How to Buy Japanese Anime Figures from Japan
A practical 2026 guide from Shibamaru Store, a figure shop run by YuJin LLC in Ibaraki, Japan. Updated October 2026.
Many of the figures collectors look for are hard to find outside Japan. Prize figures from Banpresto (Bandai Spirits), SEGA, Taito, FuRyu and others are made mainly as crane-game prizes for Japanese arcades, and Ichiban Kuji figures are sold as lottery prizes in Japanese convenience stores and hobby shops. Most of them never reach overseas retailers. This guide explains the ways to buy them, what it costs, and what to check before you order.
The four ways to buy
| Option | Good for | Things to check |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese online shop that ships abroad | Scale figures and new releases sold through normal retail | Many shops do not carry arcade prize figures or Ichiban Kuji prizes, and some do not ship overseas. |
| Proxy buying service | One-off items on Mercari, Yahoo! Auctions, Rakuma and other Japanese marketplaces | Service fees, payment fees and storage rules differ a lot. Marketplace items are often used, and returns are usually not possible. |
| Package forwarding address | Buyers who can order from Japanese sites themselves | You need to handle Japanese checkout and payment yourself. After-sales from the seller usually ends when the forwarder receives the item. |
| Figure specialist shop in Japan (like us) | Prize figures in stock, prize and Ichiban Kuji pre-orders, plus proxy buying in one account | Check which items are in stock vs. pre-order, and compare total cost including shipping. |
What Shibamaru Store offers
- In stock: prize figures already in our warehouse, ready to ship. Service fee 5%.
- Prize figure pre-order: reserve upcoming arcade prize figures before release. Service fee 5%.
- Ichiban Kuji pre-order: reserve Ichiban Kuji prizes. Service fee 5%.
- Proxy buy: we buy for you from Mercari, Yahoo! Flea Market, Rakuma and Yahoo! Auctions. Service fee 20% of the item price (for Yahoo! Auctions, 20% of the winning price plus domestic shipping in Japan).
- Wholesale: for registered business customers. Service fee 5%.
There is no service fee on shipping. All prices are in Japanese yen. You also earn store points on paid orders, and the site works in English, Japanese, Chinese and Korean.
Shipping and delivery times
| Method | Typical time | Billing |
|---|---|---|
| FedEx | About 2-6 days, door to door | Greater of actual and volumetric weight |
| EMS (Japan Post) | About 1-2 weeks, no time guarantee | Actual weight. Not available to the United States (Japan Post has suspended commercial parcels). |
| Sea mail (Japan Post) | About 1-3 months, no time guarantee | Actual weight; the cheapest for heavy parcels |
| Your own forwarder in Japan | Depends on the forwarder | Domestic delivery in Japan |
Your items are stored free in our warehouse for 30 days, so you can combine several orders into one parcel. Shipping one figure on its own costs much more per item than sending several together. Use the shipping calculator to see an estimate for your country before you order; the final cost is confirmed after packing and weighing.
Step by step
- Create an account with your email or Google account. New accounts are reviewed before activation.
- Add your delivery address in English and choose a shipping method.
- Order in-stock items, reserve pre-orders, or send us a proxy-buy request.
- Pay for the goods. Pay with Alipay, Alipay+, WeChat Pay or bank transfer (SWIFT / Wise), or top up your store wallet.
- When your items are ready, we pack them and send you a shipping invoice. After you pay shipping, we ship and send you the tracking number.
Customs and import duties
Import duties, taxes and clearance fees in your country are paid by the recipient. If a parcel is held at customs, we help by providing export documents such as the commercial invoice and packing list.
After-sales and returns
- Proxy-purchase and proxy-bidding items cannot be returned or exchanged, and we do not file claims with marketplace sellers. Please check the seller's description and photos before ordering.
- In-stock, pre-order and wholesale items, and parcels we ship for you: contact us within 7 days of delivery about missing or incorrect items.
- Damage or loss in transit: we provide the documents and help you file a claim with the carrier.
- In-stock, pre-order and wholesale items are shipped brand-new and factory-sealed. For manufacturing defects inside the sealed box, please contact the manufacturer.
Full details: Terms of Service.
Frequently asked questions
Why are prize figures cheaper than scale figures?
Prize figures are made in large runs for arcade crane games, so they are usually smaller and simpler than scale figures, and much cheaper. Many collectors buy them to complete a series.
Can I combine several orders into one parcel?
Yes. Everything you buy waits in our warehouse for up to 30 days free, and we ship it together.
Do you sell wholesale?
Yes, to registered business customers such as hobby shops. See our wholesale page.
About us
Shibamaru Store is operated by YuJin LLC (悠仁合同会社), 1879-244 Nagasu, Kashima-shi, Ibaraki 314-0022, Japan. Questions: info@yujin-llc.co.jp.