JapanGoodsHub

What is ZenMarket?

ZenMarket is a Japanese proxy buying service that helps people all over the world shop from Japanese websites and auctions. Unlike standard online stores, ZenMarket acts as an intermediary — it purchases items on your behalf from countless local shops and sellers in Japan, consolidates them in its Osaka warehouse, and then ships them safely to your door. Many international shoppers appreciate that it opens access to stores and auctions that typically don’t ship overseas, handling everything from communication to payment in Japanese.

Step-by-step buying process

Buying through ZenMarket is refreshingly straightforward. Once you create a free account, you can add items to your cart by pasting the product URL from almost any Japanese online shop. ZenMarket staff then checks the details, confirms availability, and provides you with a quote. After you deposit the needed funds, ZenMarket purchases the item for you.

When your items arrive at their warehouse, you’ll see them listed in your dashboard along with how long they’ve been stored. You have up to 45 days of free storage to consolidate multiple purchases, after which a small fee of 50 yen per day per item begins. When you’re ready, you can create a package — selecting which items to include, entering your shipping address, and choosing from carriers like DHL, EMS, or others based on speed and price. Reinforced packing for fragile goods is also available, typically costing around 1,000 yen extra if desired. Finally, once your shipping invoice is paid, your parcel is dispatched and tracking is provided, often arriving in as little as 2–5 days depending on the method.

Basic fees and charges

• Service fee: 500 JPY per item, no matter how expensive or large.
• Deposit fee: Typically 1–3.5% depending on your payment method (PayPal, Wise, card, crypto, etc.).
• Domestic shipping: Some sellers include free local shipping to ZenMarket, others may charge 100–2,000 yen depending on the item’s size or location within Japan.
• International shipping: Calculated based on weight, dimensions, destination, and carrier. You always pay this when you’re ready to ship.

For a more detailed explanation of what you pay and why, see our ZenMarket Fees Explained guide.

Benefits and downsides

The biggest advantage of ZenMarket is sheer access: you can shop on thousands of Japanese websites, buy limited items, bid on auctions, and have everything combined into a single parcel for international delivery. Their platform is available in English and several other languages, and customer support is praised for helping navigate complicated purchases.

Downsides include the fact that winning an auction or finding a rare item doesn’t always guarantee it’s flawless — especially with used goods. While ZenMarket does offer optional photo services for about 500 JPY per item, they do not deeply inspect products beyond obvious external issues. Additionally, international shipping can add up, particularly for heavier packages. Still, compared to competitors, ZenMarket’s flat 500 yen fee per item is often cheaper, and initial parcel consolidation is free.

Read more on how bidding on Japanese auctions via ZenMarket works and common questions & pitfalls to be fully prepared.

Links to deeper guides (fees, shipping, auctions)

• ZenMarket Fees Explained
• ZenMarket Shipping: Methods & Tips
• Bidding on Japanese Auctions via ZenMarket
• ZenMarket Fees Explained: What you pay and why
• How ZenMarket shipping works: Methods, calculators & tips
• How to pay on ZenMarket: Deposits, fees, and refunds
• Bidding on Japanese auctions through ZenMarket
• ZenMarket FAQ: Top common questions & pitfalls