Importing a car from Japan is an exciting and cost-effective way to get an amazing car. And the best way to buy Japanese cars for cheap is through Japanese car auction houses. You might be wondering what are some of the best places for Japanese used cars auction or if there are Japanese used car auctions online. I will be discussing everything in this article.
USS, HAA, AUCNET, TAA, JU, ARAI, and Bay AUC are 7 auction houses that are considered the best of the best among all the Japanese car auction houses.
In this article, I will talk more in depth about each of these auction houses. So, if you are interested to learn more about these, keep reading.
The Best Auction Houses For Japanese Cars
Here I will be discussing what makes each of these used car auction houses unique along with their pros and cons. This should help you decide which auction house would be the best for you.
1. USS Auto Auction
The USS group is Japan’s leading used car auction company. And the USS Tokyo auction house is their leading auction house. This holds auctions every Tuesday with almost three thousand units up for sale.
The best part about their auction model is that they provide three different ways for you to participate in their auction. On spot, satellite and online broadcast. So, if you are looking to order from overseas you can definitely do that with USS.
What’s Great About This Auction House?
- This is Japan’s leading used car seller’s leading auction house. So you can expect the highest quality in their collection of Japanese used cars. They are devoted to guaranteeing you the best products.
- On-site, Online, and satellite, all three methods of participating in an auction are available right here at USS Tokyo. Customers never have to worry about missing out on a great deal.
- They are very strict about their service price. Even in the most high-stakes auctions at USS, you do not need to worry about prices reaching extravagant heights. They are the ones that set the standards for used car sales all over Japan.
Pros:
- All three methods of participation available
- Huge Selection of different models
- About 50,000 cars weekly
- 19 different Venues
- Covers all over Japan
- Holds auction almost throughout the whole week
- Can arrange inspection prior bidding
Cons:
- Due to popularity, Prices are slightly higher than other auctions
- The speedy inspection makes inspection quality low
- Auction house has rules that favor themselves only
See the Location And Schedule here.
| AUCTION NAME | WEEKDAY | LOCATION |
| USS Sapporo | Wednesday | 9 of 71 Kakuyama, Ebetsu-shi, Hokkaido |
| USS Tohoku | Wednesday | 128 Banzaki, Ashitate, Murata-cho, Shibata-gun, Miyagi Prefecture |
| USS Niigata | Wednesday | 1-1 Shinkocho, Mitsuke City, Niigata Prefecture |
| USS Gunma | Saturday | 387 Naka, Fujioka City, Gunma Prefecture |
| USS Tokyo | Thursday | 5653 Kimagase, Noda City, Chiba Prefecture |
| JAA | Wednesday | 3-3-3 Rinkaicho, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo |
| USS Saitama | Friday | 3093-1, Miyadera, Iruma City, Saitama Prefecture |
| USS Yokohama | Tuesday | 9-20 Daikoku-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa |
| USS Shizuoka | Saturday | 1 of 862 Kuno, Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture |
| USS Hokuriku | Saturday | 377-6 Minatomachi, Hakusan City, Ishikawa Prefecture |
| USS Nagoya | Friday | 20 of 507 Shinpomachi, Tokai City, Aichi Prefecture |
| USS-R Nagoya | Tuesday | 52, 507 Shinpomachi, Tokai City, Aichi Prefecture |
| USS Osaka | Friday | 2-7-106 Nakajima, Nishiyodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka |
| USS Kobe | Wednesday | 1-4-6 Minatojima, Chuo-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| USS Okayama | Saturday | 554-1, Nagao, Akaiwa City, Okayama Prefecture |
| USS Shikoku | Saturday | 57 Ko, Kitaumemotomachi, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture |
| USS Fukuoka | Wednesday | 139-1, Nishioda, Chikushino City, Fukuoka Prefecture |
| USS Kyushu | Saturday | 710-1, Hinoguchi, Sakai Nishimachi, Tosu City, Saga Prefecture |
2. HAA Kobe
The HAA Kobe auction house is the newest auction house from the leading USS group. It is located in Kobe city, Hyogo Prefecture. They also have three methods of participation, on-site, online, and satellite. So, convenience is prominent in HAA Kobe.
This auction house holds auctions every Saturday and they have over 11 thousand vehicles available at their disposal every week. This is a lot, so you can expect an extensive catalog here. And something is bound to tickle your fancy.
What’s Great About This Auction House?
- They have a very reputable position in the used car market. The HAA Kobe auction house was already renowned before they joined the USS group. And after joining their reputation and quality have only gone up.
- They have three methods of participation available for the maximum convenience of the customer. You can attend the auction by going there, over the internet, or even through broadcast.
- They have an extensive network of dealers bringing in vehicles from all over the place. And their quality control makes sure that nothing faulty enters through their doors. So the extensive catalog they have is filled with great up and running vehicles
Pros:
- An extensive network of dealers
- Over 11,000 vehicles every week
- Amazing reputation
Cons:
- Auctions can get competitive
- Single auction hall
Location And Schedule:
| Auction Hall Name | Weekday | Location |
| USS HAA Kobe | Saturday | 21-1 Onohama-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe , Hyogo |
3. JU Auto Auction
JU Auto Auction is the largest and most widespread auction house in japan. They are Japan’s largest auto auction company with over 10 thousand dealers and 23 venues.
