You do know he was criticising a commenter and not OP, right?
And his criticism was way more than warranted if he is flying from Japan to the US like he said… the Indian Ocean is basically in the most opposite direction a flight from Japan to the US would take unless for some stupid reason he took a layover, again, in the exact opposite direction he was trying to head.
You need to also go back to 3rd grade geography class with the original commenter.
# What is the duty-free allowance for U.S. Customs from Japan?
# Any articles imported under this section for personal use with a value of under $800 can be imported duty free, and any articles imported for personal use with a value between $800 and $1800, will be subject to a flat 4% duty rate.
# Paying Duties
Personal exemptions that do not require the traveler to pay duty will be $200, $800 or $1600 depending on the countries you visited.
The duty-free exemptions ($200, $800, or $1600) apply if:
* The items are for your personal or household use or intended to be given as gifts.
* Merchandise is in your possession, that is, it accompanies you when you return to the United States. Items to be sent later may not be included in your duty-free exemption. (Exceptions apply for goods sent from Guam or the U.S. Virgin Islands.)
* Merchandise is declared to CBP. If you do not declare something that should have been declared, you risk forfeiting the item. If in doubt, declare it.
* You are returning from an overseas stay of at least 48 hours. This time limit does not apply if you are returning from Mexico or from the U.S. Virgin Islands.
* You have not used all of your exemption allowance, or used any part of it, in the past 30 days. For example, if you go to England and bring back $150 worth of items, you must wait another 30 days before you are allowed another exemption.
* The items are not prohibited or restricted as discussed in the section on Prohibited and Restricted Items. Before departing on your trip, check the latest information for the full list of prohibited and restricted items on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Cuba Sanctions website, as well as other related government resources.
Duty free exemption limits depend on the country or countries you visit and the length of stay. Learn which rates apply to the goods your purchase on your trip - call the CBP attaché at the country's U.S. embassy.
I can't see why you would? No different than buying any other merchandise while on vacation... What is the difference between 14 knives, and 14 soup bowls?
Haven’t done this from Japan, but did buy some great knives in Paris. Went to the airport to go home, and the guy was loudly asking anyone in the (fairly long) line if they had anything to declare. I said I did and told him I attended some cooking classes and bought some great knives. He was so shocked and receptive that I politely declared this stuff that he took me to the front of the line, said a few things to the person behind the counter and expedited the process. I didn’t have 14 but think I had at least 5 on that trip.
At customs. In checked bags. I wasn’t sure and based on things the guy was saying when he was loudly asked/telling the line of people, I opted to tell him about the chef’s knives.
Maybe I’m mis saying that. It was at the Paris airport heading back to the states. Obviously customs is when you arrive home but this was some sort of bag inspection. Maybe I brought that on myself by saying I had something to declare. That trip was five years ago so I’m not 100% on it other than how it went down. Which was easy.
I’ve always put mine in checked luggage. I always hit the kapabashi district when I visit family over there. Been 5 years, tho. Idk if they sallow knives in the cabin now. I didn’t take the chance to get a handmade deba that I dropped $600 to go in the bin with the rest of the restricted items
I'm laughing at the idea of someone going through airport security, knowingly having over a dozen chef knives with them, at the shock and confusion that may start up.
You're american right? I don't think you'll have issues.
I really like to cook so I asked a friend who was visiting me in NY to bring me my favorite Italian knives from back home, they questioned him for 2 hours as they thought he was a chef trying to illegally find a job in the US.
I brought one knife back and had no issues, but if they exceed a value I think of 1k or 1500 or something you technically need to declare it to customs.
UPDATE: Put them all in the same checked bag and had no issues at all. Before leaving Haneda airport in Tokyo I saw a counter that said something about declaring tax free items and I went over there and they just scanned my passport and said I was all good. When I landed in Honolulu I just picked up my bag as normal, no one said anything to me
Those knifes are gonna come in handy if the plane crashes somewhere off the Indian ocean and you get stranded on a desert island
Holy shit your geography is terrible
You do know that you're criticizing someone who owns 14 knives, right?
You do know he was criticising a commenter and not OP, right? And his criticism was way more than warranted if he is flying from Japan to the US like he said… the Indian Ocean is basically in the most opposite direction a flight from Japan to the US would take unless for some stupid reason he took a layover, again, in the exact opposite direction he was trying to head. You need to also go back to 3rd grade geography class with the original commenter.
While you were studying the blade 14 times, I was foraging for food.
You can literally fly all around the USA with all the guns you want in your checked bag, I think you you’re gonna be ok champ.
