How To Send Mail In Japan: A Guide For Postcards And Letters

Learning how to send mail in Japan comes down to a few basics: choosing the right envelope size, writing the address in the correct format, buying postage at a post office or conbini, and knowing the current rates so you're not guessing at the counter.

A standard-sized domestic letter costs 110 yen for up to 50g, a postcard costs 85 yen, and Letter Pack and Yu-Pack cover anything bigger, from documents to parcels up to 25kg.

This guide walks through envelope sizes, how to address mail in Japanese and English, where to buy stamps, current postage rates for domestic and international mail, and how to send mail without visiting a post office at all.

Tip #1: Get the right size envelope.

For the most part, Japan Post will accept envelopes of all sizes. 

The two most common envelopes are Japanese-style (vertical) and Western-style (horizontal) envelopes. 

We focus on letters and postcard sizes, but Japan Post can handle various sizes and packages.

Letter size

Japan Post

Letters can be sorted into two categories: standard and non-standard size.

A standard-sized letter is, at minimum, 14 cm by 9cm and, at maximum, 23.5 cm by 12cm with a thickness of 1cm.

A nonstandard-sized letter can be divided into smaller subcategories:

• Within 1kg, the maximum dominion is 34 cm in length, 25 cm in width, and 3 cm in thickness.

• Over 1kg but under 4kg: The combined dimensions of length, width, and height (A + B + C) should not exceed 90cm, with the longest dimension being 60cm.

Postcard size

Japan Post

There are two common postcards that people send:

• Regular postcards: a minimum size of 14 cm by 9cm and a maximum dimension of 15.4cm by 10.7cm with a limited weight between 2g and 6g.

• Return postcards: a minimum height of 15 cm with a total length of 9cm, while the maximum dimension of height is 15.4 cm and a length total of 10.7cm.

Tip #2: Know how to write your address.

There are many different ways to write a Japanese address, depending on who and where, as well as the type of envelope it is written on.

Vertical address writing 

It mostly applies to Japanese-style vertical envelopes where you must write the address vertically due to its size. 

Image: Midori Japan

From right to left, here is how you should write a Japanese address vertically:

• Zip code: Write the postal code (郵便番号) in the small red squares at the top right of the envelope.

• Right-most side: Write prefecture, city or ward, and the town or district

• Next column: Write the building's name and the room number.

• Write the recipient's name next to the previous column.

Write the sender's address on the front of the envelope if there's room. If not, you can write the return address on the back.

Horizontal address writing

When you have Western-style envelopes, you'll need to write the address horizontally.

The recipient's address should be at the top left corner and be written as:

• First line: Write the postal code.

• Second line: Write the prefecture, city, ward, town, and district.

• Third line: Write the building's name and room number.

• Fourth line: The recipient's name.

Whether you're writing vertically or horizontally, Japanese addresses follow one consistent rule: largest to smallest. You start with the postal code and prefecture, narrow down through city, ward, and district, and finish with the building name, room number, and finally the recipient's name, the reverse of the Western convention.

Speaking of the recipient's name, it's standard etiquette to write 様 (sama) directly after it as a mark of respect, similar to "Mr." or "Ms." in English but used more universally in Japanese correspondence. You'll also notice Japanese postal codes follow a fixed format: the 〒 symbol followed by seven digits, written as three digits, a hyphen, and four digits (for example, 〒100-0001).

The format above is the Japanese address format. Continue to read on how to write a Japanese address in English.

English vs. Japanese address

Writing in Japanese can be intimidating, especially when you need to write complicated kanji in a small format, which is why Japan Postal Services accepts addresses in English.

Different in Japanese address vs international postal address

However, it must be written in an international postal format, so the address must start with the recipient's name and end with the postal code.

Print vs. handwritten address

In Japan, handwritten addresses are commonly accepted for domestic mail. So, you can send letters, postcards, and packages using a handwritten address or label as long as it is clear and legible.

However, printed addresses are also accepted by Japan Post. Ensure the label or paper is securely attached to the envelope to avoid mishandling.

If you're sending anything with monetary value internationally, such as a gift or merchandise, rather than a pure document or letter, you'll need a printed label with Electronic Advance Data (EAD) attached. Japan Post phased this requirement in over several years: it became mandatory for US-bound mail on January 1, 2021, extended to European destinations on June 20, 2022, and became mandatory worldwide, for any international mail containing goods, from March 1, 2024.

This applies to Express Mail Service (EMS), international parcels, small packets, and registered mail carrying goods. Pure letters and documents without dutiable value are the exception; those can still be addressed by hand, even internationally.

Tip 3: Buying postage

Japan offers amazing regular, seasonal, and special stamps that you can buy. 

At a local Japanese post office

The most common way to buy stamps is at the post office. Larger Japanese post offices will display all the available stamps you can purchase.