Their 23 different venues hold auctions in different cities and on different days of the week. They have over 27 thousand vehicles available every week over all 23 of their venues. They have spread out throughout Japan in every major location
What’s Great About This Auction House?
- With over 10 thousand dealers, the JU auto auction can bring in cars from all over Japan. You can find all sorts of vehicles from all over Japan within their roster. If you are looking for something specific, these are the people you are looking for.
- Their 23 venues offer the very best of auction experiences. They are spread out throughout the country and offer a great experience that does not feel oversaturated with too many options.
- JU auto auction is approved by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport and the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. So, you can rest assured of their reputation.
Pros:
- 23 different venues
- Cars from all over Japan
- Holds auction almost throughout the whole week
Cons:
- No unified catalog
- Can feel too spread out
Location And Schedule:
| Auction Hall Name | Weekday | Location |
| JU Tokyo | Monday | Chuanliu-cho, Oguro-shi, Saitama Prefecture |
| JU Mie | Tuesday | 1124-1, Ichikawa -cho, Higashi-shi |
| JU Nagano | Tuesday | Hiroaki Yoshida Shiojiri, Nagano Prefecture 3990701 |
| JU Saitama | Tuesday | Kawasaki, Saitama Prefecture, Izumi Kuta district 535 |
| JU Shizuoka | Tuesday | 1859-2 Minamitsu Mi, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka Prefecture |
| JU Ibaraki | Wednesday | Ibaraki Prefecture Little Miyoshi City Sagami-shi 1392-2 |
| JU Ishikawa | Wednesday | 258 Shimogashino- machi, Hakusan-shi, Ishikawa Prefecture |
| JU Aichi | Thursday | Aichi prefecture Kaifu village Tobishima village Shinkansen |
| JU Fukushima | Thursday | Takano Sasagakino Fukushima-shi, Fukushima Prefecture |
| JU Gunma | Thursday | 118-1, Nakamura-cho, Takasaki-shi, Gunma-ku |
| JU Hiroshima | Thursday | 36-10 South Kitahirosima-cho, Yamagata-gun, Hiroshima Prefecture |
| JU Kanagawa | Thursday | 1042 Narita, Odawara-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture 250 0862 |
| JU Toyama | Thursday | Toyama city, Toyama prefecture 930-0992 West of Hongo Toyama |
| JU Chiba | Friday | Naginumabara-machi Inage-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 263-0001 421 |
| JU Sapporo | Friday | Sapporo Higashi Yago 259 Higashi-ku Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido |
| JU Fukuoka | Friday | 348-3 Shaka Koga, Fukuoka prefecture 811-3105 |
| JU Miyagi | Friday | Miyagi ken Kurokawa gun Yamato cho Yoshida |
| JU Niigata | Friday | Negishi Minami-ku Niigata Prefecture 950-1234 |
| JU Okayama LAA | Friday | Okayama Prefecture |
| JU Okinawa | Friday | Okinawa Prefecture Nakagami-gun North Kitakagashi-gun Osodo |
| JU Tochigi | Friday | Oki -cho, Utsunomiya- shi, Tochigi Prefecture |
| JU Gifu | Saturday | 2211 Horitsu-machi, Hashima-shi, Gifu prefecture 501 – 6330 |
| JU Nara | Saturday | 764-3 Shiaki-cho Yamatokoriyama, Nara Prefecture 639 – 1039 |
4. AUCNET Auto Auction
AUCNET or “Auction Network” is one of the biggest and most well-known online auction houses for cars in Japan. They don’t have any physical auction galleries. All of their auction events are conducted online.
They have a network of over 7000 dealers all over Japan. And they also have a history of over 30 years of delivering quality service. You can rest assured that the information you receive about the vehicle you are about to buy will be accurate and reliable when you are buying from AUCNET.
What’s Great About This Auction House?
- AUCNET provides you the opportunity to participate in auctions without going there physically. All of their facilities are online and handled by expert people so a large group of people from all around the globe can participate simultaneously.
- Their catalog is large and unified. They only host auctions on Monday but their auctions usually have over a hundred thousand vehicles available so you won’t face any lack of options.
- The information and customer service they provide is absolutely top tier. Their entire system is centered around providing you with the most accurate and helpful info and giving you all the customer support you could need.
Pros:
- Has great customer service
- Large network of dealers
- Variety of available options
- Great information-based services
- Due to less popularity, high chance to buy low price
Cons:
- No way to check the cars physically beforehand
- Only holds auction on Mondays
Location And Schedule:
| Auction Hall Name | Weekday | Location |
| AUCNET | Monday | Satellite Auction |
5. Toyota Auto Auction
If you are into cars, then I don’t think I need to reintroduce you to the name Toyota. Toyota is a household name almost all over the globe. And the TAA is your one stop shop for buying their cars straight from Japan.
