Japanese Cosmetics Delivered to Kazakhstan: How to Order from Japan, Duties and Timing

Japanese cosmetics are well known in Kazakhstan: Hada Labo lotions, CANMAKE sunscreen gels, Tsubaki shampoos and Keana Nadeshiko masks are no longer exotic. The real question is usually not what to buy but how to get the original Japanese pack without extra middlemen and without surprises at customs. This guide walks through ordering Japanese cosmetics from Tokyo to Almaty, Astana, Shymkent or any other city in Kazakhstan: how checkout works, what customs may charge, how long a parcel takes and what Japan Post will not accept.

Why order cosmetics directly from Japan

The main reason is simple: you get the same pack that sits on the shelf of a Japanese drugstore or department store. Eurasia Japan buys products from Japanese manufacturers, their distributors and Japanese retail stores and ships them from Tokyo. Every item in an order is a single retail pack with the Japanese manufacturer's JAN code, which you can check against the barcode.

The second reason: every product on the site lists ingredients and directions translated from the manufacturer's official information. Japanese labels are almost entirely in Japanese, so a translated ingredient list helps you decide in advance whether a product suits you, for example if you need it fragrance-free or alcohol-free.

How to order from Kazakhstan, step by step

Everything happens on the site, with no back-and-forth with a manager:

1. Pick products in the catalog. Each one lists the manufacturer's specifications, ingredients and directions.
2. Choose Kazakhstan as the destination. The cart splits the order into parcels within the weight Japan Post accepts for Kazakhstan and shows the minimum order.
3. Sign in or create an account and enter your address. Postal codes in Kazakhstan have six digits; enter the full code.
4. Pay by card via Stripe. The order is confirmed instantly.
5. Once the parcel ships, a tracking number appears in your account.

The minimum order counts products only, without shipping. It is currently ¥8,000; the cart always shows the current minimum and will not let you check out below it.

Prices in tenge and payment

Prices on the site are in Japanese yen, and your card is charged in yen. For convenience, the currency switcher in the header shows prices in tenge (KZT), US dollars and a few other currencies. That is a guide at the current rate; the final tenge amount on your statement is set by your bank when it converts the payment.

Delivery to Kazakhstan: methods and timing

Parcels to Kazakhstan travel from Tokyo by Japan Post. For Kazakhstan, Japan Post accepts airmail parcels up to 20 kg and airmail small packets up to 2 kg; the cart shows the available methods, their cost and tracking before you pay.

Timing guides:

• Preparing the order: usually 3-5 business days for items in our warehouse and 7-10 business days for items sourced to order, which we buy from the supplier after you pay.
• In transit: for airmail, Japan Post gives a general range of 5-21 days.

These are estimates, not guarantees: postal workload and customs clearance in Kazakhstan both play a part. Country details are on the shipping to Kazakhstan page.

Duties and taxes: the EAEU €200 threshold

Kazakhstan is a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, so parcels follow the common EAEU rule:

• a parcel with goods worth up to €200 and weighing up to 31 kg enters with no customs charges;
• above the threshold, from 1 July 2026 customs charge 5% duty on the full value of the goods, at least €1 per kilogram;
• in Kazakhstan, 16% VAT is added on top.

Where these charges apply, the recipient pays them; they are not included in our prices and are not refunded. Amounts are indicative, the final figure is set by Kazakh customs. A table of thresholds by country is on the delivery terms page.

What cannot be mailed to Kazakhstan

Japan Post does not accept aerosols, flammable liquids and oxidisers (including bleach-type products), loose lithium batteries and power banks, e-cigarettes, or items made from CITES-protected species for international mail. Pressurised containers are excluded too, even when they hold a cream or a face mist: they show up on X-ray, so we do not sell them for shipping abroad.

Kazakhstan has one more restriction: Japan Post currently does not accept devices with a built-in lithium battery (for example, massagers and skin care devices) for this country. Kitchen knives, on the other hand, can be shipped: they are packed with the blade covered.

What people order most from Japan

Below are products from different categories that make an easy introduction to Japanese cosmetics. All of them are in the catalog and ship from Tokyo.

Face care. Japanese skin care is built around a lotion applied right after cleansing, plus masks.

• Hada Labo Gokujun Premium Hyaluronic Acid Lotion, refill 170 ml: according to the maker, eight types of hyaluronic acid, no fragrance, colourants, oils or alcohol.
• Keana Nadeshiko Rice Sheet Mask, 10 sheets: a dense sheet soaked in serum in a zip-lock pack; left on for about 5 minutes after cleansing.

Sun care. Japanese sunscreens are known for light textures.

• Curél Intensive Moisture Care Skin Repair UV Serum, 60 g: a sunscreen serum for dry, sensitive skin with a ceramide-function ingredient, for face and body.
• CANMAKE Mermaid Skin Gel UV, 01 Clear, 40 g: an SPF50+ PA++++ gel that the maker also suggests as a makeup base; it washes off with a regular cleanser.

Makeup.

• CANMAKE Marshmallow Finish Powder, MO Matte Ochre: an SPF50 PA+++ powder, fragrance-free and alcohol-free, that controls shine.
• CEZANNE Long Lasting Curl Mascara, 01 Black: a 3-in-1 mascara (base, mascara and top coat); the maker says it resists water, sweat and sebum.

Hair.

• Tsubaki Premium Moist & Repair Shampoo, 490 ml: a pump bottle with camellia seed oil in the formula.
• &honey Deep Moist Hair Oil 3.0, 100 ml: a leave-in oil with honey and argan oil, applied to towel-dried hair before blow-drying.

You will find more in the face care, makeup and hair sections and on the brand pages for Hada Labo, Curél and CANMAKE. For choosing a sunscreen, see our guide how to choose a Japanese sunscreen.

Returns and claims

Unopened items in their original sealed packaging can be returned within 14 days of delivery. Email info@eurasiajp.com with your order number first and we will send you the return address in Japan. Return shipping is paid by the customer; we refund the item price to the original card within 14 days after we receive the item. Opened cosmetics cannot be returned for hygiene reasons. If an item arrives damaged or is the wrong one, send us photos within 7 days of delivery.

Practical tips before you order

• Refill or bottle. Many Japanese products are labelled "refill" (詰め替え in Japanese). That is a soft pouch for refilling the bottle, with no pump. If you do not have the original bottle yet, start with the regular version.
• Product type. Some lines offer several versions of one product: Curél Intensive Moisture Care lotions, for example, come in three moisture levels, from light I to very moist III. The type is in the product name.
• Ingredients. The translated ingredient list on the product page helps you spot ingredients you react to and check whether a product contains fragrance or alcohol.
• Parcel weight. Shipping cost depends on weight, so the cart calculates it before you pay: liquids in large bottles weigh more than powder or sheet masks.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a parcel from Japan to Kazakhstan take? Preparing the order usually takes 3-5 business days for warehouse items and 7-10 for items sourced to order. Japan Post airmail is in transit for 5-21 days by the post's general estimate. Times are not guaranteed and customs clearance also plays a part.

Will I have to pay duty? If the goods in a parcel are worth no more than €200 and weigh no more than 31 kg, EAEU rules mean there is nothing to pay. Above the threshold, from 1 July 2026 there is 5% duty on the full value (at least €1 per kg) plus 16% VAT. The recipient pays, and customs set the final amount.

Can I pay in tenge? Your card is charged in yen and your bank converts it to tenge. You can view prices in tenge with the currency switcher in the site header.

Why are some sprays and mists missing from the catalog? Japan Post does not accept aerosols or any pressurised containers for international mail, so we do not sell such items for shipping to Kazakhstan.