[LATEST UPDATE] International Shipping News

Dear Customer,

Thank you for your continued support of Takaokaya. We are writing to provide the most recent information regarding international shipping, which has changed since our last update on April 2nd. Please read the following carefully as it may affect your order.

1. Update for Europe and Africa and Middle East (Updated Today)

Due to the ongoing instability in the Middle East, shipping routes are facing extreme congestion. While Japan Post had a widespread suspension in place, we have a new update as of today.

EMS (Japan Post) has resumed service to a limited list of countries. Currently, shipments are only accepted for

Norway, Ireland, United Kingdom, Sweden, France, Switzerland, Italy, and Germany.

・Order Status: If you are in one of these countries, you can now place orders for all products on our website. However, please expect potential delivery delays due to regional congestion.

・Other Countries: For countries not on this list, checkout is still temporarily disabled.

・Special Quotes: If your country is not listed but you wish to order, please email us at intl@takaoka-kyoto.jp. Please include your full address and postal code so we can provide a manual shipping quotation.

2. Update for the United States (No Change Since April 2nd)

As of our last major update, Japan Post remains suspended for EMS shipments to the U.S. due to customs regulation changes.
We are currently shipping to the U.S. using UPS or DHL. However, because these carriers use "volumetric weight," we can only offer direct online checkout for items with standardized packaging:

For this reason, we have limited the items available for direct purchase through our online store to those for which shipping costs can be calculated more easily based on fixed packaging sizes:

• Shiki Futon Mattress
• Shiki Futon Mattress and Cover Set
• Kyoto Basic Sleep Set
• Shiki Futon Cover
• Kake Futon Comforter
• Kake Futon Comforter and Cover Set
• Kake Futon Cover
• Kake Futon Frame-Style Cover
• Long Pillow
• Unit Square Tatami
• Tri-Fold Tatami
• Ojami Cushion – Second Life Collection

For all other products: If you would like a shipping quote for an item not listed above, please contact us at intl@takaoka-kyoto.jp. Please include your full address and postal code so we can provide a manual shipping quotation.

3. Why are shipping costs higher?

We want to be transparent about why costs have increased recently.

Historically, we used EMS, which charges based on Actual Weight. Our products are handcrafted and often lightweight, making EMS very affordable.

However, UPS and DHL use Volumetric Weight (calculating based on the box's size). Since items like our cushions and futons are bulky, these carriers charge based on the space they take up in the airplane, rather than how much they weigh. This often results in a higher cost at checkout.

Our Commitment: The Takaokaya team is continuously optimizing our packaging and box sizes to keep these costs as low as possible for you. We sincerely apologize for these external logistics challenges and appreciate your patience.

Takaokaya - Team Global