Does anyone have experience importing basses from Japan?

I plan to buy from a reputable shop with a physical storefront, so I’m not so much worried about scams.

I’m particularly looking for folks’ experiences with customs fees. I’ve read conflicting information that seems to suggest these could cost me anywhere from nothing to 1/3 of the instrument’s value. This would seriously make a difference in how economical it would be for me to make my purchase internationally, so I’m hoping to gather more input from people who have done it before.

I know customs fees would be waived if it were a US-made instrument, but this would not apply to me. I’ve seen a base rate import duty of 8.7% on guitars, which would be doable, but I’m concerned about the potential for courier fees and additional taxes. It seems from what I’m reading that tariffs and other import fees are really applied inconsistently, which is where some outside testimony would be helpful.