Domestic Mail /
International Mail /
Sending Money Overseas
Post Office
This is information is taken from the JET diary printed by the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations. For a comprehensive guide including price lists please consult you JET diary.
Domestic mail
Letters (Tegami)
Letters and business documents are sent by standard-sized or non-standard sized mail. Nonstandard-sized mail is acceptable up to a weight of 4kg. You can purchase a mini-letter (letter paper with a pre-stamped envelope) at the post office for 60 yen.
Postcards (Hagaki)
Privately issued postcards require a 50 yen stamp. If you purchase postcards with pre-printed postage, no stamps are necessary. In addition, postcards with printed advertisements on them (ekoo hagaki ) cam be purchased for 45 yen, while reply-paid postcards (Oofuku Hagaki), return postcard included, can be bought at the post office for 100 yen.
Postal Parcels (Yuu Pack/ Kozutsumi)
You may send items up to 20kg in weight by parcel post. If you attach a parcel label (with an attached carbon copy), you will receive a postcard verifying delivery in addition to being able to being able to find out the status of the delivery by quoting the parcel inquiry number.
Registered Mail (Kakitome)
With registered mail, the entire process, from acceptance of mail at the counter to delivery, is recorded. Please hand registered mail in over the counter. In the event that registered mail is lost or damaged while being handled by the post office, you may claim indemnity for the amount of actual damage (limitations apply).
Simplified Registered Mail (Kan-i-kakitome)
Here, only acceptance of mail at the counter and delivery to the addressee are reordered. In the event that simplified registered mail is lost or damaged while being handled by the post office, you may claim up to 8,000 yen as indemnity for the amount of actual damage or loss.
Express Mail (Sokutatsu)
If you want to deliver mail by express post, it will be given priority in delivery. Please mark a red horizontal line along the upper right portion (or a red vertical line along the right end for oblong envelopes) on the address side of the envelope. Express letter-post items which are not registered can be dropped in a mail box.
Registered Mail for Cash (Genkin Kakitome)
You can mail up to 500,000 yen in cash. Special envelopes for sending cash are available at the post office. More information on Genkin Kakitome, including examples of how to fill out the envelopes, is available
here.
Domestic Postal Money Orders (Yubin Kawase)
Besides the ordinary money orders, there are Telegraphic Money Orders for fast delivery and Postal Orders for small sums.
Domestic Money Transfers (Yubin Furikae)
This is a method of sending money through the postal savings network. You must have a banking account with the post office. The function is convenient for foreign users as it has options in English. (There is no fee for opening a postal savings account). More information on Yubin Furikae, including examples of how to fill out the forms, is available
here.
International mail
Letters (Shojoo)
Letters and documents up to 2 kg may be sent as Letters. Aerogrammes can be bought at post offices and sent anywhere in the world at a uniform rate of 90 yen.
Postcards (Kokusai Yuubin Hagaki)
Postage is 60 yen for surface mail and 70 yen for airmail anywhere in the world. Pre-stamped international postcards (airmail) are also available at post offices.
Printed Matter (Insatsubutsu)
Christmas cards, copies documents and catalogues maybe posted at reduced rates. Simply write
Imprime or
Printed Matter in the upper left corner on the front of the envelope (or package) and hand it in unsealed. Bound documents and pamphlets may be submitted pre-sealed.
Small Packets (Kogata Hoosoobutsu)
Small items weighing up to 2 kg can be sent more cheaply than ordinary parcel rates. Please write
Petit paquet or
Small Packet in the top left corner on the front of the packet and take it to a post office counter after attaching a customs label or customs declaration. Forms are available at the post office.
Postal Parcels (Kozutsumi)
For parcels up to 20 kg. However for some countries the limit is set at 5 kg, 10 kg or 15 kg. International parcel labels (a combination of dispatch note, customs declaration and address label) are available at the post office.
Registered Mail (Kakitome)
When sending registered mail, the process from receipt to delivery is documented. In the event that a registered item is lost or damaged, you may claim indemnity not exceeding 6,000 yen.
Express Mail (Sokutatsu)
Your mail will be delivered by a special express service. Please write
EXPRESS
Airmail (kookuubin)
Airmail items are conveyed by air. Please write
Par Avion or
Airmail in blue ink on the front of your letter or package.
Economy Air (SAL)
Economy Air (SAL) is a method in which parcels, printed matter and small packets are air-transported to the country of destination by using open space on airplanes. Less expensive than airmail and faster than surface mail, it allows you to send mail to 79 countries and areas around the world. SAL takes 3 to 7 days longer than airmail to reach the destination. Delays may occur depending on the mail handling condition in the country of destination. Please affix the
SAL sticker or write
SAL on the front of the envelope.
Sending money overseas
Money Orders to the Payee's Address (Kokusai Yubin Kawase)
Money orders are airmailed by the post office to the payee's address.
Transfer to the Payee's Account (Kokusai Yubin Furikae)
Money transfers are made to the payee's postal savings account or bank account. The handling fee to send money to such accounts is lower than sending a money order.
International Reply Coupon (Kokusai Henshin Kitte-Ken)
You can send an international reply coupon with a letter when you do not want the receiver to pay the postage for a return letter. Each coupon is 150 yen.
