Now that we’ve identified the most affordable and reliable region to buy a GoPro HERO12 — at only ¥29,000 (~$200 USD / €185) — it’s time to apply this insight to a real case scenario.
In this second part, we’ll simulate the entire purchase process from France, step by step, to evaluate whether it’s still advantageous to import the camera from Japan, even after considering international shipping, potential taxes, and service fees.
⚠️ Reminder:
This guide is not about buying directly from the GoPro Store. Our goal is to help you find the best price globally with security and confidence. That’s why we selected a GoPro listing sold and shipped by Amazon Japan, with a seller holding a 100% positive rating over the past 12 months — ensuring both quality and peace of mind for international buyers.
🛒 Step 1 – Creating Your Amazon Japan Account
Now that we’ve confirmed Japan as the best region to buy a GoPro HERO12, it’s time to begin the actual purchase process. The first step is to create a dedicated Amazon Japan account, even if you already have an account in your own country. Amazon accounts are not shared across regional platforms.
Here’s how to get started:
- Go to Amazon.co.jp
- Switch the language to English using the top-right menu
- Click on “Create your Amazon account”
- Use a new email address and set your country to France (or your country of residence, if different).
- Complete the registration without adding a shipping address yet
💡 Tip:
Once your account is ready, search for the GoPro HERO12 and add it to your wishlist. This will allow you to return to it easily after choosing your shipping method (via a forwarder), and prevent the listing from being lost or changed.
🚚 STEP 2 – Choosing a Japanese Forwarder
Since Amazon Japan doesn’t ship this GoPro HERO12 directly to France (or many other countries), using a Japanese forwarding service is essential. These companies receive your package within Japan and forward it internationally, giving you access to exclusive deals and prices not available for direct shipping.
Among the most popular forwarding services:
- Tenso.com: Provides you with a personal Japanese address. Charges handling fees of around ¥100–¥500 and offers EMS, Airmail, or DHL shipping. Known for transparency and ease of use.
- Japan Rabbit / Blackship: Blackship is one of the most cost-effective services. It charges a flat fee of about $1 USD (≈¥150), allows parcel consolidation, and supports multiple shipping options like Japan Post, FedEx, and DHL.
- Buyee: Integrates shopping and shipping but usually adds a base fee per item (~¥300–¥500). It often includes additional services by default (like inspection or insurance), which can increase the final shipping cost unless manually disabled.
🧭 For this simulation, we chose Blackship as the forwarder, due to its low handling fee (~¥150), freedom to choose economical shipping methods, and its ability to consolidate packages efficiently with minimal extra costs.
💴 Estimated forwarding service fee (including handling, processing, and repackaging): between ¥600–¥1,000, depending on shipping method and weight.
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🚚 STEP 3 – Estimated International Shipping Costs
Once your GoPro arrives at the forwarder’s warehouse in Japan, you’ll need to pay for international shipping and handling. Here’s a realistic breakdown for a 500g parcel (typical for a GoPro HERO12 with packaging).
Available shipping methods:
1. EMS (Japan Post Express Mail)
Approx. ¥3,650 (~€22.34 / ~$24.23)
Delivery time: 5–7 business days
Includes tracking and limited insurance. Often the best balance of speed and cost.
2. SAL (Surface Air Lifted)
SAL (Economy – Selected Method): ¥2,500 = ~€15.26 / ~$17.24
Delivery time: 10–15 business days
A slower but more economical option. Includes basic tracking and is accepted by most European countries.
3. Private couriers (DHL, FedEx, UPS)
Start at ¥5,500 (~€33.65 / ~$36.53)
Delivery time: 2–5 business days
Faster, but significantly more expensive. Best used when urgent delivery is needed.
🔎 Why we chose SAL for this simulation:
Among the three available shipping methods, SAL offers the best value for non-urgent packages like a GoPro. It’s affordable, trackable, and minimizes the chance of high customs fees. Although slower, it helps maximize total savings while maintaining traceability.
⏱️ Estimated delivery time from Japan to France:
- Amazon Japan to forwarder: 1–3 business days
- Forwarder to France: 5–12 business days depending on shipping method
🔗 Tip: Learn how to optimize Japanese shipping further in our guide:
Optimize Shipping from Japan – Full Strategy Guide
📉 Final Price Calculation & Tax Impact (France)
Once the GoPro reaches France, it must clear customs and applicable taxes:
🇫🇷 What taxes apply when importing to France?
