How to Shop from Japan and Ship to Taiwan — Using Rakuten Shipping to Buy from Rakuten Auctions and Amazon (Horie Titanium Cup) with Delivery in as Fast as 4 Days
Buying what you want yourself: A record and guide for using Rakuten forwarding to purchase Japanese products and ship them back to Taiwan, using the Horie titanium cup as an example.
Horie Titanium Cup
Last time I went to Japan, I got hooked on the Horie Titanium Cup. Its main features are:
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Exclusive oxidation coloring pattern technology, offering vibrant and brilliant colors with multiple options available
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Exclusive double-layer insulation structure, keeps drinks cold without condensation and hot without burning your hands
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Exclusive special inner cup design that automatically creates long-lasting fine bubbles when drinking beer
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The cup rim is tightly sealed to prevent mouth scratches
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Pure titanium material, very lightweight, antibacterial, and odor-free
What attracted me the most were the first three exclusive technologies ＋ it is a thermos cup. Besides, I don’t have any titanium cups yet, and I am troubled by the issue of lingering odors in thermos cups, so I really want to buy one to try.
Product to Purchase:
Brand: Horie Titanium Cup
Model: Kiln-Made Booster / 400ml
Style: G4B
Official Price ¥19,800 yen (about NT $4,080 TWD), free shipping within Japan.
I checked the prices in Taiwan; whether on e-commerce platforms or from individual sellers, they are around NT$5,500. Occasionally, group buys or exhibition events offer prices around NT$4,200, which is a good deal to consider.
Total Time and Cost for Rakuten Forwarding Consolidation Shipping to Taiwan
The result is presented first.
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Because I wanted engraving, it required 7–10 days to produce. Additionally, I bought a magazine and had to wait for it to arrive at Rakuten forwarding.
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Looking at the shipping time alone, the forwarding center took only 1 day to receive the goods, and the entire process from packing to delivery took just 3 days, which is very fast!
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Total cost including shipping: NT $4,744. (See details in the text; shipping is more expensive due to the small purchase quantity.)
Rakuten Global Express
Since I was going to buy items from Japan’s Rakuten Market anyway, I decided to try Rakuten’s forwarding/ consolidation service; of course, Rakuten forwarding is not limited to Rakuten purchases—it also supports other e-commerce platforms like Amazon Japan (Amazon JP), Yahoo Shopping / Yahoo Auctions Japan, Mercari, Biccamera, and more.
- You can earn Rakuten points! And use points to pay!
Special Protection When Using Rakuten Shipping to Purchase Rakuten Products
In addition to providing forwarding/consolidation services, using Rakuten forwarding to purchase items from Rakuten Ichiba also offers the following guarantees:
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Compensation Service: Paid but Item Not Delivered
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Compensation Service: Product Damage (Please obtain a damage report issued by the logistics company)
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Compensation Service: For receiving items that clearly differ from the product description or are defective
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Compensation Service: If the received branded product is a counterfeit, infringing trademark rights (covered under the Safe Shopping Guarantee for over 1,000 brands)
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Compensation amount: up to 300,000 Japanese yen
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No handling fees or annual fees
For details, please refer to the official instructions.
Purchase Protection Outside Rakuten
If the purchased item is not from Rakuten Ichiba, basic forwarding shipping protection is provided:
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Compensation Service: Paid but Item Not Delivered
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Compensation Service: Product Damage (Please obtain a damage report issued by the logistics company)
For details, please refer to the official explanation.
Shipping Fee Calculation and Quotation
You can use the official tool to estimate the shipping cost.
https://globalexpress.rakuten.co.jp/estimate/?l-id=top_estimate
Shipping Methods and Taiwan Shipping Rates
https://globalexpress.rakuten.co.jp/help/delivery
https://globalexpress.rakuten.co.jp/help/country/fee?country=TW
Please note that the size and weight here are the final numbers after consolidation.
