up to 30 days from the original delivery date.

Taxation and Handling of DHL

As below chart, for most cases of DHL Express delivery in EU and some countries, customs clearance fees and taxes are billed upon delivery to the recipient.

Country Tax (Green Tea) Customs clearance fee
North America and South America / Pacific
United States No Duty / Taxes under US$800
Australia No Duty / GST under AU$1000
Europe
Italy Duty-3.2% VAT-22.0% 13.50 EUR or 2.5% of value of duties & taxes
Norway Duty-0% VAT-15.0% 197 NOK
Sweden Duty-3.2% VAT-25.0% 100 SEK or 2.0% of value of duties & taxes
Denmark Duty-3.2% VAT-25.0% 100 DKK or 2.0% of value of duties & taxes
Finland Duty-3.2% VAT-24.0% 20.00 EUR or 2.0% of value of duties & taxes
Poland Duty-3.2% VAT-23.0% 69.00 PLN or 2.5% of value of duties & taxes
Iceland Duty-0% VAT-11.0% 2,000 ISK or 2.0% of value of duties & taxes
Mideast
UAE No Duty / Taxes under US$270 Duty-0% VAT-5.0%50.00 AED or 5.0% of value of duties & taxes
Israel No Duty / Taxes under US$63.50 Duty-0% VAT-17.0%290 ILS

Update of International Delivery Status

At last, our International Delivery bound for all countries has returned to normal after the confusion caused by the COVID and the invasion of Ukraine, and is now available by Express (DHL or Postal) and Standard International (Postal) except for a few countries. (January 9, 2024)

Latest Flight Status (as of Feb 27th)

  • 〇: Almost normal delivery time, though there can be some delays.
  • △: Possibly significant delays, though flights are not stopped.
  • ×: Stopped flights.

(Taxation and Handling of DHL: click here)

Flights (bound for) DHL Express
International
Express
International
(Postal)
Standard
International
(Postal)
United States ×
Canada
Australia ×
United Kingdom
Switzerland
Italy ××
Germany
Singapore
France
Spain ××
Norway ×
New Zealand
Israel ××
Russia ××
Netherlands
Hong Kong
Sweden ×
Denmark ×
Belgium
Czechia
UAE ×
Finland ×
Austria
Thailand
Hungary
Ireland
Bulgaria
Ukraine
India ×
Romania
Brazil ××
Croatia
Indonesia
Lithuania
Poland ×
Slovakia
Malaysia
Mexico
Philippines
Iceland ××
Turkey ××
Latvia
Serbia
Saudi Arabia
Taiwan
Lebanon
Luxembourg
Vietnam
South Africa
Ecuador
Qatar
Cambodia
Portugal
Kazakhstan
Belarus
Estonia
Slovenia

Customs Duties and Taxes

Customs duties vary depending on your country. If you have to pay a custom duty, you will be required to pay the duty when you receive your order.

  • Rates of Customs Duties on Tea Leaves
    • United States---no duty
    • Canada---no duty
    • Australia---no duty
    • United Kingdom---no duty up to 32 Pound (3.2 % over 32 Pound)
    • European Union---0 to 3.2 %
    • United Arab Emirates---no duty
    • Brazil---no duty up to 50US dollar (10% over 50US dollar)
    • Russian Federation---no duty up to 5,000US dollar (20% over 5,000US dollar)
    • Singapore---no duty
    • Taiwan---no duty up to 300TW dollar (19.4% over 300TW dollar)
    • China---no duty up to 1,000 Yuan (15% over 1,000 Yuan)
    • The Republic of Korea---no duty up to 100,000 Won (513.6% over 100,000 Won)
  • Only a few countries prohibit importing tea leaves
    • Nigeria
    • Colombia
    • Sri Lanka

Taxes other than customs duty, for example, VAT (Value-Added Tax), can be possibly imposed when you receive the parcel (especially in the EU region). It depends on each country’s regulation, order contents, order amount, or each circumstance. We don’t charge you any taxes with your order payment. And we are unable to bear any responsibility for any taxation issue. For more details about what taxes may be required in your country, please contact the tax or customs authority in your country.

Packing

We are very concerned about environmental destruction in the world. Environmental destruction and pollution have an impact on all life, but especially on farms, which depend on the land.
We wrap our parcels as simply as possible, while still being well protected during delivery. The simple packaging also saves on international shipping costs and gives our customers the lowest possible price for high-quality tea.

Return and Reshipping Policy

We will gladly exchange damaged, defective, or wrongly shipped items. Additional shipping will be paid by Hibiki-an. If you receive a damaged or defective item, please save the item and all packaging for inspection by the carrier. Please notify Hibiki-an of the damaged or defective item within one week after you receive the order.

Once your order is shipped, possessive rights of the products belong to the purchaser. If the parcel does not reach its destination because the purchaser incorrectly entered the delivery address, we don't accept responsibility. Therefore, please enter the delivery address carefully and correctly. In addition, after your order is shipped, we are unable to accept any change or cancellation to your order except for damaged, defective, or wrongly shipped merchandise.

In the unlikely event that your order of tea or tea ware does not match with your liking, you may exchange for any item with a price less than or equal to the price of the original item, as long as you agree to the following: When you ship the return item back to us, the parcel must be insured for the full value of the item, and you are responsible for paying all shipping costs. We can only accept new unopened tea packages, and new unused tea ware. The replacement items will be shipped after the return items arrive back to us safely. Please notify Hibiki-an of the exchange request within one week after you receive the order.