Japan Post Office Guide for Travelers
Japan Post (日本郵便) is one of the most useful institutions for travelers in Japan — offering reliable ATMs that accept foreign cards, affordable international shipping for your purchases, currency exchange, and the world's most charming postcard mailing service. With 24,000 branches nationwide, there is almost always one nearby.
Japan Post for Travelers: An Overview
Japan Post (日本郵便, Nihon Yubin) operates over 24,000 post offices across Japan — more than any bank, convenience store chain, or government office. For travelers, it offers four key services that solve real problems: shipping bulky purchases home via Yu-Pack, sending international mail and postcards, accessing cash via ATMs that reliably accept foreign debit and credit cards, and currency exchange. Post offices are identifiable by the distinctive red "〒" symbol on signs. Opening hours vary: most full-service post offices operate Monday–Friday 09:00–17:00; some larger urban branches stay open on Saturdays 09:00–17:00 and Sundays 09:00–12:30. ATMs are typically available during longer hours, including weekends and some evenings. The Japan Post website (japanpost.jp) has an English-language branch locator. Note: convenience store post offices (ゆうゆう窓口, yuyuu madoguchi) inside major post offices stay open outside standard hours and handle many common transactions.
Sending Packages Home with Yu-Pack
Yu-Pack (ゆうパック) is Japan Post's domestic parcel service, but the essential service for tourists is international shipping via EMS (Express Mail Service, 国際スピード郵便) or SAL (Surface Airlifted, 航空書留). EMS: the fastest international option, typically 3–7 days to most countries. Rates vary by weight and destination — a 2kg package to the US costs approximately ¥3,200; to Europe approximately ¥3,400; to Australia approximately ¥3,000. Maximum weight: 30kg. EMS includes tracking and some insurance. SAL (Surface Airlifted): slower (2–3 weeks) and cheaper — approximately half the EMS price, making it ideal for non-urgent clothing purchases. Economy Air (航空便) is mid-speed and mid-price. Surface mail (船便, funabín) is the cheapest option (1–3 months, very cheap — ¥1,800 for 2kg to USA) but only practical if you are certain about what you're sending. Practical tip: many post offices near tourist shopping areas (Shinjuku, Akihabara, Kyoto downtown) stock free cardboard boxes at the counter specifically sized for tourist purchases. You can pack items there on the spot. Required: a customs declaration form (CN22 or CN23 in English), which staff will guide you to complete.
International Mail Services
Standard international mail from Japan Post is reliable, affordable, and widely available. Postcards (はがき) to international destinations cost ¥100 per card — the same regardless of destination (US, Europe, Australia, anywhere). Standard airmail letters up to 25g: ¥110 to Asia, ¥130 to North America and Europe, ¥140 to other regions. Stamp purchases: stamps are available at all post offices and at many convenience stores (look for a small Japan Post section). For postcards, the easiest approach is to write the address on the card, affix a ¥100 stamp, and drop it in any red mailbox (郵便ポスト, yubin posto) on the street — they are collected daily. Registered mail (書留, kakitome) adds tracking and insurance for ¥430 extra. For sending important documents home, EMS is the recommended option due to tracking. Aerogrammes are no longer widely sold, but Japan Post still accepts the format if you bring your own. Delivery times for regular airmail: 7–14 days to North America and Europe; 5–10 days to Southeast Asia.
Japan Post ATMs for Foreign Cards
Japan Post ATMs (ゆうちょATM, Yucho ATM) are the most reliably foreign-card-friendly ATMs in Japan, accepting Visa, Mastercard, American Express, UnionPay, and cards on the Cirrus and Plus networks. The green Yucho ATM machines have English-language interfaces and clear instructions. Withdrawal limits: typically ¥200,000 per transaction, ¥300,000–¥500,000 per day (varies by your home bank). Fees: Japan Post charges ¥110 per international withdrawal during business hours; some machines at convenience store-affiliated post offices charge slightly more outside hours. Your home bank will add their own foreign transaction fee (typically 1–3%). 7-Eleven ATMs (Seven Bank) are similarly reliable for foreign cards. Japan Post ATMs are located inside post offices and increasingly in convenience stores (FamilyMart branches in some regions). ATM operating hours inside post offices typically match post office hours; standalone Yucho ATMs may operate until 21:00 or 23:00. During national holidays, ATMs remain accessible even when the post office counter is closed.
