of our products are made in Japan and bought there by our own team.
People often ask us whether our products really come from Japan. Here's how we choose them, where they're made, and how they get to your door.
What's made in Japan?
Every product made in Japan carries this label on its product page. If it's not there, the product isn't made in Japan. It's as simple as that.
Made in Japan
Over 90% of our products are made in Japan
Almost everything we sell is made in Japan, and we buy it there, directly from the makers and workshops. That goes for tableware, tea, textiles, lucky charms, stationery and much more. You'll find them in collections such as these:
Table and kitchen
Tea and grocery
Home decor and lucky charms
Clothing, accessories and stationery
The list isn't exhaustive. For a specific product, the easiest way is to check its product page.
What isn't made in Japan
Bought in Japan, but made elsewhere
Some Japanese brands have their products made in other countries, such as China or India, just like many European brands. We buy them in Japan from our usual suppliers, but without the “Made in Japan” label on their page. That's the case for some socks, some fans, and a few bags and pajamas.
Made in Europe
Our posters are printed in France, our artist T-shirts and hoodies in Spain and Latvia. There's no Japanese craftsmanship involved in these products, only printing, so it makes more sense to produce them in Europe, close to our warehouse, than to ship them over from Japan.
Bought directly from China
A few products simply don't exist in a made-in-Japan version, such as book nooks, some model kits or modern obi belts. Those we buy directly from China, and their product page doesn't carry the “Made in Japan” label.
In some collections, these products sit alongside products made in Japan. When that's the case, each product page tells you whether that particular item is made in Japan or not.
Our team in Japan
Aurore and Paul live in Japan and handle our buying there. They speak Japanese, track down makers and workshops, negotiate with them directly, check the products and follow every order until it leaves for Europe. Between our suppliers and us, there's no one else.
Being there also lets us find products that haven't left Japan yet. Many of the makers we work with had never exported before us: they only sold within Japan. Aurore and Paul meet them, explain how we work and organize the first shipments with them. So it often happens that we're the first, and the only ones, to import their products.
Aurore
Head of Purchasing and Supply Chain, Chiba Prefecture
She has lived in Japan for 8 years. She runs our purchasing and all the logistics on the Japanese side: negotiating with makers, following up orders, checking products and organizing shipments to our warehouse.
Paul
Purchasing and Sourcing, Tokyo
He has been in Japan for almost 10 years. His specialty is finding new products and makers that aren't available outside Japan yet. He also places orders and, with Aurore, follows them until they leave for Europe.
From Japan to your door
Nothing is shipped to you directly from Japan. Everything is first gathered there, then sent to our warehouse in France. That's where all your orders leave from.
In Japan
Aurore and Paul place the orders with our suppliers and check the products.
Consolidation
Orders from all our suppliers are gathered together in Japan, then shipped to Europe.
Our warehouse
At our warehouse, we receive everything, check it and put it into stock.
At your door
Your order is carefully packed by our team and delivered in 2 to 6 business days in the UK and the EU, and 5 to 9 in Canada and Australia.
Japan Avenue is the English-language shop of Ecom Vibe, a French company that has been selling Japanese products online since 2018. To find out more about us, visit the page Who are we?
Questions we're often asked
Are your products really made in Japan?
Over 90% of them, yes, and it's written on their product page. The rest are either products from Japanese brands made in another country, our posters, T-shirts and hoodies printed in Europe, or products that aren't made in Japan at all and that we buy directly from China. In all of these cases, the product page doesn't carry the “Made in Japan” label.
Why isn't everything made in Japan?
Because some Japanese brands, like many European brands, have part of their range made in other countries. We still buy those from our Japanese suppliers, but we don't put the “Made in Japan” label on their page, even though they're imported from Japan. And because our posters and artist clothing are printed in Europe, where no Japanese craftsmanship is involved. Either way, we'd rather tell you.
Will I have to pay customs duties?
Your parcel ships from our warehouse in France. For deliveries within the European Union, there are no customs duties. For the UK, Canada, Australia and other countries outside the EU, import duties or taxes may apply depending on your country's rules, and they are paid by the recipient. You'll find the details on our shipping page.
Curious to see what our team has found lately?
Have a question about a specific product? Write to our customer service.
Page updated October 2026