International Hand-Carry Service
Our dedicated coordinator and hand-carry courier work as a team to manage your shipment from route planning to final handover.
Three Shipping Patterns
- JapanOverseas
Picked up in Japan and delivered direct to your overseas site.
- OverseasJapan
Picked up overseas and delivered to your site in Japan.
- OverseasOverseas
Direct shipping between overseas locations, without routing through Japan.
The LOTUS Advantage
We have hand-carried shipments to 75 countries and about 200 cities worldwide. That experience allows us to plan the optimal route for any origin-destination combination, from Japan, from overseas, or directly between overseas locations.
From Small Parts to Shipments of 2 Tons (2,000 kg)
We review the nature, weight, packaging, and dangerous goods status of your cargo, then recommend the most suitable transport plan.
Automotive Parts
Engine and transmission parts, electrical components, molds and dies
Electronic & Mechanical Parts
Semiconductors and circuit boards, connectors, sensors, precision equipment and machine tool parts, bearings
Samples & Prototypes
Samples for mass-production trials, prototypes, parts for inspection
Apparel
Samples, items for inspection
Important Documents
Contracts, certification documents, certificates of origin, customs-related certificates
Dangerous Goods & Chemicals
Industrial paints and adhesives, chemicals, resins
Large-Volume Cargo
We have hand-carried a 2-ton (2,000 kg) shipment with a team of several couriers.
Other
Medical devices, IT equipment, trade show materials, promotional items, and much more. If your cargo isn't listed, just ask.
Important Notes
- Dangerous goods, chemical products, liquids, and chemical substances are handled in accordance with the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), aviation laws, and each airline's rules. Airline approval is required after a Safety Data Sheet (SDS, formerly MSDS) is submitted.
- Whether we can carry a shipment is confirmed case by case after we review its details.
From Inquiry to Delivery
From pickup to handover, your dedicated coordinator and hand-carry courier will take care of everything.
Inquiry &
Consultation
Quote &
Booking- Live Updates
Pickup,
Export Clearance
& Departure - Live Updates
Arrival,
Import Clearance
& Delivery - Live Updates
Handover
Besides factories and offices, we can also pick up and hand over cargo at the airport. We send real-time updates by email, SMS, and chat apps at every step.
Inquiry & Consultation
We design the best way to move your shipment based on your request. Your dedicated coordinator gathers the details and immediately assesses whether it can be done and what the fastest route is.
You can contact us even before everything is decided. With the origin, destination, and departure date, we can give you a rough estimate.
What we'll ask when you contact us
- Description of goods, package size, weight, and number of pieces
- Origin and delivery address (address and contact name)
- Whether you have a commercial invoice and packing list
- Available pickup date and time, and requested arrival date and time
- Whether the cargo includes dangerous goods (if so, please prepare an SDS)
Quote & Booking
During daytime hours (Japan time), we usually send a quote within 1 hour of your inquiry. While preparing it, your dedicated coordinator is already selecting the best airline and route, placing a temporary hold on the flight, and assigning an available hand-carry courier.
Because preparation starts at the quote stage, pickup and departure can begin as soon as you confirm the booking.
Pickup, Export Clearance & Departure
Live UpdatesWe collect your cargo at the location you specify (factory, office, etc.) and complete export customs clearance at the airport. Once cleared, our hand-carry courier checks in, passes through immigration, and boards a passenger flight to the destination.
Cargo control and updates before departure
- Every checked piece is photographed and double-checked by two staff members (so any damage or offloading at the destination can be verified immediately)
- Updates at pickup, at check-in, and just before boarding
- At the airport 3 hours before departure, even earlier in peak seasons
- If a flight is delayed or canceled, your dedicated coordinator handles everything through to proposing alternatives
Arrival, Import Clearance & Delivery
Live UpdatesAfter landing, we clear import customs and deliver directly to the consignee. We can also hand over the cargo at the arrival airport, and local delivery can be handled by LOTUS or a partner as needed.
From your inquiry to final delivery, one dedicated coordinator manages the entire shipment and supports the courier on the ground at every moment.
Customs & Transport by Country
Cargo types, regulations, and customs requirements vary from country to country, and some shipments require no customs clearance at all.
Depending on the situation, we flexibly combine our own team, your designated brokers, and our partner network to choose the best customs and transport arrangement.
Our top priority is always the fastest possible delivery, so we propose and carry out the most efficient option available at the time.
Handover Complete
Live UpdatesOnce the cargo is handed over at the destination, we send you a completion report with the signed receipt and photos.
Six Ways We Support Urgent Shipments
The support we have built around the realities of urgent delivery.
One Dedicated Coordinator, Start to Finish
As a rule, every shipment is handled by a team of at least two: a dedicated coordinator and a hand-carry courier. From pickup, export clearance, and boarding to import clearance and delivery, your coordinator oversees the entire process. With a single fixed point of contact, nothing gets lost in communication.
Customs Letters in the Local Language
When our field experience tells us clearance may be slow or run into trouble, we prepare a letter in the local language addressed to the customs authorities at the destination and submit it with the customs documents to keep things moving.
Coordinators from Logistics and Aviation
The coordinators who arrange your hand-carry have worked at major Japanese freight forwarders and travel agencies. Their knowledge of flight booking, route planning, and customs requirements lets them build the fastest, most reliable plan.
Backup When Things Go Wrong
Flight delays and cancellations, customs inquiries, local traffic problems: the unexpected can happen in urgent delivery. Drawing on years of experience, we find the fastest alternative flight and take the best course of action on the spot.
Full Guidance for First-Time Clients
Your coordinator supports you from the very beginning, from identifying the documents you need to designing the best plan. We can also provide rough estimates and materials for internal approval.
Reach Us Anytime, Day or Night
Our phone line is open 24/7, 365 days a year. You can also reach us through our quote request form or chat apps such as LINE, WeChat, and WhatsApp. Choose whichever way gets you in touch with us fastest.
Emergencies Our Clients Call Us For
A Missing Auto Part Is About to Stop the Line
A specific part was running short on a mass-production line at an overseas plant, and stock was expected to run out the next day.
We arranged the route within 30 minutes of a late-night inquiry. Our courier left on the next morning's flight and delivered to the plant on the day of arrival.
A Prototype Must Reach an Overseas Site, Fast
A prototype finished in Japan had to reach an overseas site in time for mass-production trials.
Our courier stayed with it from pickup to arrival. Our local staff received it at the airport and took it straight to the plant.
Urgent Documents for an Overseas Partner
Original contracts had to arrive in time for a meeting the next business day.
We secured the fastest flight and direct delivery to the designated recipient at the recipient's office.
