Note: This article covers shipping rate settings for Sagawa Express, which is specific to merchants shipping within Japan. The information below will not be directly relevant if you are not selling in the Japanese market.
Sagawa Express, one of Japan's major domestic parcel delivery companies, is known for rates that are relatively cheaper than other carriers and for being strong in large-item delivery. Since it has offices across all of Japan, some Shopify operators may be considering using it.
However, once you actually start configuring settings, you may run into issues that are hard to solve with Shopify's standard features alone — such as "how do I reproduce a rate based on the sum of the three dimensions?" or "how do I set the relay fee that applies to remote islands?"
This article clearly explains Sagawa Express's basic services, the key points for setting Sagawa Express shipping rates on Shopify, and operational precautions.
※ This information is based on details as of January 2026.
For Yamato Transport's basic services and shipping rate settings, see the following article.
Sagawa Express's basic services
Image source: Sagawa Express official site
Sagawa Express's delivery services, alongside Yamato Transport, cover all of Japan and form a logistics infrastructure that's close to our daily lives. Its biggest characteristic is that it covers a wide range — from typical parcel sizes to "large parcels (up to size 260)" that other carriers struggle to handle.
When using Sagawa Express on Shopify, the key point is to first differentiate between "Hikyaku Home Delivery" and "Hikyaku Large Size Home Delivery" depending on product size and weight. In particular, since the shipping rate jumps significantly for products exceeding size 160, it's important to sort out your shipping-rate design and order controls in advance.
There are also plenty of other cost-saving options, such as mail service and delivery leveraging the post office network.
The main services commonly used in Shopify operations, which we'll explain in this article, are as follows.
- Hikyaku Home Delivery / Hikyaku Large Size Home Delivery
- Hikyaku Cool Delivery
- Hikyaku Air Freight / Hikyaku Large Size Air Freight
- Hikyaku Mail Service
- Hikyaku Yu-Packet Service
- Hikyaku Yu-Mail Service
Hikyaku Home Delivery / Hikyaku Large Size Home Delivery｜Size 60–260
This is the standard delivery service most commonly used by Shopify stores among Sagawa Express's offerings.
Parcels within 160cm total for the three dimensions are handled as "Hikyaku Home Delivery," while larger parcels up to 260cm and 50kg are handled as "Hikyaku Large Size Home Delivery." It's a very powerful ally for shops handling large products such as furniture and sporting goods.
The size of a parcel eligible for home delivery is calculated as the sum of length, width, and height. Example: 30cm (length) × 40cm (width) × 20cm (height) → Size 100 (80cm or more, less than 120cm)
Hikyaku Home Delivery / Hikyaku Large Size Home Delivery rates
The rate is determined by "distance from the origin to the destination" and "parcel size (or weight)." If the size and weight correspond to different rates, the higher rate applies.
Since Shopify cannot judge size, registering products with their actual weight tends to cause shipping-rate losses, particularly with the Large Size service.
<Reference rates: example rates for shipping from Kanto to Kansai>
| Size / weight | Example rate (tax included) | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 60cm, up to 2kg | ¥1,040 | Hikyaku Home Delivery |
| 80cm, up to 5kg | ¥1,340 | Hikyaku Home Delivery |
| 100cm, up to 10kg | ¥1,630 | Hikyaku Home Delivery |
| 140cm, up to 20kg | ¥2,310 | Hikyaku Home Delivery |
| 160cm, up to 30kg | ¥2,570 | Hikyaku Home Delivery |
| 170cm, up to 50kg | ¥3,360 | Hikyaku Large Size Home Delivery |
| 180cm, up to 50kg | ¥3,660 | Hikyaku Large Size Home Delivery |
| 200cm, up to 50kg | ¥4,480 | Hikyaku Large Size Home Delivery |
| 220cm, up to 50kg | ¥5,240 | Hikyaku Large Size Home Delivery |
| 240cm, up to 50kg | ¥6,830 | Hikyaku Large Size Home Delivery |
| 260cm, up to 50kg | ¥8,420 | Hikyaku Large Size Home Delivery |
※ If the size is 60cm and the weight is 5kg, ¥1,340 applies
(Example: in the table above, if the size is 60cm and the weight is 5kg, ¥1,340 applies)
If you want to check the rate from your own location to a specific area, check the Sagawa Express official page.