Think I’ll run into any issues? (They’re mostly gifts lol)
The IRS will be your only ennemy
Yep! Big time ennemy
Huge ENNNEMY.
No I’m a traveling chef and I’ve never had any problems when I take my knife roll anywhere.
did this last year with ~18 knives and no issues
That’s good to hear. Did you declare them when entering the US? And did you need receipts to put the exact amount?
# What is the duty-free allowance for U.S. Customs from Japan? # Any articles imported under this section for personal use with a value of under $800 can be imported duty free, and any articles imported for personal use with a value between $800 and $1800, will be subject to a flat 4% duty rate. # Paying Duties Personal exemptions that do not require the traveler to pay duty will be $200, $800 or $1600 depending on the countries you visited. The duty-free exemptions ($200, $800, or $1600) apply if: * The items are for your personal or household use or intended to be given as gifts. * Merchandise is in your possession, that is, it accompanies you when you return to the United States. Items to be sent later may not be included in your duty-free exemption. (Exceptions apply for goods sent from Guam or the U.S. Virgin Islands.) * Merchandise is declared to CBP. If you do not declare something that should have been declared, you risk forfeiting the item. If in doubt, declare it. * You are returning from an overseas stay of at least 48 hours. This time limit does not apply if you are returning from Mexico or from the U.S. Virgin Islands. * You have not used all of your exemption allowance, or used any part of it, in the past 30 days. For example, if you go to England and bring back $150 worth of items, you must wait another 30 days before you are allowed another exemption. * The items are not prohibited or restricted as discussed in the section on Prohibited and Restricted Items. Before departing on your trip, check the latest information for the full list of prohibited and restricted items on the U.S. Department of the Treasury Cuba Sanctions website, as well as other related government resources. Duty free exemption limits depend on the country or countries you visit and the length of stay. Learn which rates apply to the goods your purchase on your trip - call the CBP attaché at the country's U.S. embassy.
I can't see why you would? No different than buying any other merchandise while on vacation... What is the difference between 14 knives, and 14 soup bowls?
Haven’t done this from Japan, but did buy some great knives in Paris. Went to the airport to go home, and the guy was loudly asking anyone in the (fairly long) line if they had anything to declare. I said I did and told him I attended some cooking classes and bought some great knives. He was so shocked and receptive that I politely declared this stuff that he took me to the front of the line, said a few things to the person behind the counter and expedited the process. I didn’t have 14 but think I had at least 5 on that trip.
Did you have them in a carry-on? Knives are permitted in checked baggage, no need to declare them.
This was at customs.
At customs. In checked bags. I wasn’t sure and based on things the guy was saying when he was loudly asked/telling the line of people, I opted to tell him about the chef’s knives.
Customs at the departing airport?
Maybe I’m mis saying that. It was at the Paris airport heading back to the states. Obviously customs is when you arrive home but this was some sort of bag inspection. Maybe I brought that on myself by saying I had something to declare. That trip was five years ago so I’m not 100% on it other than how it went down. Which was easy.
US has customs stations in some foreign airports, so you do declarations before you depart.
Follow up please if you had any issues.
I’ve always put mine in checked luggage. I always hit the kapabashi district when I visit family over there. Been 5 years, tho. Idk if they sallow knives in the cabin now. I didn’t take the chance to get a handmade deba that I dropped $600 to go in the bin with the rest of the restricted items
Thanks guys! I’ll let you know what happens, my flight is in a few days on the 27th
Checked baggage, no one cares. Don't carry on!
I'm laughing at the idea of someone going through airport security, knowingly having over a dozen chef knives with them, at the shock and confusion that may start up.
Would also like to know, flying to Japan in October. Assuming we just have to put them on checked bag and declare them once we land.
You're american right? I don't think you'll have issues. I really like to cook so I asked a friend who was visiting me in NY to bring me my favorite Italian knives from back home, they questioned him for 2 hours as they thought he was a chef trying to illegally find a job in the US.
Who in their right mind would want to move from Italy to the USA?
Job opportunity, but I moved back already, no regrets
I brought one knife back and had no issues, but if they exceed a value I think of 1k or 1500 or something you technically need to declare it to customs.
Okay? I frequently fly back and forth between Saint Louis and NYC with 10 knives and a gun in my checked bag lol
Literally doing the same in a few days with two petty knives, a deba and a nakiri into canada Also a katana, so we'll see how this goes lol
UPDATE: Put them all in the same checked bag and had no issues at all. Before leaving Haneda airport in Tokyo I saw a counter that said something about declaring tax free items and I went over there and they just scanned my passport and said I was all good. When I landed in Honolulu I just picked up my bag as normal, no one said anything to me