How do I get to the TS Export Centre?

The TS Export Centre is located in Himeji with easy access from Kobe, Osaka and the Kansai International Airport. Himeji is served by a network of freeways, rapid express train services and the famous Shinkansen Bullet Train. Access is available from Kansai International Airport by several options including train, high-speed ferry and Direct Bus. For clients visiting us we have a Kansai Airport Access Guide PDF which we can email you. For clients travelling on Japan Rail from other parts of Japan the Shinkansen Schedule is available here.

Can I have a Pre-Export Inspection?

Sure. We can organise an independent Pre-Export Inspection with leading inspection organisations including Automobile Inspection System, Automotive Technologies Limited, Bureau Veritas, Cotecna, Japan Auto Appraisal Institute, and Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Center. Services include inspections of external, internal and mechanical condition, bio-security check, emission testing, stolen vehicle check, odometer verification, R12 gas removal, structural, conformity and verification certification. Extra fees apply for these services.

Could you explain the Japanese Vehicle Year System?

Sure. Contact us and we'll send you a FREE PDF Guide which explains the system and lets you convert between the Japanese year system and the International system.

Do you have a database of Japanese Cars?

The Yahoo! Japan Auction is a great source of model information, photos, variants and current market prices.

Wikipedia can be good for information on international models and the international variants of Japanese Domestic Models. Put the manufacturer and model name in Search.

The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association database of Japanese cars from 1947 to 1995 provides listings to Japanese Domestic Models spanning 50 years.

Amayama provides photos and specifications for popular models. Use the Exterior Dimensions to calculate M3 for Roll-On Roll Off shipping costs.

The Yahoo! Jidosha Catalog and Car Sensor Kuruma Guide are both in Japanese but can be translated with Google Language Tools. Even easier with the Google Toolbar with the Translate function enabled.

How can I check the reputation of a Japanese exporter?

These questions are a start... How long has the company been trading? What licences and approvals do they hold? Have they been approved by the Japan Used Motor Vehicle Exporters Association - JUMVEA? If not why not? What does an internet search reveal about the company?

The internet gives very good transparency as to a company's reputation. If you want to check the reputation of an exporter you can confirm with JUMVEA and/or Google the company name. If you Google the company name with words such as ripoff or scam after the company name any bad behaviour will usually be exposed. If an exporter behaves unethically their name and specific instances of bad behaviour will come up from forums etc. If its not clear who was at fault - the importer or the exporter - you can contact both for an explanation. Sometimes an importer can threaten to smear an exporter's name on the internet if they don't pay them off, so its important to get both sides and make up your own mind. In the few cases of bad exporters then there will be repeated genuine cases of bad behaviour surface with an internet search and they certainly would not be a member of JUMVEA. If at one time they ever had JUMVEA membership they would have been struck off, though unethical operators would probably have not exposed themselves to the scrutiny of the JUMVEA approval process in the first place.

TS EXPORT was established in 1983, is fully licenced and has been approved by the Hyogo Prefectural Public Safety Commission, Japan Motor Vehicle Exporters Association, Export Bureau and HONESTe ONLINE.

Should I insure my shipment?

Yes. Of the 100 million containers shipped each year about 10,000 are lost at sea. And then theres fire. Disasters happen to Roll-On Roll-Off Car Carriers too. We strongly suggest that you consult with your local Customs Broker for the best policy for your importing situation or we can arrange insurance on a shipment by shipment basis for you.

How do I close my account?

Most clients retain their accounts with us on an ongoing basis. However, to close an account simply email us that you wish to close your account. We will then remit any outstanding funds held in your account back to you. You will receive all of the funds held in your account, less bank fees and plus or minus the effects of currency movements. For clients who have a trading history with us no further fees are payable. For clients who have no trading history with us a Y10,000 Administration Fee is payable. To prevent money laundering we can only remit funds back to the account from which it was originally remitted.

How big is a shipping container?

The dimensions of all shipping containers are here.

What is the difference between FOB and CIF?

FOB is an abbreviation for Free on Board. This means that the seller pays for transportation of the goods to the port of shipment, plus loading costs. The buyer pays freight, insurance, unloading costs and transportation from the arrival port to the final destination. CIF stands for Cost, Insurance and Freight which means that the selling price includes the cost of the goods, the freight or transport costs and also the cost of marine insurance.