You can write down which stamp you want to buy or take the small pieces of paper with you. When your number is called, bring your items and tell them how many stamps you want. 

At the convenience store

Japanese convenience stores can also sell stamps. But before being careful, you need to see if they have a Japan Post symbol (〒) on the front, as not all conbini in Japan sell them.

You’ll find that Japanese convenience stores tend to sell standard postage stamps.

Japan Post online shop

Japan Post’s online shop allows you to browse all available stamps you can purchase. 

Japan Post specialty stamps

You can shop for specialty stamps (特殊切手) with amazing seasonal desand regular postage stamps (普通切手) here. 

Be aware that there is a shipping fee of 300 something yen. So, if you buy online, it’s better to buy in bulk. 

Tip 4: Postage rates

When sending any mail item, it’s important to know how much the postage is so it can be properly sent.

When you have the appropriate stamps on your letter or postcard, you can place it in your nearest postbox.

Letters

This section only includes standard-sized and non-standard-sized mail.

Check Japan Post’s other mail category and their respective postage rates. 

Domestic letter mail

Check Japan Post’s domestic letter postage for more than 100g.

Standard-sized mail

• 110 yen for up to 50 g (this rate is flat regardless of whether the item weighs 10g or 50g, following an October 2024 rate revision that merged the old 25g and 50g pricing tiers)

Non-standard mail

• 140 yen for up to 50 g

• 180 yen for up to 100 g

International letter mail

When sending international mail, Airmail is the fastest standard way to send postal letters, alongside Express Mail Service (EMS) for parcels needing speed and tracking. Surface mail (sea mail) is the cheapest option, but your mail item can take 1 to 3 months to arrive since it travels by ship. Japan Post also lists an Economy Air option, commonly called SAL, which used to sit between Airmail and Surface mail in both price and speed, but SAL is currently suspended across all destinations, so don't plan a shipment around it being available.

Additionally, any international parcel containing goods also needs a customs declaration attached, using either a CN22 form for lower-value or lighter items, or a CN23 form for higher-value or heavier shipments; Japan Post's international mail my page service generates the correct one automatically when you create your shipping label.

Certain items are restricted regardless of which form you use. For example, you generally can't send anything containing more than 24% alcohol by volume internationally, alongside other common restrictions like nail polish and aerosols, and each destination country layers on its own additional rules.

Zone 1: Korea, Taiwan, China

• Standard-sized mail:

  • 120 yen for up to 25 g

  • 190 yen for up to 50 g

• Non-standard mail:

  • 230 yen for up to 50 g

  • 340 yen for up to 100 g

Zone 2: Asia (excluding China, South Korea, Taiwan)

• Standard-sized mail:

  • 120 yen for up to 25 g

  • 190 yen for up to 50 g

• Non-standard mail:

  • 230 yen for up to 50 g

  • 350 yen for up to 100 g

Zone 3: Oceania, North America (excluding the U.S.), Middle East, Europe

• Standard-sized mail:

  • 140 yen for up to 25 g

  • 220 yen for up to 50 g

• Non-standard mail:

  • 280 yen for up to 50 g

  • 420 yen for up to 100 g

Zone 4: U.S. (including Guam and other U.S. territories)

• Standard-sized mail:

  • 140 yen for up to 25 g

  • 220 yen for up to 50 g

• Non-standard mail:

  • 280 yen for up to 50 g

  • 420 yen for up to 100 g

Zone 5: Central and South America (excluding Mexico), Africa

• Standard-sized mail:

  • 160 yen for up to 25 g

  • 260 yen for up to 50 g

• Non-standard mail:

  • 320 yen for up to 50 g

  • 500 yen for up to 100 g

Postcards

The postcard postage rate is 85 yen per postcard throughout Japan. For a round-trip postcard, it’ll be 170 yen.

International postcards by airmail is a flat rate of 100 yen everywhere.

Greeting cards

Domestically, greeting cards can be categorized as non-standard mail. So follow Japan Post’s non-standard mail postage rates.

For greeting cards that are being sent internationally, it’ll be:

• First Zone (Korea, Taiwan, China): 120 yen

• Second Zone Asia (excluding China, South Korea, and Taiwan: 120 yen

• Third Zone: Oceania, North America (excluding the U.S.), Middle East, Europe: 140 yen

• Fourth Zone U.S. (including Guam and other U.S. territories): 140 yen

• Fifth Zone Central and South America (excluding Mexico), Africa: 160 yen

Domestic parcels: Letter Pack and Yu-Pack

For anything bigger than a standard letter, Japan Post offers two common domestic services.

