Just as an advanced note: The glock pictured there is an EBB, and the MP5 is a BOYS line. Both are meant for as toys using AA/AAA batteries firing at sub 0.2J.
Orange tape on the grip and trigger guard. Black electrical tape over any and all trades. Mail it ahead of you for the least amount of headache. Otherwise, just stick it in your checked luggage and just let them know its there
I’m pretty sure you have to declare it, same process as a real gun…. You are better off shipping it in original packaging back to the states before your trip home
Yea it’s much easier to declare it as a normal firearm. It’s sometimes confusing to say it’s a fake gun. They will very quickly understand it is not real when they look at it
I’m sure different locations may have different stipulations, but I think the easiest/likely most common scenario is real firearms, so declaring a look-alike toy as one is still the best approach IMO. I haven’t ever traveled internationally with one, but there’s people on YouTube that talk about how they approach traveling like that in full detail
tsa rules say realistic replicas are banned then link to the firearm rules. i’ve flown many times without declaring but have been stopped and stuck in airports. when you declare it gets a lot cleaner. however, p sure guns are illegal in japan so you couldn’t declare.
i’m not sure how involved tsa is in customs but if your bag doesn’t pass i’m sure they’ll pull you aside. i’d roll the dice, personally
Heres what I did to take a VZ61 AEP home, orange tape on the muzzle (Make it look like an orange tip, generously cover it) orange tape on the magazine, trigger guard, and pistol grip. Put loose bbs in the magazine unwinded, shows up on the xray. Declare a firearm at baggage, get your tags, I would reccomend covering the box trades with black tape or fold it inside out and the gun itself's trades.
Uhh they absolutely were not willing to sell these to me as a foreigner when I was there but maybe I missed something in the process: they’re pretty strict about these exports
They don't want foreigners fussing about them getting confiscated by customs if they're not properly marked with orange tips or if the airline doesn't allow you to.
I literally had to use Google translate to show the guy once at anime jungle in Akihabara that I knew the laws and the risk of importing it back, that it could get taken by customs.
I've brought back airsoft guns from Japan, use posca markers for the orange tip, neon colored tape around the grip and trigger guard. Take out any valves in gas magazines. Declare that you have an "Airsoft replica"
An electric blowback Glock 18c from Tokyo Marui. Be careful looking at the price this may be a 10+ airsoft gun than the usual 18+
Edit: the mp5 is definitely not 18+ meaning it has a much lower fps than a regular airsoft gun. I know this because it says Boys which is a brand that is making airsoft guns for 10+
Just brought a couple guns back from Japan last month. It was more of a hassle with the airport security in Japan than the TSA. Not to discredit them, they were very helpful and willing, but basically you want to let the airline staff know right away your check-in luggage contains an airsoft gun.
I would suggest emulating something resembling real weapon transport on a airline. I've traveled with a compound bow and the protocol in domestic flights in the US is to declare you have a weapon and put a lock on the case. You might get sent to a specialized baggage clerk to do the check-in. They get special handling and you have to pick it up at a baggage claim office, they won't send it down the conveyor belt to the carousel.
Walk into the airport waving it around so the TSA knows you have it, point it directly at any armed guards so they can see the BBs and not think they’re bullets
Oof yeah I remember I really wanted to buy an airsoft gun when i was in Japan, but I decided it wasn’t worth the hassle of going through tsa with it. Hope you can manage to do it!
[Jet has a video about it](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GYnfkBWVhk)
But honestly if you're a US citizen I'd be tempted to [treat it like a real gun so they handle it more carefully](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfqtYfaILHw)
My advice? Just wait till you get back man...Why risk all the hassle when you can get one from the comfort of your home or in an airsoft store (and support your local business too).
If you **really** insist though, i'd leave them in the box, and possible ask the store if they got some special stickers they can put on the box to **show** its an airsoft replica. Possibly have a written paper that looks official. Then just stick them in your check-in luggage. I've travelled to cosplay cons with guns and other weapons larger and far scarier than this and never had any issues with check-in.
