Shipping policy

Thank you for your interest in Prelude Tea Company. We are based in Kyoto, Japan, and take great care in packing and shipping our products to you. Here is everything you need to know about our shipping process.

 

Order Processing Time

 

All orders are processed within 1 to 3 business days (Monday to Friday, excluding Japanese national holidays) after you receive your order confirmation email. You will receive another notification when your order has shipped.

Domestic Shipping (Within Japan)

 

We use Japan Post (ゆうパック) for all deliveries within Japan.

  • A nationwide flat rate of ¥880 (tax inclusive) applies to all orders.

  • We are pleased to offer FREE shipping on all domestic orders of ¥5,500 (tax inclusive) or more.

Once shipped, domestic orders typically arrive within 1 to 3 days.


International Shipping

 

We are excited to share our curated teas with the world! Please note that we are rolling out international shipping in carefully managed phases to ensure the best possible service.

  • Current Shipping Destinations: Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan, Switzerland, and UK. 

  • Future Destinations: We plan to add more destinations, including the US and the European Union, in the future. Please check back here for updates.

 

International Shipping Method & Rates

 

Our default international shipping method is Express Mail Service (EMS), provided by Japan Post. This is a tracked and insured service.

Shipping charges for your international order will be calculated and displayed at checkout based on the total weight of your package.

  • We are pleased to offer FREE shipping on all international orders of ¥30,000 (tax inclusive) or more.

For time-sensitive orders or for a quote using a private courier such as DHL or FedEx, please contact us at info@preludetea.jp before placing your order.

 

 

International Taxes, Duties, and Fees

 

A Note for Our International Customers:

We are honored to share our Kyoto-based collection with tea lovers around the world. Please be aware that your order is being shipped from Japan and, as such, may be subject to your country's local import taxes, duties (tariffs), and handling fees. These charges are not included in the product price or shipping cost.

These fees are levied by your country's customs office upon the package's arrival and are the sole responsibility of the customer. Prelude Tea Company is not responsible for these charges and we cannot predict what they may be.

 

Duty-Free Allowances (De Minimis Value)

To help you anticipate any potential costs, we have compiled a guide to the approximate tax-free import limits for our shipping destinations. Please note that these values are estimates, can change at any time, and often do not include the cost of shipping, which may be added to the total value by your customs office.

We strongly recommend checking with your local customs office for the most current information before placing your order.

  • Australia: High tax-free threshold. (Approx. AUD $1,000)

  • Canada: Low tax-free threshold. (Approx. CAD $20)

  • New Zealand: High tax-free threshold. (Approx. NZD $1,000)

  • Hong Kong & Macao: Typically tax-free for most goods.

  • Singapore: High tax-free threshold. (Approx. SGD $400)

  • Switzerland: This destination has a high tax-free limit which is based on the tax owed. This creates two different scenarios:

    • For Tea (2.6% VAT): The limit is high (Approx. CHF 192).

    • For Teaware (8.1% VAT): The limit is lower (Approx. CHF 65). Orders containing teaware over this value may be taxed.

  • Malaysia: Good tax-free threshold. (Approx. MYR 500)

  • South Korea (대한민국): This destination has a high, clear tax-free threshold of US$150.

    • Requirement: All shipments require the customer's 12-digit Personal Customs Clearance Code (PCCC). You must collect this (e.g., in the cart notes) and write it on the shipping label.

    • Over US$150: Orders over this value will be subject to import duty and VAT, payable by the customer.

  • Taiwan (臺灣): This destination has a generous tax-free threshold of TWD 2,000.

    • Requirement: All shipments require "Real-Name Authentication." Your customer must be registered on the EZ WAY (易利委) app with their mobile phone number.

    • Action: You must include the customer's phone number on the shipping label. They will use the app to confirm the import.

    • Over TWD 2,000: Orders over this value will be subject to import duty and VAT, payable by the customer.

  • United Kingdom: Generous tax-free threshold for Customs Duty. (Approx. £135)

    • VAT (Value Added Tax): In the UK, tea leaves are zero-rated (0% VAT). This 0% rate applies regardless of the order value.

    • Under £135: Orders are generally exempt from Customs Duty. Because tea is 0% VAT, most tea-only orders under this value will be completely tax-free.

    • Over £135: While the 0% VAT still applies to the tea leaves, orders over this value may be subject to Customs Duty (tariffs) and a carrier handling fee, payable by the customer upon delivery.

 

By placing an order with Prelude Tea Company, you are acknowledging that you are responsible for all customs duties and taxes that may be applied to your package.

Prelude Tea Company (operated by Symphonic Holdings K.K.) is not responsible for any customs and taxes applied to your order. All fees imposed during or after shipping are the responsibility of the customer (tariffs, taxes, etc.). We are legally required to declare the full value paid on shipments and must include an invoice for customs.

 

Shipping to Your Country

 

We ship to a wide range of destinations. If your country is not available as an option at checkout, it may be a location where we require a manual shipping arrangement to ensure a reliable delivery. Please contact us at info@preludetea.jp with your desired order and full shipping address, and we will be happy to provide you with a custom shipping quote.

 

Please note that we do not offer direct shipping to Mainland China. For all orders within China, please visit our Mainland China Distribution Page.
请注意： 我们目前不提供直接发货至中国大陆的服务。中国大陆地区的所有订单，请访问我们的 中国大陆地区分销说明 页面。

 


General Information

 

Order Tracking

 

Once your order has shipped, you will receive an email notification from us which will include a tracking number you can use to check its status. Please allow up to 48 hours for the tracking information to become available and update in the system.

 

Shipping Damages & Issues

 

If your order arrives damaged in any way, please email us as soon as possible at orders@preludetea.jp with your order number and a photo of the item’s condition. We address these on a case-by-case basis but will do our best to work towards a satisfactory solution. For more details, please see our Refund Policy.