Using post office in Japan
Sign of Japanese post office
Japan Post Co., Ltd. operates the postal business in Japan.
There are nearly 20,000 post offices in every town and village across the country.
The sign of Japanese postal service is the letter T with an extra horizontal line added above it. (〒)
Japanese post offices handle not only mail delivery but also banking and life insurance services.
Post offices are basically open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
They are closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and Japanese public holidays.
There are several things you can do using the post office when traveling in Japan.
Sending letters, postcards Sending souvenirs by parcel Sending large luggage to hotel or airport Withdrawing cash with a credit card
Sending letters, postcards
Delivering letters and postcards to your country is the most basic service of the post office.
Write your name and address in the upper left, the recipient's name and address in the lower right.
Especially, write the country name clearly in capital letters.
And, because airmail is the fastest option, write "AIR MAIL" in the bottom left corner.
The postage varies depending on the size of the mail and the distance to the destination country.
So it's best to take it to the post office counter, pay the fee, and have them send it for you.
Sending your souvenirs by parcel
Mail van in Japan
It’s tough traveling with so many souvenirs.
Major department stores and electronics retailers offer a service to ship purchased items to your country.
For any other souvenirs you can't carry, you can always send them home in a package.
All you need to do is pack your souvenirs, bring them to the post office, submit the required paperwork, and pay the fee.
1. Choose and check what to send
First, make sure to check if there are any prohibited items included.
And, note that customs export declaration and permit are required if the total value of the contents exceeds 200,000 yen.
It is possible to have the post office handle this procedure on your behalf for an additional fee.
2. Pack the items into a box
Use cushioning materials
It's safe to use sturdy cardboard boxes for your luggage, and you can buy them at the post office.
Let's also use packing tape and cushioning materials so the packed items won't get damaged during transit.
If you can't bring them, you can buy them at a "100-yen shop" or a "home improvement store".
There aren't many shops like that, so you should ask the locals where to find one.
The following are some of the chain stores that sell such products.
3. Create shipping labels etc. online.
Currently, handwritten shipping labels and invoices are no longer accepted.
You access the specified website on your smartphone or PC.
You enter the recipient's address and name, the items and their purchase prices, etc.
When I bring a parcel to the post office, I print the entered data using a dedicated printer.
4. Request shipping and pay the fee at the counter.
You hand over the package and printed labels to the counter staff and request that they ship it.
There are different shipping options like air and sea, with varying times and prices.
You can choose the one that best fits your needs.
Please learn the exact procedure on Japan Post's official website.
Sending large luggage to hotels or airport
It’s hard to travel around Japan with a big suitcase.
In Japan, intercity travel is primarily done by rail, such as the Shinkansen.
It's often crowded, and carrying a lot of luggage around in that environment is a pain.
The post office offers a service to send such packages as parcels.
The service is called "Yu-Pack".
All you have to do is take your parcel to the post office counter, fill out the shipping label, and pay the fee.
The destination is either the hotel where you will be staying or the international airport for your return flight.
Make sure to contact the hotel in advance to send your luggage via Yu-Pack.
In the airport, you can pick it up at "JAL ABC counter".
For example, it will arrive from Tokyo to Kyoto within the next day.
And, it takes two days to arrive from Tokyo to Hokkaido or Okinawa islands.
Withdrawing cash with a credit card
Sign of ATM in post office
In Japan, there are quite a few places that only accept cash.
Some people recommend having 5,000 to 10,000 yen in cash per day.
Since post offices also handle banking services, most offices have ATMs installed.
If you have a credit card, you can withdraw cash using it.