Post office
Japanese postal services are generally provided by post offices.
Besides post offices, post cards and stamps can be bought at shops displaying the post office symbol.
Post offices are located in every city, ward, town and village in Japan including sparsely populated areas.
In Japan, a 7-digit postal code is used. When sending mail within Japan use the postal code in order to have the mail delivered quickly and accurately to the addressee.


You Net (Postal Services Website)  http://www.post.yusei.go.jp/
Postal code numbers, approximate delivery times, and information on postal services is available on this website. Information is also available in English.
(1)    [Yubin Bango Kensaku](Postal Code Search) Search system for when you do not know a postal code number
(2)    [Shin-yubin Nisu Hyo ](Tables of Delivery Times) Search system on information on how long it takes for delivery from the date of dispatch
(3)    [Yubin Tsuiseki System] (EMS Track & Trace System) Search system to track the whereabouts of your parcel, registered mail or International Speed Mail
(4)    [Yubin Ryokin Hyo](Postal Charges Table)
(5)    [Kokusai Yubin Joken Hyo] (Conditions for International Mail Table) Search system for international mail charges, conditions, weight restrictions, items prohibited to be mailed to certain countries / districts


“Postal services information” - information in English
For foreign people unfamiliar with Japanese a telephone postal services information service in English is available to help them use the postal services with ease.

(1)    Sapporo 011-251-3957
(2)    Sendai 022-711-7544
(3)    Tokyo 03-5472-5851, 03-5472-5852
(4)    Nagano 026-255-8835
(5)    Kanazawa 076-262-2325
(6)    Nagoya 052-961-0103
(7)    Osaka 06-6944-6245
(8)    Hiroshima 082-224-0380
(9)    Matsuyama 089-932-5932
(10)  Fukuoka 092-752-8504
(11)  Naha 098-868-4472


Customs information desk
For international mail – parcels sent abroad and received from abroad – customs officers are stationed at certain post offices (tsukan kyoku) where customs inspections are carried out. For information on duty on items sent by international mail contact the zeikan gaiyu shuchosho (customs branch office) at a tsukan kyoku.

(1)    Sapporo Customs Branch, Sapporo Gaiyu Shuchosho 011-748-2321
(2)    Tokyo Customs, Tokyo Gaiyu Shuchosho  03-3241-6652
(3)    Tokyo Customs, Narita Airport Freight Branch Office, Gaiyu-bumon 0476-32-6037
(4)    Yokohama Customs, Kawasaki Gaiyu Shuchosho 044-366-7766
(5)    Nagoya Customs, Nagoya Gaiyu Shuchosho 052-529-3121
(6)    Osaka Customs, Osaka Gaiyu Shuchosho 0724-55-1850 ~ 1854
(7)    Kobe Customs, Kobe Gaiyu Shuchosho 078-361-3702
(8)    Moji Customs, Hakata Branch, Hakata Gaiyu Shuchosho 092-431-7515
(9)    Okinawa District Customs, Naha Gaiyu Shuchosho 098-854-8292


International mail
When sending letters or parcels abroad
(1)    For documents and items which need to receive priority treatment and arrive speedily and accurately the [Kokusai Speed Bin (EMS)] International Speed Mail EMS) service is available to 117 countries / districts abroad,
(2)    To send mail by airplane use [Kokubin] (AIRMAIL)
(3)    There is also a service that is cheaper than airmail, but faster than surface mail called [Economy Koku (SAL)] (Economy Air (SAL))
(4)    To send mail by ship (surface mail) use [Funabin] (Surface Mail)
(5)    To send a message by facsimile use [Kokusai Retakusu] (International Lettax)
For information on size and weight limits etc., enquire at a post office.


Note 1    For details, ask a person who understands Japanese to enquire for you at your nearest post office.
Note 2    The information given is that confirmed as of July 2002. Note that a new system or system revisions may have been introduced after this date.

This information is from the CLAIR website. The Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) was established in July 1988 in response to rising concerns about local level internationalization in Japan.