Hikyaku Home Delivery / Hikyaku Large Size Home Delivery restrictions
- Hikyaku Home Delivery: within 160cm total for the three dimensions, weight up to 30kg.
- Hikyaku Large Size Home Delivery: within 260cm total for the three dimensions, weight up to 50kg.
Notes
Shopify cannot automatically judge "size." For this reason, when registering products, you need to set a "deemed weight" matched to the shipping-rate bracket, rather than actual weight, in order to reproduce the size-based rate.
(Example: for a size-140 product, register it as equivalent to 20kg regardless of actual weight, etc.)
Also, shipments to some remote islands incur a separate "relay fee," which can become expensive in some cases.
For details, check the Home delivery official page and the Hikyaku Large Size Home Delivery official page.
Hikyaku Cool Delivery｜Refrigerated/frozen products
This is a service that ships items in a refrigerated (2℃ to 10℃) or frozen (-18℃ or below) temperature range.
While Yamato Transport's Cool Takkyubin supports up to size 120 (15kg), Sagawa Express's Hikyaku Cool Delivery supports up to size 140, with a rate structure set at 20kg and 30kg weight brackets.
Hikyaku Cool Delivery rates
The following optional fee is added to the standard Hikyaku Home Delivery (or air freight) rate.
| Size / weight | Additional fee (tax included) |
|---|---|
| 60cm, up to 2kg | ¥275 |
| 80cm, up to 5kg | ¥330 |
| 100cm, up to 10kg | ¥440 |
| 140cm, up to 20kg | ¥880 |
| 140cm, up to 30kg | ¥1,320 |
Hikyaku Cool Delivery restrictions
- Size: up to size 140 (rate brackets exist for weight of 20kg and 30kg)
- Note: pre-cooling (chilling before shipment) is required
- Items that cannot be used: refrigerated cake, frozen decorated cake, ice cream, multi-layer packages of differing sizes, etc.
For details, check the Hikyaku Cool Delivery official page.
Hikyaku Mail Service｜Small products for businesses
This is a business-only service for dropping lightweight parcels that don't require a signature — such as magazines or catalogs — into a mailbox. It's very inexpensive, but note that its thickness limit of 2cm or less is stricter compared with other carriers' mail/mailbox-drop-off services.
Hikyaku Mail Service rates
It's a flat nationwide rate, determined by weight.
| Weight | Rate (tax included) |
|---|---|
| Within 300g | ¥168 |
| Within 600g | ¥220 |
| Within 1kg | ¥325 |
Hikyaku Mail Service restrictions
- Size: within 70cm total for the three dimensions, longest side within 40cm (thickness within 2cm)
- Weight: up to 1kg
Correspondence, cash, checks, etc. cannot be shipped. Some areas, including remote islands, also cannot be delivered to.
For details, check the Hikyaku Mail Service official page.
Hikyaku Yu-Packet Service｜Small items
Sagawa Express receives the parcel and delivers it via Japan Post's delivery network — suitable for shipping small parcels.
Hikyaku Yu-Packet Service rates
Hikyaku Yu-Packet Service rates are a flat nationwide rate that varies by thickness.
| Thickness | Rate (tax included) |
|---|---|
| Within 1cm | ¥250 |
| Within 2cm | ¥310 |
| Within 3cm | ¥360 |
※ Using a dedicated case is not mandatory, but if used, it costs ¥44 (tax included) per unit
Hikyaku Yu-Packet Service restrictions
- Size: within 60cm total for the three dimensions (thickness within 3cm).
- Weight: up to 1kg.
