Export spirits (incl. soju) to Japan: rules, labels and duty
Rules to check before you export spirits (incl. soju) to Japan (2), each with its official source.
Official sources checked between 2026-10-09 and 2026-11-10
Duty and FTAs: No Korea–Japan FTA: the RCEP rate (Korea column) needs an RCEP certificate of origin. customs.go.jp, checked 2026-10-09
This is not legal or tax advice. Rules and rates change, so confirm with the official source and a local authority, your importer or an expert before you sell.
- Main rule for spirits (incl. soju): Imported through a licensed liquor importer; Japanese labelling. nta.go.jp, checked 2026-10-09
- Japan: online liquor sales need a mail-order licence and the under-20 statement: Selling liquor online in Japan to buyers in two or more prefectures needs a mail-order liquor retail licence (通信販売酒類小売業免許), granted per sales premises by the tax office under the Liquor Tax Act, so the shop is run by a licence holder in Japan, usually your importer. Its advertisements and catalogues, internet pages included, show “20歳未満の者の飲酒は法律で禁止されている” or “20歳未満の者に対しては酒類を販売しない”, and the order screen has an age field with the same statement next to it (National Tax Agency labelling standard on under-20 drinking). Your importer does it · nta.go.jp, checked 2026-11-10
- Applies to every product here: Japan: consumption tax on cross-border sales
- Applies to every product here: Japan: ‘No.1’ and satisfaction claims need a fair survey
- Open the checklist
- Work out the export price
- Same product, other countries: United States
- Same product, other countries: EU
- Same product, other countries: Vietnam
- Same product, other countries: Taiwan
- Same country, other products: Cosmetics
- Same country, other products: Food supplements & preparations
- Same country, other products: Toys
- Same country, other products: Leather apparel & accessories
- Same country, other products: Pet food & feed
- Sources: nta.go.jp, checked 2026-10-09
- Sources: nta.go.jp, checked 2026-11-10
- Sources: customs.go.jp, checked 2026-10-09
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