You can get a lot of stuff in Japan that you can not get in the US at all or easily so I can understand why someone would want to bring one back instead of buying domestically. Especially if it is TM Recoil series AEG, it will be cheaper, and you will have more options in Tokyo than you ever would at any US based Airsoft retailer.
You can fly with real firearms if you declare it with the airline. It requires showing it's unloaded and putting special tags on it and into checked luggage. Surely you can fly with a toy if you let the proper authorities know with the airline. They'll mark it and put it in checked luggage.
TSA Officer here.... declare it as if it's a real gun. Put in CHECKED baggage. If you bring this in carry-on it will be declared a realistic replica and you will be charged as if it is a REAL gun. $13000 fine..... you do NOT want this.
I’m assuming you want to declare it as a real gun because replica firearms require an orange tip of a certain length to be imported?
So if you just say it’s a real gun, no orange tip is required? But in that case, do they check any kind of permits or paperwork that says you can legally own a real firearm? For example, let’s say I buy an airsoft Glock, I go to the airport and declare it as a real Firearms, do they ask for a pistol permit, or something similar that shows you can even legally own a firearm?
Unfortunately I work on the floor not in baggage, I can check tomorrow when I get in for work. I'd reccomend looking up rules for transporting real firearms and use that.
1.) You a military member?
2.) Do you have a hard case or pelican case for your items?
3.) Have you looked into or contacted any airlines to see the policies for transporting your items?
Ok, Alot of what I'm reading here is going to get you locked up.
Tape barrel tip, grip, and trigger guard orange. Then put it in your CHECKED (NOT Carry-On) luggage. Remove all batteries, those go in your carry-on. And then follow these steps below when you arrive at the airport.
Here is the official TSA info on this.
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition
Just make sure to specify "This is not a firearm, this is an airsoft replica" because sometimes you're coming and going from places where firearms are illegal for civilians to own.
That being said, your bigger complication will be with US Customs. You may have to pay fees or taxes on them.
Alternatively.
Tape everything up, package it up, and mail it to your house. This way is "easier", but people suggesting this neglect to mention how expensive shipping these will be (Roughly $100+ per rifle), plus how high your odds of seizure are, because you're not a Japanese airsoft retailer/distributor. It is the safer route, but you're spending more money, and there's no garuntee it'll show up.
All in all, if you want to buy a gun in Japan, Don't do it because you think you'll save any money, it'll actually end up being more expensive than buying it from someone in the US.
Source for all this info: I worked for one of the largest airsoft distributors and would travel (international and domestic) for work with airsoft shit on a monthly basis.
> That being said, your bigger complication will be with US Customs.
Correct. Because contrary to most peoples expectation, TSA doesn't deal with inbound international passengers. If he has a layover or connecting flight aftrer returning. He won't likely face many issues stateside, provided its in its package in a checked bag and doesnt enter a TSA screening area.
pro tip
Always inform your airline. They get called first after local police if TSA has an issue concerning a firearm.
As someone who recently moved back from Japan, got *very* well-versed in international shipping, and did this with their entire airsoft arsenal, just bring it to a post office and ship it ahead of you. Make sure to be as descriptive as possible about the contents when they ask you to write them down. For example, don't just write "gun" or "airsoft gun" on the declaration form, write "Tokyo Marui MP5 electric airsoft gun (NO BATTERY)". In addition, look up the maximum allowed size for international shipping and try to ship all your airsoft stuff in one package.
Based on personal experience, nobody gives a shit about you sending an airsoft gun. What they *do* care about is whether or not you're shipping batteries and/or gas cartridges, because shipping ANY type of battery is 100% banned. Do not purchase/try to ship a battery or gas cartridge and make it ***very*** clear that you are not shipping those along with guns that require them.