There are two types of Hikyaku Yu-Packet Service cases, but the rate is the same:
- For 30mm thickness: 240mm (length) × 330mm (width) × 28mm (height)
- For 20mm thickness: 245mm (length) × 335mm (width) × 18mm (height)
Note that since it passes through the post office, delivery takes about 3 to 7 days.
For details, check the Hikyaku Yu-Packet Service official page.
Hikyaku Yu-Mail Service｜Documents, CDs, DVDs, etc.
This is a service for inexpensively dropping magazines, DVDs, CDs, and similar items into a mailbox. This too is accepted by Sagawa Express and delivered by Japan Post. Only businesses can use it as the shipper.
Hikyaku Yu-Mail Service rates
It's a flat nationwide rate based on weight.
| Weight | Rate (tax included) |
|---|---|
| Within 200g | ¥115 |
| Within 500g | ¥168 |
| Within 1kg | ¥299 |
| Within 2kg | ¥330 |
| Within 3kg | ¥456 |
Hikyaku Yu-Mail Service restrictions
The restrictions when using Hikyaku Yu-Mail Service are as follows.
- Size: within 34cm (length), 25cm (width), 3cm (thickness).
- Weight: up to 3kg.
Note that you need to either cut a small slit in the packaging or use a window envelope so the contents can be verified.
For details, check the Hikyaku Yu-Mail Service official page.
Hikyaku Air Freight / Hikyaku Large Size Air Freight｜Next-day delivery
This is a fast-delivery service that uses aircraft to deliver a parcel by the next day if conditions are met. It's useful for urgent orders to remote areas (Tokyo to Kyushu, Hokkaido, etc.).
Hikyaku Air Freight / Hikyaku Large Size Air Freight rates
An air freight surcharge is added to the standard home-delivery rate.
<Reference rates: example rates for shipping from Kanto to Kansai with next-day delivery (air freight)>
| Size / weight | Example rate (tax included) | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 60cm / up to 2kg | ¥1,914 | Hikyaku Home Delivery |
| 80cm / up to 5kg | ¥2,013 | Hikyaku Home Delivery |
| 100cm / up to 10kg | ¥2,552 | Hikyaku Home Delivery |
| 140cm / up to 20kg | ¥3,619 | Hikyaku Home Delivery |
| 160cm / up to 30kg | ¥4,686 | Hikyaku Home Delivery |
| 170cm / up to 50kg | ¥9,086 | Large Size |
| 180cm / up to 50kg | ¥11,286 | Large Size |
| 200cm / up to 50kg | ¥15,686 | Large Size |
| 220cm / up to 50kg | ¥20,086 | Large Size |
| 240cm / up to 50kg | ¥28,886 | Large Size |
| 260cm / up to 50kg | ¥37,686 | Large Size |
If you specify "next-morning delivery" or "next-day timed delivery," an additional fee applies. Note that "next-day timed delivery" has a cap of 30kg.
(Example: for size 60 from Kanto to Kyushu, standard rate + air surcharge, roughly ¥2,000 or more)
If you want to check the rate from your own location to a specific area, check the Sagawa Express official page.
Hikyaku Air Freight / Hikyaku Large Size Air Freight restrictions
The restrictions when using Hikyaku Air Freight / Hikyaku Large Size Air Freight are as follows.
- Size: follows the rules for Hikyaku Home Delivery / Large Size Home Delivery.
- Aviation law restrictions: some cargo, such as high-pressure gas and explosives, cannot be loaded onto aircraft. Some products containing lithium batteries also cannot be handled via air freight.
For details, check the Hikyaku Air Freight / Hikyaku Large Size Air Freight official page.
Key points when setting Sagawa Express shipping rates on Shopify
While Sagawa Express is strong in large-item delivery, there are several operational precautions, such as the relay fee for remote islands. Here are three important points for optimizing Sagawa Express shipping-rate settings on Shopify.
Use "deemed weight" to prevent an inverted shipping-rate loss
Sagawa Express's rate is determined by whichever bracket is larger between the parcel's "size" and "weight." Since Shopify has no size-judging feature, it's effective to use "deemed weight" — registering the product's weight based on the weight expected for that size bracket, rather than the actual weight.
