Ocean & Air Freight Shipping from Canada to Japan

Canada and Japan enjoy bilateral trade relationships, with the latter being Canada’s largest source of foreign investment in Asia. In 2022, Canada exported $18 billion worth of goods to Japan, with the largest exports including mineral fuels and oils, mineral ores, agricultural products, and forestry products.

If you are a company in Canada looking to tap into the Japanese market, you’ve come to the right place. This article walks you through ocean and air freight shipping from Canada to Japan. 

What Are the Options for Shipping Freight From Canada to Japan?

To ship cargo from Canada to Japan, you can choose between ocean and air freight. 

Ocean Freight From Canada to Japan

Ocean freight is the cheapest way to get goods from Canada to Japan. It also allows you to ship a wide range of cargo, regardless of size, weight, and volume. While ocean freight takes longer than other modes of shipment, it’s still great for companies that don’t want to spend too much on their shipping. 

Ocean freight offers two shipping options: less than container load (LCL) and full container load (FCL). 

In LCL, goods belonging to several shippers are consolidated and shipped together in one container. Hence, it’s only viable for smaller goods. LCL is also cheaper than FCL but would have longer transit times. 

On the other hand, FCL involves the shipper renting the space in an entire container for their shipments. This allows them to ship large, heavy, or high-volume cargo as they don’t need to share space with other shippers’ consignments. While this makes FCL more expensive than LCL, it does provide the extra benefit of faster transit times. 

Air Freight from Canada to Japan

Another option to get goods from Canada to Japan is air freight. It sends cargo by plane, allowing faster transit times and more security, thanks to airport regulations. But these regulations also limit air freight when it comes to what you can ship and how heavy or large your goods can be. It’s also more expensive than ocean freight due to higher aircraft fuel costs. 

How Much Does it Cost to Ship Cargo From Canada to Japan?

The cost of shipping goods from Canada to Japan would depend on a variety of factors, including: 

• Your choice of ocean or air shipping
• Your preference for door-to-door, port-to-port, port-to-door, or door-to-port shipment
• Your consignment’s weight, volume, and size
• Weight and size limits

To determine your shipping costs, use our online freight costs calculator. Additionally, you can find the current cost of shipping a standard 20-foot container from Canada to Japan in the table below:

How long does it take to ship cargo from Canada to Japan?

Shipping goods from Canada to Japan varies in transit time, primarily based on the international shipping mode you choose. Additional factors impacting this include:

• The shipping season (peak or low)
• The directness of the shipment's route
• The popularity of the trade lane
• Geopolitical issues
• Potential incidents at ports

How long does it take to ship cargo by sea from Canada to Japan?

It takes approximately 15 to 50 days to ship cargo from Canada to Japan by sea. 

How long does it take to ship cargo by air from Canada to Japan?

Air freight from Canada to Japan only takes 2-8 days. 

For the most accurate estimate, we recommend using our transit time calculator.

Customs Clearance in Canada and Japan

Before your goods can be imported to Japan, they must go through the Japanese customs clearance authorities. The clearance process would require you to prepare and submit the following documents: 

• A commercial invoice
• A packing list
• A certificate of origin
• A letter of credit or other payment terms (depending on the contract between the parties involved)
• A bill of lading for ocean freight or an Airway Bill for air freight

For examples of this document, you may refer to our full documents list. 

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

Ocean and air freight offer advantages to shipping goods from Canada to Japan. But which one is better for you would depend on your needs, priorities, and shipment specifications. 

Ocean Freight

Ocean freight is a good option if you’re shipping from Canada to Japan on a budget. It offers cost-effective freight transport, albeit with longer transit times. 

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

LCL freight shipping if your cargo meets the following qualifications: 

• It is small and lightweight. 
• It is not voluminous.
• It is not delicate, fragile, or high-value.
• It is suitable for consolidation with other shipments.
• It does not require special handling or movement.

Considerations for FCL Freight Shipping

On the other hand, FCL freight shipping is best if your cargo: 

• Is large, heavy, overweight, or oversized 
• Has a large volume 
• Is delicate, fragile, or high-value 
• Is not suitable for consolidation with other shipments 
• Needs to be shipped in isolation 
• Requires special handling or movement 

Air Freight

You can also look into shipping by air. Air freight offers the fastest transit time out of all shipping options and is also the most secure because of airport regulations. However, you should remember that air freight has strict restrictions in place. Some types of goods are not allowed on the aircraft, and there are also weight, size, and volume limits for cargo. 

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo ports of origin in Canada

Port of Vancouver

The Port of Vancouver is the largest seaport in Canada, handling the export of goods to Asia, the U.S., and other countries worldwide. It trades over $200 billion in goods with 170 economies. 

Port of Montreal

The Port of Montreal is an advanced port that uses AI to achieve seamless and efficient handling and movement of goods. It has connections with 140 economies around the world and handles more than 10% of Canada’s cargo throughput. 

Port of Prince Rupert

The Port of Prince Rupert is the third-largest port in Canada. In recent years, it has increased its capacity for handling goods, with a 99% uptick in cargo capacity and movement. 

Cargo ports of arrival in Japan

Port of Tokyo

The Port of Tokyo, located at the center of Japanese industry and economy, is the largest in the country. It has an annual capacity of 90 million tonnes and has 15 berths for handling containers and other shipping facilities. 

Kobe Port

The Kobe Port is the fourth-busiest in Japan. It is located on Honshu Island and is part of Japan’s Hanshin Port. The Kobe Port handles 86,000,000 tonnes of general cargo per year. 

Port of Nagoya

The Port of Nagoya handles over 10% of Japanese international trade. It mainly handles vehicles and bikes, with Toyota exporting around 1.4 million cars through this port annually. 

Air Freight from Canada to Japan: An airport guide

Airports of origin in Canada

Calgary International

The Calgary International Airport serves the city of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. It is the busiest airport in the Canadian province and the fourth-busiest in Canada by passenger traffic. The airport is a hub for airlines such as Lynx Air and WestJet.

Montreal Trudeau

The Montreal Trudeau International Airport is located in Dorval, Quebec, Canada. It houses airlines such as Air Canada, Air Transat, and Sunwing Airlines, handling 81,400 tonnes of cargo annually.

Vancouver International

The Vancouver International Airport is located in Richmond, British Columbia, and serves Vancouver and the lower mainland region. It is Canada’s second-busiest airport by passenger traffic and handles 232,600 tonnes of cargo per year. 

Airports of arrival in Japan

Narita International Airport

The Narita International Airport is located in the Kanto region of Japan, a few miles from Tokyo. It is the country's largest cargo port of arrival, handling 2.59 million tonnes of international freight. 

Kansai International Airport

The Kansai International Airport is in Osaka Prefecture and serves the Greater Osaka Area. It is the second-largest cargo airport in Japan, handling 808.6 thousand tonnes of cargo per year. 

Tokyo International Airport 

Also called the Haneda Airport, the Tokyo International Airport serves the Greater Tokyo Area alongside the Narita International Airport. It handles around 434,074 tonnes of cargo annually and is a hub for Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways, and Skymark Airlines.