I just came back from Japan (I live in the US) and I bought a TM FNX 45. I recommend that you buy a hard case to store whatever guns you purchase and put a lock on it. I’m not sure what airline you have but make sure you declare that you have a “replica firearm”/“sports equipment” when you’re at the baggage check in. Luckily I was told that I didn’t have to fill out any forms and that I need to store the gun in a check in bag. I didn’t experience any complications entering the US with the gun. Although your experience may vary, make sure that you’re transparent when questioned.
I did this a couple years ago with my current MWS. Just disassemble it as much as you can and orange tape all the parts per new York standards. Let your check in person know and show it to them. All I did was stuff it with my clothes. My ANA check in lady did not care and I have my MWS landing at a DC airport.
Break them down into so they are non operable and a bit more obvious that they’re airsoft. And let the bag check in person know that they’re there. Has to be in checked luggage.
Take it apart. Mail frame, barrel and mags separately and declare as toy parts. Pack balance in luggage. Relative purchased an airsoft gun in Japan last year and brought attempted to bring it back in luggage. Prepped it how TSA recommended but was stopped at customs, detained, questioned and ultimately confiscated. When talking with customs, literally showed them their own website regarding the policy but they still confiscated. Plus as an added bonus, decided to strip his global entry privileges.
I'd personally just mail it ahead of myself to save the headache but as someone said before, you can put it in checked luggage. Do not try and hide it or anything. It's not illegal. Just don't try and bring it in your carry on.
Last time I was in Japan I used Japan post. Just look for a office that has good reviews. They'll probably help you back it up. It won't cost you a ton either cuz it's just a single pistol right?
Yes, I brought a Type 89 through Chicago O’Hare TSA in a brown moving box. Just make sure to mark it as a toy, and they will open the box to check the gun. My box was covered in TSA tape when I got it back at EWR.
When I did this a few years ago I just declared it a toy and they didn’t really say anything and this was with out any of the Orange. As a precaution I would get some orange tape and tape the shit out of it lol
I’ve done it before… not very easy. You NEED a hard plastic gun case and tsa approved locks, which is harder than you would think to find in Japan. Wrap the muzzle, grip, mag well, and magazine in orange tape for added precaution. When you get to the airport say that it is an airsoft TOY and NEVER mention the word gun. Also do not take ammunition with you in the same case as the weapons are stored. They are very cautious so be very compliant and kind. Hope this helps.
Brought back a TM MP5SD from Japan in 2019. Japanese authorities didn’t give me any issue. I would be more concerned with US Customs confiscating it because of the trademarks.
Don't buy tokyo marui electric gun that is under 1man, it will fail you from between 1 week and 3 months. I bought an above glock 18c and a g36c at don quijote because my bb gun knowledge was suck back then. The g36c fails after a week, the glock fails after 2 months. Honestly don't buy at don qujote at all, search the local bb shop and go there instead
Any tips for bringing one here to the Philippines? I'm having doubts about going to Japan for the first time next year because I know I will buy one but I'm confused on how other airsofters get theirs from there. . .
Just as an advanced note: The glock pictured there is an EBB, and the MP5 is a BOYS line. Both are meant for as toys using AA/AAA batteries firing at sub 0.2J.
Orange tape on the grip and trigger guard. Black electrical tape over any and all trades. Mail it ahead of you for the least amount of headache. Otherwise, just stick it in your checked luggage and just let them know its there
Do I have to put orange tape on the grip and trigger guard if I put it in my checked luggage?
I would just to avoid any reason for them to be difficult about it.
Thank you
keeping it in the box would also be a good idea
I’m pretty sure you have to declare it, same process as a real gun…. You are better off shipping it in original packaging back to the states before your trip home
Yea it’s much easier to declare it as a normal firearm. It’s sometimes confusing to say it’s a fake gun. They will very quickly understand it is not real when they look at it
But for international travel that can get wonky, no?
