Japanese furniture has a particular reputation: quiet details, honest materials, forms that sit well in a room. Ordering a piece from a Tokyo studio and getting it to Berlin, New York, or Sydney is not complicated, but it is different from buying off a warehouse shelf. Here is what actually matters.
1. DDP vs. DDU changes everything
DDP means the seller handles customs, duties, and delivery to your door. DDU means the buyer pays import charges on arrival — often with surprise fees and a held shipment.
If you are buying from abroad, ask specifically: “Is this price DDP or DDU?” The answer determines whether your final cost is predictable or whether a 20% customs bill is waiting at the port.
2. Made-to-order is normal, not a premium option
Many Japanese studios do not stock inventory. Lead times of 8–12 weeks are standard, and that is where the quality sits: the studio is cutting, finishing, and inspecting your piece rather than pulling it from a shelf.
Plan for it. A good studio will tell you the exact lead time before you pay.
3. Solid material matters more at a distance
When you cannot sit on a piece before buying, material honesty becomes the guarantee. Solid oak, for example, ages differently from veneered board: dents and scratches become part of the surface rather than exposing a different substrate underneath. Ask what the core material is, not just the finish.
4. The “designed in Japan” detail
Some studios design in Japan and manufacture elsewhere. That is fine — but the wording matters. If origin, finish quality, and after-sales support matter to you, ask where the piece is made and who handles service if something arrives damaged.
5. Shipping cost is not the same as landed cost
A low product price with high shipping can exceed a higher product price with DDP shipping. Add up: product + shipping + duties + handling + final-mile delivery. Then compare.
6. One piece is a shipment, five pieces is a project
If you are specifying for a room, a hotel, or a restaurant, a studio can often quote better shipping terms for multiple pieces than for one. It is worth asking before you order individually.
Questions & answers
What does DDP mean when buying furniture from abroad?
DDP (Delivered Duties Paid) means the seller handles freight, customs clearance, and all import duties. The price you pay is the final price — nothing is collected at delivery.
How long does made-to-order furniture from Japan take?
Most Japanese design studios do not hold inventory. Lead times of 8–12 weeks are normal, because the piece is being made, finished, and inspected for your order.
Is solid oak better than veneer?
Solid oak ages by gaining and giving back a surface: it can be sanded and recoated. A veneer is a thin skin over a different substrate; once damaged, it cannot be restored in the same way.
What should I ask a Japanese furniture studio before ordering?
Ask four things: Is the price DDP or DDU? What is the lead time? What is the core material? And who handles service if something arrives damaged?