How we rank (neutrality policy)
The order of the comparison is determined only by the computed total (service fee + payment fee + known mandatory fixed fees), ascending, with ties broken alphabetically. We include services with no affiliate program under the same rules, and affiliate status never moves a row. The same fee data renders both the calculator and the tables below, so they cannot drift apart.
What proxy fees actually consist of
Buying from Japan through a proxy involves three cost layers. This tool compares the first one; the other two are the same problem for every service:
- Proxy fees (this tool) — the per-item or per-order service fee, a payment/deposit fee for some services, and mandatory fixed costs like Neokyo's packaging fee.
- International shipping — depends on weight, size, carrier, and destination; quoted by each service when your parcel is packed.
- US import duties & carrier fees — since the de minimis suspension, even small packages owe the 15% Japan tariff plus processing fees. Estimate these with our US Import Cost Calculator.
For a narrative comparison of the two biggest names, read Buyee vs ZenMarket; for the budget-focused ranking across all services, see the cheapest Japan proxy service.
Fees, rules, and sources
Everything this calculator uses is listed below and stored in a versioned data file (last verified June 11, 2026). Payment fees use each service's cheapest standard card/PayPal option, applied to the full funded amount (item price + fees).
1. Service fee by marketplace (JPY)
| Service | Mercari | Yahoo! Auctions (JDirectItems) | Rakuten | Amazon Japan | Other online stores |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZenMarket | ¥800 / item | ¥800 / item | ¥500 / item | ¥500 / item | ¥500 / item |
| Buyee | ¥500 / item | ¥500 / item | ¥500 / order | ¥500 / order | ¥500 / order |
| Neokyo | ¥350 / item | ¥350 / item | ¥350 / item | ¥350 / item | ¥350 / item |
| FROM JAPAN (One Map) | ¥500 / item | ¥500 / item | ¥500 / item | ¥500 / item | ¥500 / item |
| Remambo | ¥500 / item | ¥500 / item | ¥500 / order | ¥500 / item | ¥500 / order |
“/ item” fees multiply by your item count; “/ order” fees are charged once for any number of items bought together from the same store. On Mercari, Yahoo! Auctions, and (for some services) Amazon, every listing counts as its own order — the table above already reflects each service's published rule.
2. Payment / deposit fees
| Service | Fee used here | Cheaper routes |
|---|---|---|
| ZenMarket | Funds deposit fee 3.5% (credit card / PayPal) | ZenMarket is deposit-based; card/PayPal deposits cost 3.5% of the transaction. International bank transfer or Wise can bring this down to roughly 1% for larger deposits. |
| Buyee | No separate payment fee | You pay per order by card/PayPal etc.; Buyee does not list a percentage payment surcharge. |
| Neokyo | No separate payment fee | Payments are made in JPY; your card or PayPal exchange rate applies but Neokyo does not list a percentage surcharge. |
| FROM JAPAN (One Map) | No separate payment fee | FROM JAPAN states payment fees inside Japan are all free and does not list a deposit surcharge (two-step payment: Charge 1 = item, Charge 2 = shipping & fees). |
| Remambo | Card payment fee 3.6% (via Stripe) | PayPal is 3.7% + ¥40, UnionPay 3.7%; Wise is usually under 1% and cheaper for deposits over ¥50,000. |
3. Sources (official fee pages)
- ZenMarket: zenmarket.jp/en/fees.aspx / zenmarket.jp/en/payment.aspx / zenmarket.jp/en/blog/post/16275/
- Buyee: buyee.jp/helpcenter/guide/fees / buyee.jp/helpcenter/guide/plans
- Neokyo: neokyo.com/en/fees
- FROM JAPAN (One Map): www.fromjapan.co.jp/japan/en/help/fee/ / www.fromjapan.co.jp/lp/japan/fee/en/
- Remambo: www.remambo.jp/help/ourcommission.html / www.remambo.jp/help/moneyinput.html
Frequently asked questions
Q. Which Japanese proxy service has the lowest fees?
A. It depends on what and how much you buy. Neokyo has the lowest per-item fee (¥350) but adds a mandatory ¥500 packaging fee per shipment. Buyee and Remambo charge ¥500 per order, which is cheap when you bundle several items from one store. On Mercari and Yahoo! Auctions every listing counts separately for all services, and ZenMarket charges a higher ¥800 there. Enter your order above to get the ranking for your exact case.
Q. Do these totals include international shipping and US customs duties?
A. No. This tool compares only the proxy-side fees charged before international shipping. Shipping depends on weight and destination, and US import duties are a separate cost — estimate those with our US Import Cost Calculator.
Q. Why is ZenMarket more expensive on Mercari and Yahoo! Auctions?
A. ZenMarket charges ¥800 per item for Mercari purchases and JDirectItems (Yahoo!) Auction bids, versus its standard ¥500 fee for Amazon, Rakuten, and most other stores. It also applies a funds deposit fee (3.5% by card/PayPal, from about 1% by bank transfer) because it is a deposit-based service.
Q. Does Buyee really have a ¥0 plan?
A. Buyee requires choosing a guarantee plan per order: Lite is ¥0 but has no compensation or inspection, the Inspection Plan is ¥300, and the Standard / Insured Delivery plans are ¥500. This calculator uses the free Lite plan for Buyee's totals and notes the upgrade cost, since ZenMarket and FROM JAPAN bundle some protection into their base fee.
Q. How current are the fees in this comparison?
A. Every figure carries a verification date and a linked official source (above). Proxy services revised fees substantially in 2024–2026 — Buyee moved to ¥500 per order in April 2026, ZenMarket raised Mercari/JDirectItems fees to ¥800, and FROM JAPAN moved to a flat ¥500 per item in July 2024 — so we re-verify quarterly.
Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates for general information only. Fee schedules, plan structures, and payment surcharges are set by each service and can change without notice; the linked official pages are authoritative. Totals exclude international shipping, seller-side domestic shipping, optional services, currency-conversion spreads, and import duties or taxes in your country. This is not financial or customs advice.