The best time to sort out your Japan shopping is before you land. You have time to compare, the slow sellers have time to ship, and you are not filling in Japanese forms on hotel Wi-Fi. Ordering before you land works well, but the delivery date matters: arranged too late, it misses your stay; arranged too early, it reaches the hotel before you do.
01A simple timeline
Product links or descriptions, your hotel name, the name on your reservation and your dates. The form shows the latest check-in date we currently accept — if your trip is further away, come back a little closer to it.
You get one all-in quote: item price + our service fee (10% of the item price + ¥1,000 per order, and +5% on the part over ¥10,000) + hotel delivery ¥1,000 per parcel (a shop’s own shipping, if any, is included in the item price). It stays valid for 30 days. Once you approve it, you pay once by card through Square within 48 hours.
Preparation usually takes 2–4 business days, and some sellers take longer to ship. We check each ship time against your dates before we buy.
Collect it at the front desk. If a delivery is missed, we arrange redelivery for you.
02Choosing the delivery date
| Delivery date | What it means | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| On or after check-in | The simplest choice — the hotel holds a parcel for a guest who is already staying | No extra fee |
| Up to 7 days before check-in | Hotels usually hold parcels only for guests, so we confirm with the front desk first. The earlier the date, the more likely a hotel says no | Front-desk pre-notice +¥1,000 (required) |
| A 3-day window from your earliest date | We deliver on one of three days, starting from the earliest date you pick | Free |
| One exact date | For dates 5 or more days from today. If we miss it, the ¥1,000 is refunded in full and delivery switches to the 3-day window (unless the delay is on your side) | +¥1,000 |
Want it? Send it.
Free quote, usually within 24 hours. Nothing is bought until you say go.
03Why order before you fly
- More time, fewer surprises. Slow sellers, backordered items and sold-out sizes are much easier to work around with a few weeks to spare than with three days left.
- No Japanese checkout on your trip. You send links from home; we handle the Japanese forms, the shop’s payment and the delivery details.
- Pack once. Have things delivered for the last nights of your stay and pack them straight into your bag on the way home.
- Already in Japan? Still possible. Pick a date a few days ahead. For a very near date, we check the timing after you pay and before we buy; if it will not work, we tell you; refunds follow our Terms of Service.
04Your worry, side by side
| Your worry | Doing it yourself | With soracross |
|---|---|---|
| Parcel arrives before you do | The hotel can refuse it and send it back to the seller | We confirm with the hotel before buying, or deliver on or after check-in |
| Parcel arrives after you fly home | You paid for something you never received | We check the ship time against your dates before buying |
| Japanese-only checkout | Forms you cannot finish from home | Just send the links |
| Foreign card declined | The order can fail at the last step | We pay the shop; you pay once by card via Square |
| Not sure the hotel will accept it | You find out at the front desk | We ask your hotel in Japanese before buying (+¥1,000) |
05The easy way: send your list before you fly
soracross is a personal-shopping service for travelers in Japan. We buy on your behalf — the purchase contract is between you and the retailer — and items are bought new and delivered unopened in their original box. Send your list before your trip, get one all-in quote, and pay only after you approve it. Our guide to Japanese online shopping covers which shops we buy from.
06See a rough estimate first
Estimate your total
Enter the item's retail price to get a rough total. This is only a guide — we confirm the exact amount in your quote before you pay.
| Item price | — |
| Service fee (10% + ¥1,000) | — |
| Delivery | — |
| Estimated total | — |
Estimate only. Your actual quote depends on the items and is confirmed by us before payment.
Items from different shops arrive as separate parcels, and the hotel delivery fee (¥1,000, our charge for arranging and tracking each delivery) applies per parcel. Any shipping fee a shop charges is included in the item price. No need to work it out here — we confirm the full total in your quote before you pay.
If you don't enter a product URL yourself, a +¥1,000 item sourcing fee applies per item.
Want it? Send it.
Free quote, usually within 24 hours. Nothing is bought until you say go.
07FAQ
How far ahead can I send a request?
Can my order be waiting at the hotel when I arrive?
When do I pay?
Can I choose an exact delivery date?
I am already in Japan. Is it too late?
08Related guides
soracross is an independent purchasing agent and is not affiliated with Amazon, Rakuten or Yodobashi. Your purchase contract for the goods is with the retailer. Details are correct as of each guide's update date.