Toyota Auto Auction has 10 different locations all over Japan where they hold auctions. Majority of these locations hold auctions on Tuesdays while some hold on Thursdays and Saturdays. They have a good variety of available options and all go through a very tight quality control.
What’s Great About This Auction House?
- These cars go through very thorough and heavily strict quality checks. Even a low scored car here will score above average anywhere else. They do not compromise at all when it comes to quality assurance.
- These auction houses are official Toyota auction houses. So, you do not have to worry about any off brand or counterfeit product being sold to you. You can rest assured that they all are quality Toyota cars.
- They have a bunch of locations which means you can easily find one that might be convenient for you.
Pros:
- Official Toyota vehicles
- Strict quality control
- Auction halls in a lot of major locations
Cons:
- No unified catalog
- Available options divided among the locations
Location And Schedule:
| Auction Hall Name | Weekday | Location |
| TAA Kinki | Tuesday | 3-1-22 Ninonasimoto-cho, Neyagawa-shi, Osaka Prefecture 572-0076 |
| TAA Kyushu | Tuesday | Fukuoka Prefecture Kojima City On Iwata City Higuchi-dong 938-1 |
| TAA Hiroshima | Tuesday | Hiroshima Prefecture Higashihiwa Hiroshima City Hanoi Kenshin |
| TAA Shikoku | Tuesday | Kiyokawa Prefecture Sanmao City San Yeo -cho Hi-ku word stone field |
| TAA Chubu | Tuesday | Sanjo Kawaguchi-cho, Higashi-ku, Shinjuku-shi |
| TAA Minami Kyushu | Tuesday | Kagoshima Prefecture Aira County Wakamizu-cho Yonaga 2941 – 12 |
| TAA Kanto | Tuesday | Shin-port 57-2, Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi , Chiba 261-0002 |
| TAA Hokkaido | Thursday | Hokkaido Chitose-shi Izumizawa 1007-190 |
| TAA Tohoku | Thursday | Yubinbango 963-0215 Koriyama, West soft Park |
| TAA Yokohama | Saturday | 6-3 Minami Honmoku Naka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture |
6. ARAI Auto Auction
ARAI is one of the best auction houses because of their wide variety of options in sectors other than normal cars. They have tons of trucks, machinery, motorcycles, vans and other vehicles available in their repository. The cars and all the other vehicles they have are all top tier in terms of quality.
They are the only auction house associated with Japan’s National Auto Auction Association or NAAA. This makes them a much more credible and reputable source than the others. They have 4 different locations and they host auctions on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
What’s Great About This Auction House?
- ARAI is the only auction house in Japan who is a member of the NAAA. They have a lot more credibility and responsibility than other auto auction houses when it comes to providing quality service.
- They have a wide array of options in vehicles other than cars too. You can find all sorts of Japanese vehicles through them
- They have an inspection team that goes to the physical location to confirm all the quality checks of the vehicles themselves. So, quality control is a top priority
Pros:
- Associated with the NAAA
- Their own inspection teams
- Wide catalog other than cars too
Cons:
- Smaller overall catalog
- Only 4 locations
Location And Schedule:
| Auction Hall Name | Weekday | Location |
| ARAI Sendai | Tuesday | Yamato cho, Kurokawa gun Miyagi prefecture 981 – 3624 Miyakochika |
| ARAI Oyama | Thursday | 548 Atsumiya Oyama, Tochigi prefecture 329-0201 |
| ARAI Bayside | Friday | Higashima Island, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki- gun, Kanagawa Prefecture 90 |
| ARAI Fukuoka | Tuesday | 132-16, Aoyagi, Koga City, Fukuoka Prefecture |
7. Bay Auc Auto Auction
This company was once known as Osaka Nanko auto auction. They are a single location auction house focused on providing the best customer experience in auto auction there is. You are sure to be impressed by their work
While they work from a single location, they are also one of the first ones to introduce the public to online auctions in the Japanese car auction sector. They also have a great facility to keep the cars protected.
What’s Great About This Auction House?
- They provide the customer with a really high-quality premium experience. The entire process of buying cars from them is smooth and flawless. So, you don’t have to face hiccups in any of the steps.
- They have a special facility that keeps the vehicles protected. So, you do not have to worry about the vehicle you are about to buy going under any kind of weather damage.
- All of their cars are well maintained. They do not sell any damaged vehicles or any which are in a bad condition. So, you can just go in blind and hope to receive a fine vehicle.
Pros:
- No damaged vehicles
- Strict quality control
- Protection facility
Cons:
- Small catalog
- Single location
Location And Schedule:
| Auction Hall Name | Weekday | Location |
| Bay Auc Auto Auction | Wednesday | Nangang East, Living River District, Osaka City |
Conclusion
There are a lot of auction houses in Japan that sell used cars. To import a car that is both good value and good quality you need to choose a good auction house as your source. We hope this article has helped you choose the right Japanese used car auction.
We at TokyoCarz specialize in connecting worldwide customers to Japanese auction houses. By working with us you get access to many conveniences like expert pre-purchase inspections, repairs, and hassle-free delivery. So, if you are looking to import cars from Japanese used car auctions, Contact Us now.
