Packing and DHL Shipping a Granite Tanuki Sculpture to Germany

We shipped a granite Tanuki sculpture from Japan to a customer in Germany by DHL.

A Tanuki is a Japanese raccoon dog, and Tanuki figures are familiar motifs in Japanese gardens, entrances, and storefront displays. This granite Tanuki sculpture is a compact stone piece measuring 4.72 in high, 3.54 in wide, and 3.35 in deep (12 × 9 × 8.5 cm), with a weight of 2.70 lb (1.223 kg). Even though it is small, it is made from natural granite, so it has more weight than it may appear to have at first glance.

For international shipping, it is important not only to protect the sculpture itself, but also to keep it from moving inside the box and to reinforce the bottom of the outer box. Granite is a hard and durable stone, but if the item moves during transport, impact may concentrate on the ears, face area, rounded body, or other detailed parts.

For this shipment, we carefully packed the sculpture using newspaper, air cushioning, cardboard material, a cardboard box, hot glue, stretch film, DHL outer packaging, and a FRAGILE sticker.

Shipment Details

Item	Granite Tanuki sculpture
Stone	Granite
Destination	Germany
Origin	Japan
Carrier	DHL
Tracking	Tracking number provided
Packing policy	The granite Tanuki sculpture was protected with newspaper, air cushioning, and cardboard material, then fixed inside a cardboard box so it would not move. We also reinforced the bottom of the cardboard box with hot glue, protected the outside with stretch film, and added DHL outer packaging and a handling notice.

Dimensions and Weight

Height	4.72 in (12 cm)
Width	3.54 in (9 cm)
Depth	3.35 in (8.5 cm)
Weight	2.70 lb (1.223 kg)

This Tanuki sculpture is compact, but it weighs 2.70 lb because it is made from granite. With stone products, even a small item can create strong impact if it moves inside the box during international transport. For that reason, we focus on reducing empty space and keeping the item fixed in place.

For customers overseas, one of the biggest concerns when buying a stone product from Japan is whether it will really arrive safely. At Japanstones.shop, we record the actual packing process with photos to help reduce that concern.

Packing Process

Granite tanuki sculpture wrapped with newspaper before cushioning — We first wrapped the Tanuki sculpture with newspaper. Newspaper is not the main shock-absorbing material, but it helps prevent the stone surface from touching the work table or cardboard material directly and helps reduce light rubbing during the packing process.

Granite tanuki sculpture protected with cardboard material and stretch film — After wrapping the sculpture with newspaper, we added cardboard material around the outside and held the shape together with stretch film. This helps protect the rounded form of the granite sculpture and makes the next packing steps easier to handle.

Granite tanuki sculpture protected with air cushioning and cardboard supports — We then added air cushioning and cardboard material for extra protection. Since a stone sculpture has an uneven shape, it is important not only to wrap the whole item, but also to add support where impact is more likely to concentrate.

Granite tanuki sculpture fixed inside a cardboard box with cushioning material — The protected Tanuki sculpture was placed inside a cardboard box, with cushioning material added around it. Keeping a granite sculpture from moving inside the box is one of the most important points for safe international shipping.

Cardboard box for granite tanuki sculpture protected with stretch film before DHL shipping — After closing the cardboard box, we protected the outside with stretch film. Stretch film is not waterproof packaging, but it helps reduce rubbing, light dirt, label peeling, and surface wear on the box during transport.

DHL package with fragile sticker for granite tanuki sculpture shipped to Germany — *Finally, we placed the package in DHL outer packaging and attached a FRAGILE / HANDLE WITH CARE sticker. This granite Tanuki sculpture was shipped from Japan to Germany by DHL with a tracking number.*

What We Focus On When Shipping a Granite Tanuki Sculpture Internationally

When shipping a granite Tanuki sculpture overseas, the most important points are protecting the stone surface, protecting the uneven parts, keeping the item fixed inside the box, and reinforcing the outer box.

A Tanuki sculpture has details such as ears, a face area, and a rounded body. Granite is a strong stone, but during international shipping, packages are handled many times. We pack the item so that strong impact is less likely to reach these detailed areas.

This sculpture is small, measuring 4.72 in high, 3.54 in wide, and 3.35 in deep, but it weighs 2.70 lb. For this reason, we first protected the surface with newspaper, then added air cushioning and cardboard material. We also filled the surrounding space inside the box so the sculpture would not move during transport.

We reinforced the bottom of the cardboard box with hot glue to help prevent the bottom from opening under the weight of the granite sculpture. This step is not always visible from the outside, but it is an important reinforcement for safely shipping heavy stone products overseas.

Outer Protection and DHL Shipping

For international shipping, it is important to protect not only the item itself, but also the condition of the outer box.

For this shipment, after closing the cardboard box, we protected the outside with stretch film and then placed the package in DHL outer packaging. This helps reduce rubbing, light dirt, label peeling, and surface wear on the box during transport.

We also attached a FRAGILE / HANDLE WITH CARE sticker so the package could be handled with care during delivery.

This package was shipped from Japan to Germany by DHL with a tracking number.

Packing Materials Used

Newspaper	Used to help keep the stone surface from touching the work table or cardboard material directly.
Air cushioning	Used to wrap and protect the Tanuki sculpture and help reduce impact during transport.
Cardboard material	Used to protect the uneven shape and help support the item so it would not move inside the box.
Cardboard box	Used as the outer box for the stone product. We checked that it could handle the weight of the granite sculpture.
Hot glue	Used to reinforce the bottom of the cardboard box and help prevent the bottom from opening under the weight of the stone product.
Packing tape	Used to secure the newspaper, cardboard material, and box closure.
Stretch film	Used to help protect the outer box from rubbing and light dirt during transport.
DHL outer packaging	Used as the outer packaging for DHL international shipping.
FRAGILE sticker	Attached to the outside as a handling notice.
DHL shipping documents	Used for international delivery and customs checks.

DHL Shipping from Japan to Germany

This granite Tanuki sculpture was shipped from Japan to a customer in Germany by DHL.

When customers buy a stone product from Japan, one of their biggest concerns is whether the item will really arrive safely.

For that reason, Japanstones.shop records the actual packing process with photos. We believe that protecting the value of a stone product means not only selling the item, but also packing and shipping it carefully.

When we ship an order, we send the customer the tracking number and photos of the packed package. This allows the customer to see how the item was protected before it arrives and helps reduce concerns about international shipping.

Import duties, VAT, customs fees, or other local charges may be charged according to the import rules of the destination country.

Shipping Policy

EU / Europe Compliance

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Written on: July 2, 2026 (JST)

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