Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers about sending flowers to Japan from abroad with JapanFlowerDelivery: delivery days, address details, sizes, payment and Japanese flower etiquette.
Ordering and delivery to Japan
How do I send flowers to Japan from abroad?
You can order online from any country in a few minutes. Choose an arrangement on japanflowerdelivery.com, pick a size and a delivery date, write your card message and pay by card or PayPal in US dollars. It works the same from the US, the UK, Europe, Australia or elsewhere in Asia. Enter the Japanese address in full: the seven-digit postcode (for example 150-0001), prefecture, city and ward, the block numbers, and the building name with room number. The recipient's phone number is required. A local florist then prepares the flowers by hand and delivers them to the door.
Which cities in Japan do you deliver to?
We deliver across the whole country. That includes Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Fukuoka, Kobe and Kyoto, as well as every town in Japan, from Hokkaido in the north to Kyushu and Okinawa in the south. Each order is passed to a florist near the recipient, so the flowers are arranged locally and do not travel across the country in a box. If you are unsure whether a small village or island address can be reached, send us the postcode through the contact form and we will confirm.
What happens if the recipient is not at home?
The florist will try to make sure the flowers are received safely. Because a recipient phone number is required, the florist may call ahead to coordinate. If nobody answers the door, the flowers may be left with a neighbour, a building reception or a concierge desk, or the florist will arrange a new delivery attempt. In Japan many apartment buildings have a locked entrance, so the building name and room number are important. You can also add notes, such as the hours when someone is usually home, in the delivery instructions.
Can you deliver to hospitals, offices and hotels in Japan?
Yes, we deliver to workplaces and hotels, and to hospitals that accept flowers. For an office, include the company name, department and floor. For a hotel, give the guest's full name and stay dates. Hospitals need extra care: a number of Japanese hospitals no longer allow fresh flowers on the wards for hygiene reasons, so please check with the hospital or the family first. If flowers are not permitted, sending them to the patient's home after discharge is a kind alternative.
Delivery times and dates
Do you offer same-day flower delivery in Japan?
No, same-day delivery is not available in Japan. We offer next-day delivery nationwide, Monday to Saturday. Place your order before midnight Japan time and a local florist will deliver it the following delivery day. Keep the time difference in mind: Japan is many hours ahead of Europe and the Americas, so an order placed in the evening in New York or London may already fall on the next calendar day in Tokyo. The date picker at checkout always shows the earliest date available.
Do you deliver on Sundays and public holidays in Japan?
No. There are no deliveries on Sundays or on the main national public holidays in Japan, and the date picker blocks those days automatically. Deliveries run Monday to Saturday. If the occasion falls on a Sunday or a holiday, as Mother's Day always does, we recommend choosing the Saturday or the last working day before it, so the flowers are already there when the day arrives.
Can I choose a delivery time?
You can request a preferred time window, but an exact time cannot be guaranteed. Deliveries are made during the day. Write your preference in the delivery instructions, for example morning or after 2 pm, and the florist will do their best to meet it. If timing is critical, such as for an event or an office that closes early, mention that as well and make sure the recipient's phone number is correct, so the florist can call if needed.
How far in advance can I schedule a delivery?
You can schedule a delivery up to about three months ahead. Simply choose the future date at checkout. Ordering early is a good idea before busy dates in Japan such as Mother's Day in May, the graduation and new school year season in March and April, and the end of the year. Your order is confirmed immediately, and you can still change or cancel it free of charge up to 24 hours before the delivery date.
Flowers, sizes and add-ons
What is the difference between Regular, Upgraded and Deluxe?
They are three sizes of the same design. Most arrangements come in Regular, Upgraded, which has about 30% more flowers, and Deluxe, which has about 60% more. The product photo shows the Upgraded version, so a Regular arrangement will look a little smaller than the picture and a Deluxe one fuller. The style, colours and overall look stay the same whichever size you choose.
Will the flowers look exactly like the photo?
They will match the style, colours and size you ordered, although individual stems can vary. Every arrangement is made by hand by a local florist using what is fresh in the market that day. If a particular flower is out of season locally, the florist may replace it with flowers of equal or higher value in the same colours and style. Japan has very marked seasons, so some substitution is normal, particularly in midsummer and midwinter.