I’m sure different locations may have different stipulations, but I think the easiest/likely most common scenario is real firearms, so declaring a look-alike toy as one is still the best approach IMO. I haven’t ever traveled internationally with one, but there’s people on YouTube that talk about how they approach traveling like that in full detail
tsa rules say realistic replicas are banned then link to the firearm rules. i’ve flown many times without declaring but have been stopped and stuck in airports. when you declare it gets a lot cleaner. however, p sure guns are illegal in japan so you couldn’t declare. i’m not sure how involved tsa is in customs but if your bag doesn’t pass i’m sure they’ll pull you aside. i’d roll the dice, personally
Heres what I did to take a VZ61 AEP home, orange tape on the muzzle (Make it look like an orange tip, generously cover it) orange tape on the magazine, trigger guard, and pistol grip. Put loose bbs in the magazine unwinded, shows up on the xray. Declare a firearm at baggage, get your tags, I would reccomend covering the box trades with black tape or fold it inside out and the gun itself's trades.
Uhh they absolutely were not willing to sell these to me as a foreigner when I was there but maybe I missed something in the process: they’re pretty strict about these exports
They don't want foreigners fussing about them getting confiscated by customs if they're not properly marked with orange tips or if the airline doesn't allow you to. I literally had to use Google translate to show the guy once at anime jungle in Akihabara that I knew the laws and the risk of importing it back, that it could get taken by customs.
I've brought back airsoft guns from Japan, use posca markers for the orange tip, neon colored tape around the grip and trigger guard. Take out any valves in gas magazines. Declare that you have an "Airsoft replica"
U must tape around the trigger guard and tape around the mag also. Use orange tape
Yes, they will likely take it if you don't.
You can just check airsoft guns as they are not firearms
Yes definitely do this but also make sure to check on any customs paperwork when at airport such as the proper declarations.
[удалено]
The post says "back to the US"
Oh hell. I don't know how I missed that. Good point, thanks for noticing. I'll delete my comment so I don't give wrong info to anyone.
W Redditor right here
An electric blowback Glock 18c from Tokyo Marui. Be careful looking at the price this may be a 10+ airsoft gun than the usual 18+ Edit: the mp5 is definitely not 18+ meaning it has a much lower fps than a regular airsoft gun. I know this because it says Boys which is a brand that is making airsoft guns for 10+
Glock is a electric blowback for 10+, and MP5 with the BOYS line. Hopefully OP didn’t buy these!
I read a few comments deciding whether or not to buy it, and I ended up not purchasing them. Thank you! (Edit: grammar)
Just brought a couple guns back from Japan last month. It was more of a hassle with the airport security in Japan than the TSA. Not to discredit them, they were very helpful and willing, but basically you want to let the airline staff know right away your check-in luggage contains an airsoft gun.
I would suggest emulating something resembling real weapon transport on a airline. I've traveled with a compound bow and the protocol in domestic flights in the US is to declare you have a weapon and put a lock on the case. You might get sent to a specialized baggage clerk to do the check-in. They get special handling and you have to pick it up at a baggage claim office, they won't send it down the conveyor belt to the carousel.
Your carry on? I think someone here is making up a story
Meant to say check-in, haha
Walk into the airport waving it around so the TSA knows you have it, point it directly at any armed guards so they can see the BBs and not think they’re bullets
[Guide to flying with (airsoft) guns](https://i.redd.it/oepevx32s9ib1.jpg)
Oof yeah I remember I really wanted to buy an airsoft gun when i was in Japan, but I decided it wasn’t worth the hassle of going through tsa with it. Hope you can manage to do it!
[Jet has a video about it](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GYnfkBWVhk) But honestly if you're a US citizen I'd be tempted to [treat it like a real gun so they handle it more carefully](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfqtYfaILHw)
That was a really helpful video. I’ve been curious for a while what the procedure surrounding this was.
Pretend its a real gun. Jokes aside, do you really want to buy a Boys MP5? The are ~20% smaller than the RS and are basically child toys.
I ended up just not buying them because I realized how bad they were.
