Organization of Regional Customs
As for regional Customs services, the Japanese territory is divided into nine areas; Hakodate, Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Kobe, Moji, Nagasaki, and Okinawa. The number of Customs officials in FY 2009 is 8,713.
a. Headquarters
There is one Customhouse (headquarters), and several branch and sub-branch offices and guard posts in each area. The Director-General of Customs usually delegates most of his power to the branch office chiefs.
Except for Okinawa, each Customhouse has four Divisions (Coordination, Enforcement, Customs Clearance, and Post Clearance Audit, Investigation and Intelligence).
b. Branches offices, Sub-branches and Guard Posts
In order to delegate part of Customs services (including Okinawa Regional Customs; hereinafter the same), branches, sub-branches and guard posts are established in certain locations.
(1) Branch offices
There are 68 Customs branch offices throughout the nation as of July 2009. This facilitates Customs services in areas remote from the Customs Headquarters in each of the jurisdictions.
(2) Sub-branches
Customs branch offices are further subdivided into sub-branches in areas where there is relatively heavy demand for Customs services. While the Customs Directors have delegated greater authority to the directors of Customs branches than to sub-Customs branches of branches, the latter effectively have the same authority as the former today. This upgrades the convenience and efficiency of services.
The difference between sub-branches of Customs and sub-branches of Customs branches is determined by whether the location and jurisdictional area belong directly to Customhouses or to branches. There is no substantial difference between them.
As of July 2009, there are 117 sub-branches of Customs and of Customs branches.
(3) Customs guard posts and Customs branch guard posts
There are 10 Customs guard posts throughout Japan as of July 2009. Their purpose is to guard and control entries of ships, delivery and/or receipt, loading and unloading of cargo in closed ports.
Since demand for Customs services has increased in areas near Customs guard posts, most of the guard posts are engaged in Customs clearance work in addition to the surveillance and control work.
c. Location of Headquarters of Regional Customs
Location List | NAME | LOCATION | TELEPHONE |
| Hakodate Customs | Hakodate Kowan Godo Chosha 24-4 Kaigan-machi Hakodate-shi 040-8561 | 0138-40-4261 |
| Tokyo Customs | Tokyo Kowan Godo chosha, 2-7-11 Aomi Koto-ku Tokyo 135-8615 | 03-3529-0700 |
| Yokohama Customs | 1-1, Kaigan-dori, Naka-ku Yokohama 231-8401
| 045-212-6000 |
| Nagoya Customs | Nagoya Kowan Godo chosha 2-3-12 Irifune Minato-ku Nagoya 455-8535 | 052-654-4100 |
| Osaka Customs | Osaka Kowan Godo Chosha 10-3, Chikko 4-chome, Minato-ku Osaka 552-0021 | 06-6576-3001 |
| Kobe Customs | 12-1 Shinko-cho Chuo-ku Kobe 650-0041 | 078-333-3100 |
| Moji Customs | Moji Kowan Godo Chosha 3-10 Nishi Kaigan 1-chome, Moji-ku Kita-Kyushu-shi 801-8511 | 050-3530-8372 |
| Nagasaki Customs | 1-36 Dejima-machi Nagasaki-shi 850-0862 | 095-828-8619 |
| Okinawa Regional Customs | 4-17 Tondou-cho Naha-shi 900-0035 | 098-863-0099 |
When you call from abroad, you should dial the Japanese country code first and omit the first "0" of the area code. For instance, if you want to call Tokyo Customs Headquarters, the phone number is:
81(Country code) - 3(Area code) - 3529-0700(Tokyo Customs)
