I thought shipping the FAO Schwarz Big Apple Jellycat to Japan was impossible but I was wrong

Why everyone wants the FAO Schwarz Big Apple in 2026

If you are a Jellycat collector like me, you know that some plushies are harder to find than others. In 2026, the Amuseables 'The Big Apple' (FAO Schwarz Exclusive) has become the holy grail for many of us in Japan. It features that iconic red apple design but with a tiny FAO Schwarz soldier hat that makes it incredibly unique. Since it is only sold at the NYC flagship store and their US online shop, I noticed prices on local resale apps in Japan were getting ridiculous.

Start Your Buy For Me Request for Jellycat Amuseables 'The Big Apple' (FAO Schwarz Exclusive)

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I spent weeks watching us trends to see if it would ever get a wider release, but it remains a strict US exclusive. I knew I had to find a way to get one without paying triple the price to a reseller.

The myth about US to Japan shipping costs

There is a common assumption among my friends in Tokyo that shipping a single plush toy from America costs more than the toy itself. I used to believe this too. We often think that unless we are buying a whole pallet of goods, using a freight forwarder is too expensive or complicated for a hobbyist.

However, I discovered that the "expensive shipping myth" usually comes from people who try to ship directly from US retailers who use basic postal services. When I used a dedicated international shipping service, the cost became much more manageable. By using a tax-free us address, I even saved on the US sales tax, which offset a big chunk of the shipping fee.

How I bought mine directly from the US

The process was actually quite simple once I stopped overthinking it. I signed up for an account with comGateway to get my own US mailing address. If you are curious about the logistics, their step-by-step guide explains it better than I can, but essentially, you just shop at FAO Schwarz and use your new US address at checkout.

I was worried about my package getting lost, but the package forwarding service provided tracking every step of the way. It felt just like ordering from a local Japanese shop, just with a few extra days of transit time.

Shipping Estimates and Logistics for the Big Apple

To help you plan your budget, I put together these estimates based on my own order of the Jellycat Amuseables 'The Big Apple'.

If you are planning to buy multiple items, I highly recommend using a shipping calculator before you hit buy. It helped me decide if I should add another small Jellycat to the box to maximize the shipping value.

Import duties and tax in Japan

Another myth I want to clear up is about import duties. For a single Jellycat, you are very likely under the personal import threshold for Japan (usually around 16,666 JPY). This means you probably won't have to pay customs tax or consumption tax on your package.

I received my Big Apple right at my door in Shibuya, and I didn't have to pay a single yen extra to the delivery driver. It was much cheaper than buying from a scalper. If you're looking for other hot items to ship, check out our guide on popular products currently trending in the US.

Don't let the fear of international shipping stop you from completing your collection. If I could get this NYC exclusive to Japan so easily, so can you.