For example, for a size-140 product (up to 20kg), register it as "20kg" regardless of actual weight, and link it with Shopify's weight-based settings to prevent shipping-rate losses. However, if items can be bundled and shipped cheaply when purchased together, the shipping rate can become too high, so consider fine-tuning the weight to match reality.
Use a separate "shipping profile" for Hikyaku Large Size Home Delivery or Cool Delivery
If you handle Sagawa Express's strengths — "Hikyaku Large Size Home Delivery (size 160–260)" or "Hikyaku Cool Delivery" — we also recommend creating a shipping profile separate from regular products.
Large products or products in a different temperature range differ significantly in shipping cost and packaging cost.
By separating shipping profiles, you can apply a dedicated rate only to specific products, or control the inability to bundle with standard shipments (resulting in separate shipping fees). Since the Large Size service in particular is expensive, using shipping profiles for accurate rate settings directly affects your profit margin.
Countermeasures for the "relay fee" to remote islands
The point requiring the most care when operating with Sagawa Express is the "relay fee" that applies when shipping to remote islands. This is added on top of the prefecture-based shipping rate, and applies to remote islands nationwide.
Shopify's standard features cannot automatically add a relay fee only for specific postal codes (remote islands). Since "additional billing after the order" (which harms the shopping experience) and "a shipping rate that includes the relay fee" (which makes shipping expensive and affects conversion rate) are not realistic, one of the following measures is generally taken:
- Use a paid app
- Have the shop absorb the cost
If remote-island orders are infrequent, having the shop absorb the cost is realistic; if there's a certain volume, introducing an app is realistic.
If you're considering introducing an app, refer to the following article.
How to comply with Sagawa Express's weight limits on Shopify
When using Sagawa Express, you're required to operate under a rate structure that matches the parcel's weight and size.
However, while Shopify's standard settings let you split shipping rates by weight, they lack a feature to restrict orders that exceed the specified limits. For this reason, when an unexpectedly large order comes in, operational risks arise such as "the shipping rate turns negative" or "shipping itself becomes difficult."
Specifically, the following are examples:
Losses from a flat shipping-rate setting
If you advertise a "flat nationwide shipping rate," a large order may require a change to multiple parcels or the Large Size service, and the actual cost will significantly exceed the set shipping rate, eating into your profit.
Operating small services such as Hikyaku Yu-Packet
When using a small-parcel delivery service with a thickness limit, if multiple purchases push it over the specified size, you'll incur the extra work and cost of switching to standard home delivery.
Exceeding the weight limit (50kg) or size
If an order exceeds Sagawa Express's maximum size (Large Size Home Delivery, up to 50kg), it requires a heavy amount of administrative work, such as arranging split shipments and billing for extra costs.
Use an app to apply weight limits
The Shopify app "RuffRuff Order Limits" lets you apply flexible restrictions based on your shipping rules, preventing the kind of trouble described above.
For example, you can restrict checkout if the total weight in the cart falls outside the specified range (e.g., 0g to 50kg). You can also display a dedicated message such as "This exceeds the limit for a single parcel. Please split your order into multiple payments," which helps guide users toward a smooth re-order.
Setting up restrictions on the system side like this helps you avoid an inverted shipping-rate loss and shipment-related trouble, maintaining healthy store operations.
For specific setup steps, please also refer to the following article.
Make use of Sagawa Express on your Shopify store
We've explained Sagawa Express's basic services, key points for setting shipping rates on Shopify, and specific ways to comply with weight limits.
Sagawa Express offers cheaper shipping rates than Yamato Transport (especially for large products), and it also handles large products in sizes Yamato Transport doesn't support (size 200 or more, 30kg or more). However, it also has challenges such as "relay fees to remote islands" and "weight limits." We recommend addressing these challenges by using Shopify apps.
Start by sorting out the size and weight of your main products, and build the optimal shipping pattern one step at a time.
