Daily Life Lessons · Post
Be able to address letters and postcards correctly, check the postage, send them from a post office or postbox, and use the right method for cash, important items and mail going abroad.
On a letter or postcard, write the recipient's postal code (7 digits), address and name, and also write your own address and name as the sender. The postage depends on size and weight. If you are not sure, you can ask the post office counter to weigh it. Once you put stamps on it, you can drop it in a postbox.
As a rule, ordinary letters and postcards are not delivered on Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays. If it is urgent, use express mail (速達). Always send cash by cash registered mail (現金書留). For important documents, registered mail (書留) is useful because a record is kept until delivery.
When sending mail abroad, some items cannot be sent to certain countries or regions, and perfume and spray cans cannot be sent to any country. When sending goods, you also need a shipping label listing the contents.
手紙（てがみ）や はがきに 書くこと：
- 相手の 郵便番号（ゆうびんばんごう・7けた）、住所、名前 - 自分の 住所と 名前
料金（りょうきん）は 大きさと 重さで 決まります。わからない ときは 郵便局（ゆうびんきょく）の 窓口で 量って もらいます。 切手を はれば、ポストに 入れて 出せます。
- 土曜・日曜・休みの日は、ふつうの 手紙は 配達（はいたつ）されません。急ぐ ときは「速達（そくたつ）」。 - お金（現金）は「現金書留（げんきんかきとめ）」で 送ります。 - 海外に 送れない 物が あります（香水、スプレーなど）。
What decides the postage for a letter?
The postage for standard and non-standard mail is decided by size and weight. If you are not sure, have it weighed at the counter.
How should you send cash?
Cash is sent by cash registered mail (現金書留). You cannot put cash in a Yu-Pack parcel or similar.
What about delivery of ordinary letters on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays?
As a rule, ordinary mail is not delivered on weekends and holidays. Express mail, registered mail and some others are delivered.
What must you write in the address?
Write the recipient's postal code, address and name, and also write your own address and name as the sender.
Which of these cannot be sent by international mail to any country?
Perfume cannot be sent to any country. Some items also cannot be sent to certain countries or regions, so check in advance.
Q. What if I don't know the postage?
A. The surest way is to have it weighed at the post office counter. You can also calculate the postage on the Japan Post website.
Q. How can I make sure an important document arrives?
A. With registered mail (書留), a record is kept from acceptance to delivery, and if it is lost or damaged, you can receive compensation up to the amount you declared.
Q. I'm worried about explaining things in Japanese.
A. The Japan Post website has a "Useful page for international students" (外国人留学生べんりページ) with things like a point-and-speak phrase sheet you can use at the post office counter.
This practice tool asks questions in random order (it works when JavaScript is enabled). You can still read all the questions and explanations above without it.
Systems and procedures may differ depending on the city, ward, town or village where you live and on the time of year. Please check the latest information from your local government or the relevant organizations.
Content checked on: 2026-09-28
This page is a translation of the Japanese original. If the translation and the original differ, the Japanese version takes precedence. View the Japanese original