What do all these Export, Trade and Shipping Terms mean?

Click here for an A-Z Dictionary of Export, Trade and Shipping Terms.

Can you get me a new car?

Sure. Click here to get price estimates for the models your are interested in. Once you have a funded Trading Account with us we will seek out the best available price, bill the vehicle at cost price and provide you with a copy of the suppliers invoice.

When are the Japanese Public Holidays?

Click here for Japanese Public Holidays. We monitor emails every day, though public holiday periods can affect vehicle trucking, auction and shipping schedules.

How do I know when my car was built?

Japanese vehicle documentation gives the date of first registration of a vehicle, not the build date. To check the build date of a Japanese car enter the chassis number, select the manufacturer and click Define.

How much is it in my currency?

To convert prices from Japanese Yen to other currencies you can use online tools like Yahoo! Finance Currency Converter and the XE Universal Currency Converter which uses current market rates to convert to other currencies. You can also convert online here: Currency rates are the prevailing market rates. Telegraphic Transfer rates could vary slightly from these rates. For telegraphic transfer rates go to the website of the major banks in your country.

What is your privacy policy?

This is the web site of TS EXPORT. Our postal address is 4-8-31 Tsuchiyama Himeji, Hyogo, JAPAN We can be reached via email or you can reach us by telephone at 81 79 297 6221 For each visitor to our Web page, our Web server automatically recognizes only the consumer's domain name, but not the e-mail address (where possible). We collect only the domain name, but not the e-mail address of visitors to our Web page, the e-mail addresses of those who communicate with us via e-mail, aggregate information on what pages consumers access or visit, name and address, telephone number, fax number. The information we collect is used to improve the content of our Web page, . With respect to cookies: We do not set any cookies. If you do not want to receive e-mail from us in the future, please let us know by sending us e-mail at the above address. If you supply us with your postal address on-line you will only receive the information for which you provided us your address. Persons who supply us with their telephone numbers on-line will only receive telephone contact from us with information regarding orders they have placed on-line. Please provide us with your name and phone number. We will be sure your name is removed from the list we share with other organizations With respect to Ad Servers: We do not partner with or have special relationships with any ad server companies. From time to time, we may use customer information for new, unanticipated uses not previously disclosed in our privacy notice. If our information practices change at some time in the future we will contact you before we use your data for these new purposes to notify you of the policy change and to provide you with the ability to opt out of these new uses. Upon request we provide site visitors with access to unique identifier information (e.g., customer number or password) that we maintain about them. Consumers can have this information corrected by sending us e-mail at the above address. If you feel that this site is not following its stated information policy, you may contact us at the above addresses or phone number.

On what basis is the stock sourced and supplied?

All stock is sourced and supplied on an as is basis. For clients sourcing vehicles from an auction house that has supplied a condition report and who have a Pre-Export Inspection Report that is significantly at variance with the auction house report we will negotiate with the auction house for a refund or price reduction. Contact us and we'll send you our terms of trade.

How much is shipping?

Shipping estimates provided by Knot Global are available here. Exterior vehicle dimensions for calculating M3 are available here. These are third-party estimates and billing is based on actual costs.

Can you ship to my port?

We can ship to any port that a service is available. Shipping schedules by Ocean Schedules are available here. Not all services shown will have available capacity. While Ocean Schedules shows services from over 20 shipping companies, not all are shown. For services not covered by Ocean Schedules go directly to the shipping company website.

How can I get prices of the models I am interested in?

The Yahoo! Auction is a great place to start to get a complete overview of the market from dealers to private sellers. Go to the Main Cars Menu select a manufacturer and follow the model links. For scanning the listings quickly we recommend using Photo View. For New Cars Click Here. If you are a registered client with a funded account we can email you further auction sale information which means you can go ahead and buy with confidence!

Can I deal directly with a native English speaker?

Sure. Contact us and we can discuss your requirements further.

How do I set up an account?

Contact us and we can send you the materials that you need. Return the materials and fund your account and you can start buying!

How can I deposit funds into my Trading Account?

You can make TT Remittances to your Trading Account at the following SMBC account. Be sure to email or fax the remittance advice from your bank to us so we can track your remittance. Our fax is international 81 792 97 6221.