Registering a Rakuten Japan Account
Go to the Registration Page:
Enter your email address, password, and English name. Submit to complete the registration.
A random website issue was found here: if a server error keeps appearing on the Rakuten site, try switching the language to Japanese to use it normally. (Likely a multi-language error)
First, complete the real-name verification on Rakuten Transport
After registering on Rakuten, you will be automatically logged in to Rakuten Global Express.
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First, click to change the language to Traditional Chinese for easier operation.
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Click My Page to activate the forwarding service.
Go to your email inbox to retrieve the verification code and complete the email verification.
Next, fill in your name information.
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Surname (Kanji), Given Name (Kanji): Enter your name in Chinese characters
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Last Name (Katakana), First Name (Katakana): Enter your name in Katakana. You can use this website for translation, or use a nickname, for example: リー, ハリー.
Activate Rakuten forwarding address and complete identity verification
Step one is to agree to the user terms. Some items, such as flammable goods, sprays, and fresh foods, are prohibited from shipping.
Step 2: Enter your personal information. Be sure to input your real passport name in English and your date of birth.
Get Your Exclusive Rakuten Forwarding Address
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Be sure to enter the forwarding warehouse address including the final
白石町6–1 RGXセンター XXXXXXXEnglish and number code, as this is your unique identification address. -
You can click “Add Now” to directly add the address to your Rakuten account.
With this address and phone number, you can shop and ship from major Japanese e-commerce sites! However, to ensure your package is safely forwarded to you, please complete the “identity verification process” before purchasing and shipping items from shopping websites.
Continue with the identity verification process
- Prepare your original ID card and mobile phone, then proceed with facial recognition verification. The entire process can be completed online 24/7 through self-service.
But my ID photo looked quite different from my current appearance, so the online verification failed and was automatically switched to manual review. I received the official notification that the manual review was completed the next day.
My Page
Click on “My Page” or the top of “My Page” above to go to the My Page homepage:
If the verification process is not completed, the following warning will appear:
Please complete the verification before making any purchases.
Your Personal Shipping Address and Information
Your personalized information will be displayed at the bottom right of the page.
Prohibited Items for Shipping to Taiwan
Please check whether the item is prohibited before purchasing and shipping it back to Taiwan.
https://globalexpress.rakuten.co.jp/help/country/detail?country=TW
Different shipping methods have different restrictions. Please read carefully.
If you want to buy alcohol or cigarettes, be sure to check other guides online first. From what I understand, after the items arrive in Taiwan, you need to bring the notification letter to pay the additional tax before release.
Shopping on Rakuten Ichiba — Horie Titanium Cup Order Guide
High insulation double-walled titanium tumbler fired in a 1055℃ kiln. Allergy-free, hygienic, rust-resistant, lightweight, durable, and long-lasting. Ideal as a gift for loved ones or a treat for yourself. [Free gift wrapping available] HORIE official shop / Kiln-made personalized pure titanium double tumbler horie titanium tumbler Mother’s Day Father’s Day Respect for the Aged Day gift beer glass Horie Tsubame-Sanjo birthday present farewell retirement celebration thank-you wedding celebration SDGs Christmas
Free shipping for orders between 13,200 and 19,800 yen
Go to Product Page ：
This is the product page for the Kiln Creation series. To choose other series, you can click HORIE store homepage to view.
Scroll to the bottom to select product specifications (商品詳細を選択).
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Shape/Size: Choose the style you want (please refer to the product page images; options include wide mouth, narrow mouth, and various capacities).
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Color: Choose the style you want (please refer to the product page images)
I bought: Kiln-made Booster/400ml & G4B:
Name Engraving Option: Whether to have engraving (online store exclusive, free engraving), requires 7–10 business days:
Wrapping option: Gift wrap style, A or B or no style.
Choice of Paulownia Box Design: Packaging box style, WakuWaku Surprise Edition (left, single item only) or Regular Edition (right)
Paulownia Wooden Box for 2-piece Set (※Check only if ordering 2 or more items and needed): Check this box to place two cups in the same box (see bottom right of the image).