Currency Exchange at Japan Post
Larger Japan Post branches offer currency exchange services, converting major foreign currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, CNY, KRW, HKD, and others) to Japanese yen. Exchange rates at Japan Post are typically better than airport currency exchange booths and comparable to major city banks. Required documentation: passport (required for amounts over ¥100,000; some branches require it for all exchanges). The process: go to the main window (not the ATM), present your foreign currency and passport, receive a quoted rate and fee, confirm, and receive yen. Exchange fees: ¥630–¥735 per transaction (flat fee regardless of amount exchanged). For larger amounts this makes Japan Post competitive; for small amounts (under ¥10,000 worth), the flat fee is proportionally expensive. Branches that exchange currency will typically display a "外貨両替" (gaikoku ryougae, foreign currency exchange) sign at the counter or entrance. Not all post offices offer this service — large urban branches do; rural and small-town offices generally do not. Better rates may be found at specialized currency exchange shops (両替商) in Shinjuku, Akihabara, Osaka's Namba, and near major tourist areas, but post offices are reliable and convenient.
Tips for Using Japan Post
Forward your luggage: a popular tourist trick is to ship your suitcase ahead to your next hotel using Japan Post or private courier services (Yamato Transport / ヤマト運輸 is also excellent) — this is called "takkyubin" (宅急便) and costs ¥1,500–¥2,500 for a standard suitcase to the next city. Hotels will hold arriving packages. Buy stamps at convenience stores: 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Lawson all sell ¥100 international postcard stamps, saving you a post office visit for simple postcard mailing. The red letterbox: Japan's classic red post boxes (〒) on street corners have two slots — the left slot is for local mail, the right for other destinations including international mail. Use the right slot for all tourist postcards. Tax-free documentation: Japan Post can sometimes assist with customs documentation for tax-free goods being shipped home, but you must bring the original tax-free receipt and the sealed goods bag from the store. Never open the sealed tax-free goods bag before leaving Japan customs, as doing so voids the tax exemption. Japan Post staff speak limited English — bring your address written in clear Roman letters and the destination country name.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to ship a package from Japan to the USA?
Via EMS (Express Mail Service), Japan Post charges approximately ¥3,200 for a 2kg package to the United States (delivery in 3–7 days). For a 5kg package it's approximately ¥6,100. SAL (Surface Airlifted) is slower (2–3 weeks) and costs roughly half the EMS price. Surface mail (船便) is the cheapest — approximately ¥1,800 for 2kg — but takes 1–3 months. Rates are available on the Japan Post website's international postage calculator.
Do Japan Post ATMs accept foreign debit and credit cards?
Yes. Japan Post (Yucho Bank) ATMs are among the most reliable ATMs for foreign cards in Japan, accepting Visa, Mastercard, American Express, UnionPay, Plus, and Cirrus network cards. The machines have English interfaces. A ¥110 convenience fee applies per transaction during business hours. Seven Bank ATMs (inside 7-Eleven stores) are equally reliable alternatives.
How do I mail a postcard from Japan internationally?
Affix a ¥100 stamp (available at post offices and convenience stores), write the full address in Roman letters with the destination country clearly written in English, and drop it in any red post box (right slot). Delivery typically takes 7–14 days to North America and Europe. You can also hand postcards directly to any post office counter.
Can I ship my luggage to my next hotel in Japan?
Yes — luggage forwarding (手荷物宅配, tenimotsu takuhai) is a popular and efficient service in Japan. Japan Post and Yamato Transport (ヤマト運輸, Kuroneko) both offer it. From most hotels, you can arrange morning pickup; the suitcase arrives at your next hotel the following day. Cost is typically ¥1,500–¥2,500 for a standard 20kg suitcase within the same region, slightly more for longer distances. Your hotel concierge can arrange this for you.
Does Japan Post exchange foreign currency?
Yes, larger Japan Post branches offer foreign currency exchange (外貨両替). They accept USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, and other major currencies. Rates are reasonable and better than airports. A flat transaction fee of ¥630–¥735 applies. You must present your passport. Not all post offices offer this service — check for a "外貨両替" sign at the counter, or call ahead. Specialized currency exchange shops in tourist districts may offer marginally better rates for large amounts.