Which proxy service is best for you?
There is no single best Japan proxy service, only the best fit for your order. As a rough guide: Buyee tends to suit first-timers and anyone buying across many different sites, thanks to its broad store support and heavy hand-holding; ZenMarket suits buyers consolidating several items, with a single flat fee per order; Neokyo suits cost-conscious occasional buyers who want leaner per-item fees; and Remambo suits budget and Yahoo Auctions buyers who do not need much English support. All four do the same core job, buying an item from a Japanese store, receiving it at a warehouse in Japan, and forwarding it overseas; the differences are in how they charge, which stores they handle, and how they consolidate. Compare them below, then run your own numbers in the calculator, since the cheapest option depends on your specific order.
Fee structures at a glance
The figures below are typical; verify current rates on each service's own site before you commit, since fees change and promotions come and go.
| Service | Service fee | Payment fee | Packing | Optional protection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buyee | ~JPY 500 per order | Varies by method | Included in handling | Yes, optional |
| ZenMarket | ~JPY 300 per item (recommended stores) / 500 standard / 800 Mercari and auctions | From ~1% | Included | Included in per-item fee |
| Neokyo | ~JPY 350 per item | Varies by method | ~JPY 500 per parcel up to 2 kg, then ~JPY 150 per extra kg | Yes, optional |
| Remambo | ~JPY 500 per order | Varies by method | Included in handling | Yes, optional |
The key distinction is per-order versus per-item. Buyee and Remambo charge roughly JPY 500 for the whole order, so buying five items from one store costs the same service fee as buying one. ZenMarket and Neokyo charge per item, so five items means five service fees. That single difference usually decides which service is cheapest for you.
Which stores each supports
- Buyee: broad coverage including Rakuten, Mercari, Yahoo Auctions, Yahoo Shopping, and many brand shops. It is the default checkout partner for several Japanese sites.
- ZenMarket: very wide, including Rakuten, Mercari, Yahoo Auctions, Amazon Japan, and a long list of "recommended" stores that qualify for the lower JPY 300 fee.
- Neokyo: covers Rakuten, Mercari, Yahoo Auctions, and most standalone brand shops via a manual order request.
- Remambo: strong on Yahoo Auctions and Mercari, with support for Rakuten and general shopping sites.
Consolidation and shipping
All four let you hold multiple purchases at their warehouse and combine them into one parcel, which is where most of your savings on international postage come from. Neokyo's packing fee is charged per finished parcel by weight, so heavy consolidations add cost there; the others fold packing into their handling. Once your parcel is ready, the shipping method you choose (EMS, courier, or surface) drives the bulk of the total. See our guide to EMS vs DHL vs surface for how those compare.
English support and payment
ZenMarket and Neokyo were built for international buyers and have fully English interfaces and support. Buyee offers English across its site and integrations. Remambo works in English but its interface feels more dated. On payment, most accept credit cards and PayPal; ZenMarket adds a payment processing fee from around 1 percent, which is worth factoring in on larger orders.
When each is cheapest
- Several items from one store: Buyee or Remambo usually win, because the flat per-order fee is spread across everything.
- One or two items from recommended stores: ZenMarket is often cheapest thanks to the JPY 300 per-item rate.
- Single items from many different shops: Neokyo's JPY 350 per item can be competitive, but watch the per-parcel packing fee.
- Yahoo Auctions and Mercari heavy buyers: compare Buyee and Remambo flat fees against ZenMarket's higher JPY 800 auction rate.
None of these services is cheapest in every situation. The winner depends on how many items you buy, which stores they come from, and the final parcel weight. Rather than guess, run your numbers in the calculator to see the landed cost for each option side by side. For common questions about proxy buying, customs, and refunds, see the FAQ.