Skip if buying only one.
Combination for 2 sets (example: Premium and Light) (※Please specify if ordering 2 or more sets): How to combine the boxes when buying two or more sets. If it’s troublesome, it’s faster to add them separately to the cart.
If buying only one, you can skip this.
Name Engraving Type ※If ordering 2 or more single name-engraved items, please add them to the cart one by one: No engraving (no inscription), you can skip the fields below. If engraving is needed, please choose the style and fill in the text for each line according to the product page images:
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Name engraving line 1
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Name engraving line 2
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Name engraving line 3
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Name engraving line 4
Please note that if you want engraving, add each item to the cart separately. Do not write the engraving text in the product details.
I chose style B for the engraving (see the image at the end).
Gift Wrapping and Greeting Card Styles, Content:
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Noshi content: The type of congratulatory message, such as “御祝” (celebration), “祝壽” (birthday wishes), etc. If not needed, select “No noshi.”
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Type of Noshi: Gift label style, as shown in the picture below. If not needed, select “No Noshi.”
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Types of Mizuhiki (Decorative Cord) for Noshi: Styles of celebratory cord bindings, as shown below. If not needed, select “No Noshi.”
Name to be written on the gift wrapping (sender) ※For joint names, please insert “・” between names. If you want furigana for occasions like thank-you gifts, please enter it as well. If over 20 characters, please write in the remarks section: Please fill in the sender’s name to be printed on the gift wrapping (noshi). For multiple senders, insert “・” between names; leave blank if not applicable.
Add to Cart and Complete Checkout
After filling in all the specifications, click “かごに追加” to add the item to your cart. For the delivery address (お届け先), select our Rakuten forwarding service in “Kanagawa Prefecture.” Below, it will show the estimated delivery time to Rakuten forwarding and free shipping. Once everything is added, click the cart icon above to proceed to checkout:
After confirming the product specifications are correct, click the “Proceed to Purchase” button on the right.
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Delivery Address: For the shipping information, you can directly select the forwarding address you just added in Rakuten Shipping, or add a new forwarding address yourself (please be sure to enter the full forwarding address including the final number).
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Payment Method: I paid directly by credit card (since it’s a purchase from Japan, check which banks offer discounts).
After confirming everything is correct, click “注文を確定する” to complete the order.
HORIE Engraving Confirmation
If you choose to add engraving, HORIE will send you a confirmation after receiving the order. If everything is correct, you can reply with “ご送付いただいたレイアウトを確認しました。問題ございませんので製作を進めてください。” to let them start production.
He will also send a message informing the shipping time.
Merchant Shipping and Rakuten Forwarding Arrival Notification
After receiving the HORIE shipping notification, the package arrives at the Rakuten forwarding warehouse in about 1–3 days.
Shipping from Amazon JP to Rakuten Forwarding Service
This time, besides buying the HORIE titanium cup, I also purchased a magazine from Amazon Japan (Amazon JP) and plan to ship them together back to Taiwan.
On the shopping website, just remember to fill in the shipping address and contact phone number with your Rakuten forwarding information.
(Non-Rakuten Market Shopping) Pre-Registration of Incoming Packages
For items not purchased directly from Rakuten, it is recommended to register the shipment with the forwarding service after placing the order.
Click “Cargo List” → “Register/Confirm”
Enter store, product information, and amount purchased from other platforms.
Amazon Japan Purchase - Rakuten Shipping Arrival Notification
After completing the order, wait for the seller to ship. You will also receive a notification when the package arrives at the Rakuten forwarding center.
Rakuten Forwarding to Taiwan
Rakuten Global Express offers free storage for up to 30 days. Once all items have arrived and are consolidated, you can request packaging and shipment.
Delivered items: A total of three.