Letter Pack uses a fixed-size cardboard envelope you buy at the post office or a conbini and comes in two versions: Letter Pack Light costs 430 yen for items up to 4kg and 3cm thick, delivered straight to the recipient's mailbox, while Letter Pack Plus costs 600 yen for items up to 4kg with no thickness limit, delivered in person with a signature. Both include tracking. Yu-Pack is Japan Post's parcel delivery service for larger or heavier items, handling parcels up to 25kg at standard rates, or up to 30kg with an additional "heavy Yu-Pack" surcharge; pricing starts around 810 to 870 yen for the smallest size sent within the same region and increases with size and distance.

Yu-Pack also offers specialty options for delivering ski equipment to a resort, golf equipment to a golf course, and luggage to an airport counter ahead of your travel date, and it can be dropped off at post offices or participating convenience stores.

Let Japan Post handle it

If these postage rates are a little confusing, you can bring your mail items to the nearest Japan Post office! 

The staff will handle the category and calculate the postage. All you have to do is pay the amount.

You can also ask about their additional services, such as express delivery or selecting a preferred delivery date to ensure your mail arrives exactly when needed. However, it only applies to domestic mail.

You can also ask about their additional services, such as express delivery, called sokutatsu yuubin (速達便) in Japanese, or selecting a preferred delivery date to ensure your mail arrives exactly when needed. However, it only applies to domestic mail.

If you'd rather not visit a post office counter at all, you can drop stamped mail directly into a red post box, found outside nearly every post office and at many street corners and train stations. Most post boxes list a taishuu jikoku (取集時刻), or collection time, on the side, and in many urban areas the last collection of the day is commonly around 18:00, though this varies by location, so it's worth checking the specific box you're using if timing matters. Lawson convenience stores also have a mailbox inside nearly every store, a legacy of a nationwide partnership with Japan Post dating back to 2003, so you can drop off letters there too, not just buy stamps.

Don't want to go to the post office at all? MailMate can send mail for you

Everything above assumes you're doing the mailing yourself, but MailMate's Send Mail feature can handle it from your dashboard instead.

Upload a document, choose a carrier, Japan Post, Yamato, Sagawa, FedEx, or DHL, and MailMate prints, packs, and posts it on your behalf, with a tracking number and delivery confirmation logged automatically.

Need registered mail (書留) with proof of delivery for something time-sensitive, like a government filing or a signed contract? That's handled the same way.

If you've received a Japanese-language form that needs to be filled out and mailed back, MailMate's bilingual team can complete it in Japanese and send the reply directly, so you're not stuck translating a tax office notice or ward office form under deadline pressure.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to send a standard letter in Japan?

A standard-sized domestic letter costs 110 yen for up to 50g, following an October 2024 rate revision. A domestic postcard costs 85 yen, or 170 yen for a round-trip postcard.

What's the difference between Letter Pack Light and Letter Pack Plus?

Letter Pack Light costs 430 yen and delivers straight to the recipient's mailbox, for items up to 4kg and 3cm thick. Letter Pack Plus costs 600 yen, has no thickness limit, and guarantees in-person delivery with a signature. Both include tracking and are available as fixed-size cardboard envelopes from post offices and convenience stores.

Do I need a printed label to send mail internationally?

Only if you're sending goods with monetary value, such as gifts or merchandise. Japan Post has required Electronic Advance Data (EAD) and a printed label for this kind of international mail since March 1, 2024, for all destinations worldwide, following earlier phased rollouts for the US (2021) and Europe (2022). Pure letters and documents without dutiable value can still be addressed by hand.

Can I still send international mail by SAL?

Not currently. Japan Post's Economy Air service, commonly called SAL, is suspended across all destinations. Airmail and Surface mail (sea mail) remain available, along with EMS for faster, tracked international parcels.

Can I drop mail at a Lawson instead of a post office?

Yes. Lawson convenience stores have had an in-store mailbox in nearly every location since a nationwide partnership with Japan Post began in January 2003, so you can drop off stamped letters and postcards there the same way you would at a street post box.

Do I need a customs form to send a package internationally from Japan?

Yes, if it contains goods rather than just documents. You'll need a CN22 form for lower-value or lighter items, or a CN23 form for higher-value or heavier ones; Japan Post's online shipping tool generates the correct form automatically when you create your label.

Where can I buy postage stamps in Japan?

At any post office, at convenience stores that display the 〒 postal symbol (not all conbini sell stamps), or through Japan Post's online shop, which also carries seasonal specialty stamps but adds a shipping fee of a few hundred yen per order.

Can I avoid going to the post office entirely?

Yes. A virtual mail service like MailMate can send mail on your behalf: you upload a document, choose a carrier, and it gets printed, packed, and posted for you, including registered mail with tracking for anything that needs proof of delivery.

In closing

Whether you are sending a letter or a postcard, you know how to send mail in Japan. If you are ever confused or unsure about the correct postage, visit your local post office, as the staff can help you from there.