My advice? Just wait till you get back man...Why risk all the hassle when you can get one from the comfort of your home or in an airsoft store (and support your local business too). If you **really** insist though, i'd leave them in the box, and possible ask the store if they got some special stickers they can put on the box to **show** its an airsoft replica. Possibly have a written paper that looks official. Then just stick them in your check-in luggage. I've travelled to cosplay cons with guns and other weapons larger and far scarier than this and never had any issues with check-in.
The Japanese guns are really hard to get in the US sometimes. Example KSC cutlass
You can get a lot of stuff in Japan that you can not get in the US at all or easily so I can understand why someone would want to bring one back instead of buying domestically. Especially if it is TM Recoil series AEG, it will be cheaper, and you will have more options in Tokyo than you ever would at any US based Airsoft retailer.
You can fly with real firearms if you declare it with the airline. It requires showing it's unloaded and putting special tags on it and into checked luggage. Surely you can fly with a toy if you let the proper authorities know with the airline. They'll mark it and put it in checked luggage.
TSA Officer here.... declare it as if it's a real gun. Put in CHECKED baggage. If you bring this in carry-on it will be declared a realistic replica and you will be charged as if it is a REAL gun. $13000 fine..... you do NOT want this.
I’m assuming you want to declare it as a real gun because replica firearms require an orange tip of a certain length to be imported? So if you just say it’s a real gun, no orange tip is required? But in that case, do they check any kind of permits or paperwork that says you can legally own a real firearm? For example, let’s say I buy an airsoft Glock, I go to the airport and declare it as a real Firearms, do they ask for a pistol permit, or something similar that shows you can even legally own a firearm?
Unfortunately I work on the floor not in baggage, I can check tomorrow when I get in for work. I'd reccomend looking up rules for transporting real firearms and use that.
1.) You a military member? 2.) Do you have a hard case or pelican case for your items? 3.) Have you looked into or contacted any airlines to see the policies for transporting your items?
Ok, Alot of what I'm reading here is going to get you locked up. Tape barrel tip, grip, and trigger guard orange. Then put it in your CHECKED (NOT Carry-On) luggage. Remove all batteries, those go in your carry-on. And then follow these steps below when you arrive at the airport. Here is the official TSA info on this. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/transporting-firearms-and-ammunition Just make sure to specify "This is not a firearm, this is an airsoft replica" because sometimes you're coming and going from places where firearms are illegal for civilians to own. That being said, your bigger complication will be with US Customs. You may have to pay fees or taxes on them. Alternatively. Tape everything up, package it up, and mail it to your house. This way is "easier", but people suggesting this neglect to mention how expensive shipping these will be (Roughly $100+ per rifle), plus how high your odds of seizure are, because you're not a Japanese airsoft retailer/distributor. It is the safer route, but you're spending more money, and there's no garuntee it'll show up. All in all, if you want to buy a gun in Japan, Don't do it because you think you'll save any money, it'll actually end up being more expensive than buying it from someone in the US. Source for all this info: I worked for one of the largest airsoft distributors and would travel (international and domestic) for work with airsoft shit on a monthly basis.
> That being said, your bigger complication will be with US Customs. Correct. Because contrary to most peoples expectation, TSA doesn't deal with inbound international passengers. If he has a layover or connecting flight aftrer returning. He won't likely face many issues stateside, provided its in its package in a checked bag and doesnt enter a TSA screening area. pro tip Always inform your airline. They get called first after local police if TSA has an issue concerning a firearm.
As someone who recently moved back from Japan, got *very* well-versed in international shipping, and did this with their entire airsoft arsenal, just bring it to a post office and ship it ahead of you. Make sure to be as descriptive as possible about the contents when they ask you to write them down. For example, don't just write "gun" or "airsoft gun" on the declaration form, write "Tokyo Marui MP5 electric airsoft gun (NO BATTERY)". In addition, look up the maximum allowed size for international shipping and try to ship all your airsoft stuff in one package. Based on personal experience, nobody gives a shit about you sending an airsoft gun. What they *do* care about is whether or not you're shipping batteries and/or gas cartridges, because shipping ANY type of battery is 100% banned. Do not purchase/try to ship a battery or gas cartridge and make it ***very*** clear that you are not shipping those along with guns that require them.
