Bringing the work to you.
HERCULES LABO welcomes you at our store with a café, and online. From choosing a work — in store or online — through payment, preparation and delivery: a quiet, assured path befitting a one-of-a-kind piece.
Choose a work
Browse Collections, Specimens or Live and settle on the piece that speaks to you. Every work is one of a kind, carrying its own serial and a Certificate of Authenticity (COA). Every work offers either “Add to cart” or “Inquire.” We are glad to advise on your choice.
Inquire or add to cart
Once decided, proceed to cart checkout (PayPal) or contact us via “Contact & Reserve.” For works marked “Inquire,” we will arrange a private consultation. Living specimens have no cart and are handled by inquiry.
Payment
The payment methods currently available are below. Bank transfer and credit-card payments will be added in stages.
- PayPal (available now) — cart checkout; pay with your PayPal account. Once acquired, we proceed to arrange delivery.
- Bank transfer (to be added) — planned for high-value works and works marked “Inquire.”
- By arrangement (Inquire) — no price is shown; after a consultation we advise the payment method individually. Please ask.
Preparation & shipping
After acquisition we finalize the COA, engraved serial and wax seal, place the work in its dedicated case, and close the case opening with a wax seal. Domestic deliveries are carefully packed. We share an estimated timeline before dispatch.
Arrival
The work arrives with its Certificate of Authenticity. From the moment you open it, that singular piece is yours. For any questions on handling or care, we remain at your service.
On delivery
Shipping and handling differ by category.
- Art (within Japan)
- Domestic shipping is borne by the customer (at cost). Sent by Yu-Pack or fine-art transport — we advise the actual cost before dispatch; handover in person is also possible.
- Specimens (non-art)
- Shipping charged separately (at cost). Insured delivery.
- Living specimens (within Japan only)
- Shipping at cost, by Yu-Pack with a delivery time slot. 72-hour live-arrival guarantee. Dispatch may be held during extreme heat or cold.
- International
- Fine-art transport with insurance. Import taxes are the customer’s responsibility (DDU). Destinations open in stages.
On cross-border delivery
Our specimen art can be delivered overseas; destinations open in stages as each country is prepared. Import taxes are borne by the recipient under the destination country’s rules (DDU). Living specimens are available within Japan only.
Import duties & taxes (please read before ordering). Prices and shipping do not include import VAT, customs duties, or clearance fees charged by your destination country. As the importer, you are responsible for these charges, which your carrier or customs office will collect before delivery.
For fine-art pieces, most countries charge little or no customs duty (for specimen-based decorative art this is not yet settled) but do apply import VAT (e.g. UK 5%, France 5.5%, Italy 5%, Germany 7%). We will send you an estimated landed cost for your country before we ship — your order proceeds only after you confirm. Refusing delivery does not waive these charges. Questions? Contact us before purchasing.
A country-by-country import VAT reference is listed in our FAQ.
See the work, in stillness.
Our store, with its café, is in preparation. We will announce the opening date as soon as it is set. If you would like an unhurried consultation, contact us in advance and we will set aside time for you.
We never kill for art.