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Bringing alcohol: limit is bottles or volume? 2014/8/20 19:21
I will be bringing Scottish whisky into Japan for friends I am visiting next month. I have checked other threads on this forum and the customs website which state that three bottles of 760ml is the limit.

However, what if I bring three bottles of less than 760ml plus three mini bottles of 5cl - so that the total amount is less than 3x760, but the amount of actual bottles is over three?

Does anyone have any idea how that works? Is the three bottle limit important or is it the total amount of alcohol that's important?
by Alison (guest)  

Re: Bringing alcohol: limit is bottles or volume? 2014/8/21 12:08
As far as I know there isn't any limit to the amount of alcohol you can bring in. Just bring in whatever you like, show it to customs, and they will charge you a small duty tax if you have more than a certain amount. It's not exorbitant, so if you're buying presents for people you don't need to limit yourself to three bottles.
by Umami Dearest rate this post as useful

Re: Bringing alcohol: limit is bottles or volume? 2014/8/21 12:11
I think that should be ok, but maybe check the customs website.
However, are you aware that Scotch whiskey is quite cheap in Japan, and my be cheaper than in your home country?
by Sandy (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Bringing alcohol: limit is bottles or volume? 2014/8/21 12:15
If you are talking about the duty-free limit, they are not specific about whether bottles or volume takes precedence. In your case, I would just declare everything and see if they decide that you'll owe duty on the excess bottles. Either they will let you through without owing duty, or you will be charged a few hundred yen for the excess bottles. The rates are pretty low, 450 yen for a 750ml bottle.
by yllwsmrf rate this post as useful

Re: Bringing alcohol: limit is bottles or volume? 2014/8/21 18:44
Hi - thanks for your answers. I won't be bringing over the total volume limit, so hopefully no duty, but good to hear duty isn't much anyway.

I'm coming from Scotland (and will buy at the duty-free shop in Glasgow airport), so if Scotch isn't cheaper in Scotland than Japan, then something's wrong...! If it's cheaper in Japan, then I guess I'll be importing more back :)

Thanks.
by Alison (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Bringing alcohol: limit is bottles or volume? 2014/8/21 19:40
Probably would be similar prices. Some more common ones will be cheaper in Japan. But as most would have to be found in a specialist retailer or online, they still have prestige and are great gifts.

The reason for the price similarity despite the distance to ship is that duty on spirits is very low in Japan. And "duty free" shops are no longer really duty free in the UK.
by Mr Shippy (guest) rate this post as useful

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