Frequently Asked Questions (Philippines)

We are based in Tokyo, Japan, and operate entirely online without a physical storefront. We ship worldwide via Japan Post EMS or DHL.

We offer a wide variety of Japanese knives, including gyuto, santoku, bunka, nakiri, petty, yanagiba, and more. We also have a selection based on your budget; if you are new to Japanese knives, we recommend this collection. Also, check out our list of Japanese knife brands such as Nakagawa, Yu Kurosaki, Masamoto, among others.

We carry a small, curated selection that rotates over time -- quite different from big retailers. Once something sells out, we don't necessarily reorder it -- it could be months or longer before it comes back, if at all. New knives come in regularly, just not always the same ones. Our newsletter is the best way to stay in the loop. Subscribe for updates.

For your first Japanese knife, we usually recommend multipurpose ones like gyuto or bunka/santoku. Check out our Beginner's Guide for more information. If you need further assistance, our team is always ready to help.

Just like any online shop:

1. Add the items you want to your cart
2. Proceed to checkout
3. Enter your shipping and payment details
4. Complete your purchase
5. You'll receive a confirmation email once your order is placed.

Prefer to pay via GCash or BPI? You can also place your order directly by email. Click here for details.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Shop Pay. We do not offer Cash on Delivery (COD).

For customers in the Philippines who prefer to pay using GCash or BPI online, we also offer a direct email ordering option. Click here for details.

We process and dispatch orders within 24-48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays). Once shipped, we'll email you a tracking link.

Philippines

If you're outside Metro Manila but prefer DHL, email us at info@zahocho.com for a quote.

International

Note: These estimates are averages and not guaranteed delivery times. The actual number of days may vary due to factors such as transport and handling conditions in the destination area.

All orders include online tracking. Once your order is shipped, we'll email you a tracking number and link. You'll also receive email notifications from our shipping partner (DHL or JapanPost EMS). See a sample EMS tracking view.

Yes, both DHL and EMS deliver directly to your door. Your package will be delivered to the address you provide, and both carriers handle all customs procedures. You simply wait for delivery and pay any applicable fees when required.

EMS (all areas):

• FREE shipping on all orders over ₱5,000
• ₱750 shipping fee for orders below ₱5,000
• ₱112 PTCC fee — this is a standard customs fee charged by EMS in the Philippines, similar to how EMS charges customs fees in other countries. It is separate from the shipping fee and does not go to us. Paid directly to the PHLPost courier upon receipt. You'll get a text when your package is out for delivery.
• No additional taxes, duties, or hidden fees

DHL (Metro Manila only):

• Flat-rate ₱2,000 DHL shipping fee
• Mandatory ₱430 regulatory fee — this is a government-mandated customs processing fee collected online by DHL on behalf of the Bureau of Customs. This fee doesn't go to us.

Our prices are the same for all customers, regardless of their location. While we're based in Japan, we don't add Japanese consumption tax to our listed prices. The price you see is the actual price you'll pay, whether you're in Japan or ordering internationally.

Yes, we can ship to your hotel when you are here in Japan via Yamato Transport or JapanPost. Delivery typically takes 1–2 days. Make sure the recipient name on the order matches the name registered at the hotel for smooth delivery. We cannot ship to Airbnbs as most hosts do not accept deliveries.

Our base prices are in Japanese Yen (JPY). If you're viewing prices in another currency, you may notice small variations day-to-day as global exchange rates fluctuate.

Yes, we offer a Price Match Guarantee. We have always aimed to provide the best prices, but if you find the same product at a lower price from another authorized retailer, we will match it and beat it. For full details, please see our Price Match Guarantee policy.

Yes, we offer free gift-wrapping. Simply request this service in the order notes when placing your order.

We don't offer engraving or personalization services.

The size displayed in the product name (e.g., "Masamoto KS gyuto 240mm") is what we call a nominal or standard reference size used by knife makers. However, the actual blade length can vary slightly from this displayed size due to several factors:

1. Crafting process: Each knife is handcrafted, which can lead to small variations in length.
2. Traditional sizing: Some sizes are based on traditional Japanese measurements that don't precisely match modern metric units.
3. Brand & regional variations: Some regions consistently produce knives that are longer or shorter than the nominal size (e.g., Sakai knives tend to be undersized, while other brands or regions might produce longer. Of course, there are true-to-size knives as well).

For example:

• 240mm Masamoto KS gyuto - actual blade length is 251mm
• 210mm Nakagawa honyaki ktip gyuto - actual blade length is 199mm
• 210mm Takamura SG2 gyuto - true-to-size blade length at 210mm

30-day returns. If something isn't right, just email us at info@zahocho.com and we'll sort it out. Full details on our Returns & Refunds page.