- VAT (TVA): 20% of the CIF value (Cost + Insurance + Freight), applied on all imports over €150. For lower declared values, VAT may still apply unless classified as a personal or used item.
- Import Duties: 0% on digital cameras, thanks to EU-wide tariff exemptions for photographic equipment【source: reuters.com】.
- Customs Handling Fee:
- ~€10–15 with La Poste or Chronopost (if using Japan Post/EMS or ePacket)
- Up to €21 with private couriers like DHL or FedEx for low-value imports under €1000【sources: laposte.fr, chronopost.fr】
💸 Realistic Import Simulation (with different forwarders)
Assuming we purchase the GoPro HERO12 for ¥29,800 (~€182) and shipping costs are based on each service’s current rates:
| Forwarder | Shipping Method | Shipping + Fees (est.) | Final Price Delivered (with VAT & fees) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenso (Japan Post) | SAL (10–15 days) | ~¥3,000 (€18) | ~€245 (incl. 20% VAT + €10 handling) |
| Blackship | EMS / ePacket (7–14 days) | ~¥4,500 (€28) | ~€256 (incl. 20% VAT + €10 handling) |
| Buyee | DHL (3–5 days) | ~¥5,500 (€34) | ~€268 (incl. 20% VAT + €15 handling) |
✅ Key Insight
<small>Note: Estimated ¥500 commission included for Blackship and Buyee. VAT is calculated on total declared value (camera + shipping). Customs fee depends on the courier (La Poste ≈ €10, DHL ≈ €15).</small>
This estimate does not include shipping insurance, as the base scenario prioritizes affordability.
Adding insurance is optional and depends on your country’s risk level and personal preference.
For destinations like France, SAL without insurance is generally considered reliable and widely used.
🧾 Final Price Breakdown: GoPro from Japan to France (via SAL)
📦 Estimated Shipping Costs from Japan to France (Tenso + SAL)
- GoPro HERO12 (Amazon Japan): ¥29,000 (~€177.42 / ~$192.62)
- Forwarder fee (Tenso): ¥500 (~€3.06 / ~$3.99)
- SAL shipping to France (500g): ¥2,500 (~€15.30 / ~$16.61)
- Total Declared Value (CIF): ¥32,000 (~€195.78 / ~$213.22)
- Import VAT (France, 20%): €39.16 / ~$42.64
- Custom clearance fee (La Poste): €10 / ~$11
- ✅ Final landed cost: €245 / ~$277 USD
Note: All values reflect official Japan Post SAL rates and Tenso’s forwarding fees as of May 30, 2025. Exchange rates used: 1 JPY = 0.006118 EUR, 1 EUR = 1.13 USD.
🇫🇷 Final Comparison: Buying in France vs. Importing from Japan
On Amazon France, a refurbished GoPro HERO12 typically costs €328 (approximately $355 USD) as of 2025 (source: discoverrenewed.com).
In our case study, the total landed cost to import the same camera from Japan—including product price, forwarding service, shipping (via Japan Post), and estimated customs fees—was around €245, or about $277 USD.
✅ Conclusion: Is It Worth Importing from Japan?
Importing a GoPro HERO12 from Japan to France in 2025 is not only possible—it can be smarter.
- After completing all the steps (purchase, forwarding, shipping, customs), the final cost came out to around $277USD / €245, versus $370 USD / €328 if purchased locally.
- With this real saving —about $93 USD o €83— you can even import accessories along with your camera from Japan, using the same shipment. Batteries, mounts, or protective cases: get more for less, without compromising on quality.
💡 But price isn’t everything. Here’s the honest breakdown:
| Buyer Profile | Best Option |
|---|---|
| 🧾 Budget-conscious & patient | Import from Japan – more steps, lower cost |
| ⏱️ Convenience-first | Buy in France – faster, easier, but more expensive |
🌏 Why Consider Japan?
Besides saving money, buyers gain access to Japan’s high-quality refurbished market—known for strict grading, reliable sellers, and excellent packaging standards (as shown in Part 1).
And thanks to forwarders like Buyee, Blackship, and Tenso, the entire process can be managed fully online, even if the product doesn’t ship internationally by default.