Click “Cargo List”:
Click “Submit Packaging Request”
Confirm the contents of the consolidated package for shipment, and if correct, click “Confirm Shipment Package.”
Click “Select other paid packaging service.”
You can choose the packaging service: (Click the “i” for illustrated instructions)
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Remove packaging boxes, shoe boxes, flyers, catalogs, delivery notes, etc.: to reduce weight and volume, saving shipping costs.
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Package Waterproofing Treatment
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Use reinforced boxes for international shipping: I checked this option, which means using a larger cardboard box plus cushioning paper to protect your items.
Packaging Request (Choose Shipping Location)
Enter the shipping address:
- Passport English name, English address, your phone number (replace the leading 0 with 886)
After submission, the status will change to: Packaging in progress. Please wait for the process to complete before making payment and shipping.
I received the packaging completion notification the next morning.
Pay Forwarding Shipping Fee and Request Shipment
Status: Pending Payment.
Click “Cargo List” → “Pending Payment” cargo → “Proceed to Payment”.
Final size and weight: 2,330 g, 38 x 30 x 21 cm
Confirm the package contents and recipient information. If correct, click “Select Shipping Method.”
You can choose:
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DHL Express (Super Express Air): 1–3 days, 9,100 yen
According to a friend’s advice, if you use DHL, remember to apply for tax payment before delivery to avoid extra handling fees if customs inspects and charges additional tax. -
EMS Express Air Shipping: 3–8 days, 6,550 JPY (I chose this, actually received in 2 days, very fast)
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ECMS Economy Air Shipping: 6–11 days, 6,280 JPY
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Sea Shipping: 20–40 days, 5,620 JPY
The price is similar to the quote from the Cost Estimation Tool.
Next, enter your credit card or PayPal information to complete the payment:
Shipping fees also earn Rakuten points (1%)!
Shipping Entrustment Completed
Status will change to: Shipping in progress.
Complete EZWay Registration
If you have no experience buying items from overseas, be sure to complete EZWay real-name verification by downloading the EZWay app, registering, and completing the verification.
Rakuten Forwarding Shipment
Rakuten will also send a notification after shipping is completed, including a tracking number to check the shipment status.
The shipment point may not be found immediately; please check again later and it will appear.
Waiting for the package!
Up to this point, registration on the Japanese Rakuten site, using Rakuten forwarding, placing orders, shipping, sending back to Taiwan, and EZWay are all completed. Now just wait for the goods to arrive!
Rakuten Forwarding and Horie Titanium Cup Unboxing
10/14 Requested Rakuten forwarding shipment, received it on 10/16!
The two cups plus one magazine do not take up much space in the actual box.
Cover with Japanese-style warning stickers.
The reinforced box for international shipping includes this extra cardboard box plus shockproof paper packaging around and at the bottom.
The above is the magazine bought from Amazon (the paper packaging for shipping was damaged, but the contents are fine), and below is the Horie titanium cup.
The Horie titanium cup’s original sealed box was placed intact inside the Rakuten forwarding box.
It seems you can choose to remove the original packaging during forwarding to reduce volume and weight, saving on shipping costs.
Contents: 2 titanium cups.
Horie Titanium Cup
The overall colors, patterns, and gradients are very vivid and magical, creating an unreal beauty.
Open a bottle of draft beer with ice cubes for testing. The ice retention is indeed good, the beer has a smooth foam, tastes great, and it really doesn’t sweat.
Final Cost Calculation
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Horie Titanium Cup Kiln-made Booster / 400ml ¥19,800 JPY — NT $4,079
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Shipping cost per person: NT$665
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Customs Duty: Not charged
Total: NT $4,744 purchased.
Because the titanium cup is very light, you can find a few more people to share the shipping cost, which should bring the price down to around NT4,200. I only bought two, so the shipping cost was a bit expensive.
Of course, the best deal is still to buy directly at Japanese department stores and get a tax refund! The estimated price is around NT$ 3,600.
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