Bottles Japan — effective 25 September 2026. These terms govern every purchase made through bottlesjapan.com or by email with us. Together with our Shipping & Delivery Policy, Returns, Cancellations & Refunds Policy, Storage & Pickup Terms and Privacy Policy they form the contract between you and Ebisu Maruco Co., Ltd. (恵比寿マルコ株式会社) ("Bottles Japan", "we").
1. Who we are
Bottles Japan is the online wine store operated by Ebisu Maruco Co., Ltd., 1F Fukuryu Bldg., 1-4-11 Ebisu-Nishi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0021, Japan, holder of a liquor wholesale and retail licence including mail-order sales issued by the Shibuya Tax Office (No. 渋法第755号, 11 December 2024). Person in charge: Reo Sasaki. Contact: info@bottlesjapan.com / info@emh.wine · WhatsApp +81 70-7535-2929 · Tel +81 3-6416-3023 (Tue–Fri 12:00–19:00 JST; closed Mon, Sat & Sun; email or WhatsApp at all other times).
2. Age and legal capacity
- Under Japanese law you must be 20 years or older to purchase alcohol. By ordering you confirm that you are 20 or over, that you are of legal drinking and purchasing age in the country and state of delivery, and that the recipient is also of legal age.
- We refuse orders, and carriers refuse delivery, where age cannot be verified. Underage drinking is prohibited by law (未成年者飲酒禁止法).
3. Products, descriptions and condition
- We sell fine, rare and mature wines, many from private cellars and secondary sources. Vintage, format, producer and condition are described in each listing; you buy on the basis of the written description. Product photographs show a representative bottle of that wine and vintage and are not a warranty of the exact bottle's appearance; for mature, rare and high-value wines, or on request for any wine, we send photographs and video of the actual bottle before you pay, and the bottle as shown is the bottle you accept.
- Characteristics inherent to aged and natural wines — fill level, label and capsule wear, sediment, bottle variation, cork condition, and the possibility of faults that cannot be detected unopened — are described in our Returns Policy (section 4) and are not defects.
- Producer information, tasting descriptions and drinking windows are our professional opinion, offered in good faith and without warranty.
- Where a specific bottle has a notable condition issue (low fill, label or capsule damage, seepage) it is stated in the listing and reflected in the price. A bottle that matches its description, or the pre-dispatch photographs you approved, is accepted as conforming.
4. Prices, taxes and payment
- Prices are in Japanese yen. On the Japan store prices include consumption tax where applicable; on the international store prices are shown excluding Japanese consumption tax, as export sales. Prices shown in other currencies are estimates for convenience; the charged amount is in JPY and your bank sets the exchange rate.
- Duties, import taxes and fees at the destination are not included and are payable by you (Shipping Policy, section 3).
- Payment is taken in full at checkout through the payment methods shown (credit card via Shopify Payments, PayPal, Shop Pay). Bank transfer and Wise are available on request for larger or international orders; payment is due within 7 days of the order and the order is cancelled if payment has not arrived by then. Transfer fees are borne by the buyer.
- We may cancel and refund an order where a listing contained an obvious pricing or stock error, where payment fails or is flagged as fraudulent, or where we cannot lawfully deliver to your destination. We will tell you promptly.
5. Order acceptance
Your order is an offer to buy. A contract is formed when we send you the shipping confirmation (or, for pickup, our written confirmation). Automated order acknowledgements are not acceptance. Where stock is shared across our channels a wine may sell out after you order; if so we will refund you in full.
6. Delivery and risk
- Delivery is as set out in our Shipping & Delivery Policy. Delivery times are estimates.
- Deliveries within Japan: risk of loss or damage passes to you on delivery to the address you provided, or to the person collecting at our shop; damage in transit is handled by us through the carrier as set out in the Returns Policy.
- International deliveries: risk of loss or damage passes to you when we hand the parcel to the carrier. We will lodge any carrier claim on your behalf and pass on the compensation received; our liability for transit loss or damage is limited to that compensation. Loss caused by customs seizure, destruction, refusal, or your failure to receive the parcel is at your risk, and the costs of any return to Japan are yours.
- Title passes on receipt of payment in full. Wines held in storage for you are your property from that moment and are held on the terms of our Storage & Pickup Terms.
7. Import compliance
You are the importer of record for international orders. You confirm that importing alcohol to your address by the carrier chosen is lawful, that you will pay all duties and taxes, respond to customs requests, and comply with personal-import limits. We may decline to ship to any destination where we believe delivery is unlawful or impractical, and refund you.
8. Cancellation, returns and refunds
Set out in full in our Returns, Cancellations & Refunds Policy. In summary: free cancellation before dispatch; no returns for change of mind after dispatch; incorrect or missing items reported within 48 hours are put right at our cost; transit damage within Japan is replaced or refunded, while international shipments travel at your risk with our assistance on the carrier claim; faulty bottles are handled in good faith within 7 days for wines under 10 years old; customs seizures are not refunded.
9. Storage, pickup and resale
Storage and pickup are governed by our Storage & Pickup Terms. Our wines are sold for personal consumption. Resale, or shipment onward to third countries, is at your own risk and responsibility.
10. Our liability
- We are liable for loss caused by our intentional misconduct or gross negligence without limit, as required by Japanese law.
- Otherwise, our total liability for any order is limited to the amount you paid for that order, and we are not liable for indirect or consequential loss, loss of profit, or loss arising from events beyond our reasonable control.
- Nothing in these terms limits rights you have as a consumer under the Consumer Contract Act of Japan or other mandatory law.
11. Website, content and conduct
Content on this site (text, photographs, descriptions) belongs to us or our licensors and may not be reproduced without permission. You may not use the site unlawfully, attempt to circumvent age verification, or resell orders in breach of applicable liquor laws. We may refuse service to anyone at our discretion.
12. Privacy
Personal data is handled under our Privacy Policy. We share delivery details with carriers and customs authorities as needed to fulfil your order.
13. Governing law and disputes
These terms are governed by the laws of Japan. The Tokyo District Court has exclusive jurisdiction of first instance over any dispute, without prejudice to mandatory consumer-protection rules of your place of residence. We will always try to resolve problems directly first — please email us.
14. Changes
We may update these terms from time to time; the version in force when you place an order applies to that order.