What can I add to my flowers, and do you sell cakes or gift baskets?
You can add a box of chocolates, a glass vase, a plush teddy bear, a greeting card, balloons or a bottle of wine. We do not sell cakes, food hampers or other gifts: we focus on flowers and this short list of extras. Add-ons are chosen on the product page before checkout and are delivered together with the flowers by the same florist.
Can I include a personal message?
Yes, every order includes a free printed card message. Type your text at checkout and it is printed and delivered with the flowers. You can write in English or in Japanese. Remember to sign your name, because the card will not show who sent the flowers unless you include it. If you would like something more decorative, a separate greeting card is available as an add-on.
Payment and your order
How can I pay, and in which currency?
You can pay with an international credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express) through Stripe, or with PayPal. All orders are charged in US dollars. The site can also show approximate prices in euros and Japanese yen for reference, but the amount billed is always the USD total. Checkout is secure and encrypted, and you do not need a Japanese card or a Japanese address to order.
How much is the delivery fee?
Delivery costs a flat USD 14.95 per order, to any address in Japan. There are no other surcharges: no extra fees for distance, for a particular city or for a busy date. The delivery fee is shown clearly before you pay, and the total you see at checkout is the total you are charged.
Can I change or cancel my order?
Yes, changes and cancellations are free up to 24 hours before the delivery date. After that point the florist has usually bought the flowers and started preparing the order, so we handle later requests on a best-effort basis. To change an address, date or card message, write to us through the contact form at /page/contact and include your order number so we can find the order quickly.
What if the flowers arrive damaged or are not what I ordered?
Contact us within 24 hours of delivery with a photo and we will put it right. If the flowers arrive damaged or are clearly different from what you ordered, we arrange a replacement or a refund. Use the contact form at /page/contact and include your order number. Replies usually arrive within a few hours.
Will I receive an order confirmation?
Yes, you receive an email confirmation with your order number right after ordering. Keep that number, as it is the fastest way for us to help if you have a question. If you need anything else, the contact form at /page/contact is the way to reach us, and we usually reply within a few hours.
Who is behind JapanFlowerDelivery?
JapanFlowerDelivery is operated by Flowers Worldwide LLC, a company registered in the United States. It is part of the same family as abcFlora.com, which offers worldwide flower delivery, and FlowersCloud.com. We take your order online and pass it to a local florist in Japan, who prepares the arrangement by hand and delivers it to the door.
Occasions and flower etiquette in Japan
When is Mother's Day in Japan?
Mother's Day in Japan is the second Sunday of May, the same day as in the United States. Red carnations are the classic gift, and pink carnations, roses and hydrangeas are also popular. Because we do not deliver on Sundays, choose the Saturday before as the delivery date. Father's Day follows on the third Sunday of June, and Respect for the Aged Day, the third Monday of September, is a traditional time to send flowers to grandparents.
How are Valentine's Day and White Day celebrated in Japan?
Valentine's Day in Japan works differently from the West: on 14 February it is traditionally women who give chocolates to men. One month later, on 14 March, comes White Day, when men return the gesture with gifts. Flowers are a welcome present on both dates, and sending a bouquet from abroad on Valentine's Day is seen as a romantic, slightly Western touch. Roses are the natural choice, with chocolates as an add-on.
Which flowers should I avoid sending in Japan?
Avoid white chrysanthemums and all-white bouquets for happy occasions, because they are associated with funerals. For someone who is ill, do not send potted plants, since roots suggest the illness will take hold, and avoid camellias, whose blooms drop whole. The numbers four and nine sound like the words for death and suffering, so bouquets with four or nine stems are best avoided. Bright, cheerful mixed arrangements, roses, gerberas and seasonal flowers are safe choices.
What is appropriate for sympathy and funeral flowers in Japan?
Sympathy flowers in Japan are usually white, sometimes with soft touches of pale purple, yellow or green. White chrysanthemums, lilies and orchids are traditional. Flowers displayed at the funeral hall itself are often arranged through the funeral director, so many people living abroad send an arrangement to the family home instead, either in the days after the funeral or for the memorial on the forty-ninth day. Keep the card message short and respectful.