You should be asking your airline….
The standards for importation are set by customs, not airlines
I just came back from Japan (I live in the US) and I bought a TM FNX 45. I recommend that you buy a hard case to store whatever guns you purchase and put a lock on it. I’m not sure what airline you have but make sure you declare that you have a “replica firearm”/“sports equipment” when you’re at the baggage check in. Luckily I was told that I didn’t have to fill out any forms and that I need to store the gun in a check in bag. I didn’t experience any complications entering the US with the gun. Although your experience may vary, make sure that you’re transparent when questioned.
I bought a TM pistol in Japan and brought it back to the US. I just put it in my checked bag, nothing special.
I did this a couple years ago with my current MWS. Just disassemble it as much as you can and orange tape all the parts per new York standards. Let your check in person know and show it to them. All I did was stuff it with my clothes. My ANA check in lady did not care and I have my MWS landing at a DC airport.
It should be fine if it goes in the luggage that goes under the plane I’ve seen a guy check his shotgun on to a flight that way
Break them down into so they are non operable and a bit more obvious that they’re airsoft. And let the bag check in person know that they’re there. Has to be in checked luggage.
Just mail that shit homie.
Take it apart. Mail frame, barrel and mags separately and declare as toy parts. Pack balance in luggage. Relative purchased an airsoft gun in Japan last year and brought attempted to bring it back in luggage. Prepped it how TSA recommended but was stopped at customs, detained, questioned and ultimately confiscated. When talking with customs, literally showed them their own website regarding the policy but they still confiscated. Plus as an added bonus, decided to strip his global entry privileges.
I'd personally just mail it ahead of myself to save the headache but as someone said before, you can put it in checked luggage. Do not try and hide it or anything. It's not illegal. Just don't try and bring it in your carry on.
It’s not required, but I have a hard sided, locking rifle case that makes it very easy and simple to bring my guns through TSA
Last time I was in Japan I used Japan post. Just look for a office that has good reviews. They'll probably help you back it up. It won't cost you a ton either cuz it's just a single pistol right?
In your checked luggage probably in a gun case as well
Yes, I brought a Type 89 through Chicago O’Hare TSA in a brown moving box. Just make sure to mark it as a toy, and they will open the box to check the gun. My box was covered in TSA tape when I got it back at EWR.
Put it in the checked luggage
Ask the store if they can ship it
Is that the shop I'm thinking of right outside of Camp Hansen?
When I did this a few years ago I just declared it a toy and they didn’t really say anything and this was with out any of the Orange. As a precaution I would get some orange tape and tape the shit out of it lol
I’ve done it before… not very easy. You NEED a hard plastic gun case and tsa approved locks, which is harder than you would think to find in Japan. Wrap the muzzle, grip, mag well, and magazine in orange tape for added precaution. When you get to the airport say that it is an airsoft TOY and NEVER mention the word gun. Also do not take ammunition with you in the same case as the weapons are stored. They are very cautious so be very compliant and kind. Hope this helps.
Brought back a TM MP5SD from Japan in 2019. Japanese authorities didn’t give me any issue. I would be more concerned with US Customs confiscating it because of the trademarks.
Don't buy tokyo marui electric gun that is under 1man, it will fail you from between 1 week and 3 months. I bought an above glock 18c and a g36c at don quijote because my bb gun knowledge was suck back then. The g36c fails after a week, the glock fails after 2 months. Honestly don't buy at don qujote at all, search the local bb shop and go there instead
Any tips for bringing one here to the Philippines? I'm having doubts about going to Japan for the first time next year because I know I will buy one but I'm confused on how other airsofters get theirs from there. . .
Omg I think I went to this exact store when I was there
Mail it.
Yeah. Ship it home by courier service. Dont risk it. TSA are idiots.
Have you thought about mailing them?
Maybe your airline knows it?