Bank Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Branch Himeji
Branch No 451
Account No 8776710
Account Name Tsuchiyama Sangyo
Bank Address 54 Gofukumachi, Himeji, Hyogo 670-0923 JAPAN
Bank Phone 81 792 23 1349
Bank Fax 81 792 88 2331
Swift Code SMBCJPJT

SMBC will deduct a fee from your remittance, usually Y2,500. The total funds received after bank fees will be deposited into your account. Our Trading Account system allows you to save bank fees by making fewer remittances. Many banks now offer TT remittances by internet banking which can save you time and money.

What are your Terms of Trade?

Contact us and we'll send them through to you.

What is a Customs Broker and why do I need one?

A customs broker processes the documentation for your import on your behalf. They are also your best source of information for your country's import requirements, shipping options and landing costs. We are required to nominate a customs broker on the shipping documentation. We also rely on your customs brokers to advise specific documentation and stock preparation requirements. Without this information you could incur delays or penalties or the shipment may not be allowed into your country. More You can locate a Customs Broker through your local telephone directory or put Customs Broker into your favourite search engine. Add your country or city for more specific results.

Which ports do you ship from?

The nearest international ports to our operating base are Kobe and Osaka. For cars sourced in other parts of Japan that are being exported whole it is normally cheaper to ship them direct from the nearest port to minimise internal freight charges.

Whats the difference between shipping a car by Container and Roll-On Roll Off?

With container shipping your car is driven into a Shipping Container, secured by tie-downs and the whole container is shipped to your destination port. With Roll-On Roll-Off, the car is driven into a special car carrying ship which transports your car to the destination port where it is driven off.

Since the cost of shipping RO-RO is determined by the vehicle size it is usually cheaper to ship smaller, lower vehicles by RO-RO. However, this advantage diminishes as the vehicle gets bigger and containers offer better security. Shipping multiple vehicles in a 40 foot high cube container is generally cheaper per unit than shipping a single vehicle in a 20 foot container. Vehicles containerised in combination with parts usually offer you the highest container load factor, which means the lowest landed cost per item. There are sometimes capacity problems on some routes with both containerised and RO-RO shipments, so this can also determine which option you choose. For an indicative FOB Cost Comparison Click Here.

Can you store cars?

Yes. Cars can be stored for a period of time free of charge. After this a storage fee applies.

How can I track my container shipment?

Depending on your shipping company you can track your shipment at APL Tracking, K LINE Tracking, NYK Tracking, MAERSK LINE Tracking, MSC Tracking, COSCO Tracking, DELMAS Tracking and Vanguard Tracking. For All Companies Click Here.

You can input either the Bill of Lading number, Container number or Vessel name. The Bill of Lading number is available from the electronic version of the BoL which we send you. The Container number is visible from the container door on the photos which we send you if the container was loaded at our Export Centre. The vessel name appears in the booking details we sent when the job was booked. We will email you tracking details for your container as soon as they become available.

How can I track my shipping documentation?

We will send you the electronic versions of your shipping documentation by email. This means your customs broker can quickly start work on your customs clearance in the destination country. You can track progress of your original documentation sent by EMS by tracking from Japan or by tracking in your Destination Country.

Can you get me Left Hand Drive cars?

Sure. Go to the Main Cars Menu and select any of the non-Japanese manufacturers for a large range of Left Hand Drive vehicles available now. A limited number of Japanese manufactured LHD vehicles - usually luxury or 4WD - are also available as reverse imports from the USA. Also check the listings on USS Auto Auction with Login ID: R70044 and GAO! with User ID V24858

I can't Login to GAO!

If you are using the Firefox browser you may encounter a Login problem. We recommend using Internet Explorer for GAO! access.

I can't read the email attachments you sent me.

To read PDF files use Adobe Reader. To create and read Office documents you can use Open Office. To read Excel spreadsheet files you can use Excel Viewer. To read Word files you can use Word Viewer.

Can you give me a Letter of Invitation to support my Japanese Visa application?

We welcome the opportunity to meet with you face to face and discuss your requirements further. We are happy to provide a Letter of Invitation to registered and ongoing clients. Japanese authorities request that you provide a day to day schedule to support the Letter of Invitation. We are happy to assist you with this. Click here for Visa Information.

I can't find the answer to my question here.

First go to the Yahoo! Auction FAQ's. If the answer to your question is not there then please Contact us.