GaijinPot

Post Offices

In 2007 the Japanese postal system was privatized but most services have remained the same. Post offices are usually open Monday through Friday between 9am and 5pm. Central and larger post offices are also open during weekends and sometimes have longer opening hours on weekdays. Below you will find a guide to the range of services offered by the Post Offices in Japan; from parcels to letter, money transfers and checking account.

Postal services

Except offering normal postal services such as sending letters and parcels it is also possible to open a Post Office account and to transfer money from the Post office, read more here.

Find out more about all the different postal services found at the Post Office below. Generally, if you write EXPRESS in red ink in the top left corner of your item it will be sent immediately after reaching the post office (Sokutatsu express).

Registered mail handling (Kakitome) is recorded from the time of posting the letter at the post office to delivery of the letter. If lost on the way to the destination you can claim a pre-determined amount of indemnity.

Rates

Current rates can be found at the Japan Post official web site including information about delivery time and requirements for the parcels (eg. length, weight). Rates for Express mail (sokutatsu) starts at 270 yen. Standard letters that weigh up to 25 grams costs 80 yen. For parcels the rate depends on the weight as well as the destination but start from 510 yen.

International services

The most common way of sending international parcels is by EMS (Express Postal Tracking). EMS provides a computerized tracking and tracing system and can be sent to most countries around the world. The EMS form, found at the Post Office, is in English and you will also be given a free EMS envelope to send them item in.

If the EMS parcel is damaged or not delivered, compensation will be paid out for actual loss. For a parcel value of up to 20 000 yen there is no extra fee for this insurance; however, for parcel values above 20 000 yen the cost is 50 yen per 20 000 yen insured with the maximum rate for compensation is 2 million yen.

When sending parcels abroad from Japan you will need to fill out a Custom Declaration Form. For EMS the Custom Declaration Form is included.

Other international mail delivery types:

• Surface Mail (funabin -sea mail)
• SAL (”Surface Airlifted”) – Delivery within 2-3 weeks. This is cheaper than airmail and faster than surface mail.
• Airmail (kokubin) Delivery within 3-8 days.

Domestic services

• Postcards: (hagaki)
  • Regular sizes JPY 50
  • Reply-paid postcards (ofuku hagaki) JPY 100
• Letters: (tegami)
  • Standard letters -no thicker than 1cm & between 9×14 cm and 12×23.5 cm in size. * under 25 grams – JPY 80 * under 50 grams – JPY 90
  • Non-standard letters – JPY 120 for 50 grams or less, and JPY 1,350 for a maximum of 4kg.
• Mini Letter: (yubin shokan) – Only thin materials can be included (eg. piece of paper, photo) JPY 60 (maximum 25 grams).
• Express Mail: (sokutatsu) – from JPY 270.
• Priority delivery Registered Mail: (kakitome) – from JPY 420 (may be insured). Special registered-mail cash envelopes (genkin kakitome futo) are available for sending money.
• Lettax: (denshin-yubin) Handwritten letters and pictures may be sent by facsimile. JPY 580 (first page). Money and flower delivery options are also available.
• Parcels: From JPY 510. Postage varies according to weight of package and destination.
• Printed Matter: (shoseki kozutsumi) The cheapest way to send magazines, books and pamphlets within Japan.

English Information on the Japanese postal system

Postal Services Information in English: 0570-046-111. Also, the post office publishes a new edition of its English-language Post Office Guide each March. It is available for a charge of JPY 200 plus an addition JPY 180 shipping fee if you have it mailed.

You can also find a lot of information on the Japan Post English website.

For information about international services, visit Japan Post – Service section.

Transferring money through the Post Office

You can transfer money via the Post Office either by mail or by transfer. To read more about transferring money through the Post Office please read on GaijinPot’s Money section.

Postal Services

Japan offers a large number of parcel deliver services, letting you send larger packages to addresses in Japan and abroad, hotels, airports, golf course and elsewhere.

Sending stuff home

Sending goods from Japan using normal packages at the Post Office can be quite expensive. If what you are sending is large and/or heavy consider using a transportation company. For smaller goods the prices are often best at the Post Office but for larger things it’s worth checking out other transportation companies. Also for heavier packages (above 20 kilos, depending on country) you will need to contact transportation companies. Larger departments stores can sometimes send purchased goods abroad however be aware that this could cost quite a lot. Make sure to check custom rules for the country you are sending the goods to avoid delays and extra fees.

Relocation

When relocating to Japan it is worthwhile to divide your belongings into three categories. The first category being accompanied baggage that you will need immediately upon arrival and therefore will bring with you on your flight over to Japan. As most airlines have strict guidelines about excess luggage with high rates for overweight you will want to keep this to a minimum.

The second category is items you will need very soon upon your arrival. These items are best sent air freight.

The rest of the items you want to bring to Japan makes up the third category. The third category is normally transported by Ocean Freight which is cheaper but also takes longer time to reach Japan.

There are a number of relocation firms that you can use and a good start is usually to look at the companies that offer services in your home (or departing) country. Do not forget that if you have sent items by air freight or ocean freight you will need to fill out that you have unaccompanied baggage on the Custom Declaration form when arriving to Japan.

Moving within Japan

Moving within in Japan can be very expensive. If you are moving within the neighborhood or/and have little items you need to move you might want to consider moving it by yourself.

However if you are moving a longer distance and have more items that you are bringing with you, using a delivery or moving company is probably the most convenient way. There are a number of delivery and moving companies that you can use to move your things to your new home. Yamato Transport Co Ltd is one of the most common delivery companies in Japan, you can also use the Post Office. Delivery companies such as Yamato Transport Co Ltd have a weight limit (usually around 20-25 kilos) and if you exceed this limit you will need to contact a moving company.

To move furniture and other larger items you could also choose to rent a truck and move the items yourself. You can arrange pick-up and delivery for some companies such as Yamato Transport Co Ltd at a convenience store. Even though you can order moving help the day before it is wise to check well in advance what rates and regulations the companies have. If you want to save money packing the boxes yourself is a good idea as many companies charge quite heavily to do the packing.

Delivery from stores

Traveling with heavy goods or large parcels is not very convenient in Japan and especially not in metropolitan areas such as Tokyo. Public transportation is often packed with people and not all train stations have elevators. Using your own car or a rented one can also be inconvenient as it can be difficult to find parking space and long queues is more a rule than an exception. Many stores offer very reasonable rates for home delivery and some stores will even offer free delivery within certain areas. Deliveries are usually made within a few days so given you don’t need your purchased goods immediately store delivery is a good choice.

Food delivery

Just as you can have your TV delivered to your home you can also have your groceries delivered instead of carrying them home yourself. Many chain stores offer customers free delivery (within certain areas) for customers that have purchased above a certain amount. Others charge a fee for delivering your goods. Certain food such as fresh fish will not be delivered and there are specific times when the deliveries are accepted.