Mail and Phone

International Mail
While living in Japan, you might feel like sending a few notes or even a sake-set to your loved ones back home. For this, there are several options available for letters as well as international parcels, including EMS, Surface, Economy Air (SAL) and Airmail (航空便、kokubin).

Letters ( 書状、shojo) 
The limitation for posted letters and documents is 2kg. Standard-sized letters are ¥90 within Asia and ¥110 to the Middle East, Europe, North and Central America and ¥130 to Africa and South America. Alternatively, an aerogramme can be bought at the post office, which allows you to send a letter by air anywhere in the world at a uniform rate of ¥90.

Greeting cards ( グリーティングカード、guri-tingu ka-do) and pre-stamped international post cards ( 国際郵便葉書、kokusai yubin hagaki) are also available for purchase at the post office. If you prefer to use other post cards, these may be sent for ¥60 as surface mail and ¥70 yen as airmail anywhere in the world.

Parcel Post ( 小包、kozutsumi)
In general, you may send parcels up to 20kg, but certain destinations are restricted to varying weight limitations. At the post office, pick up an international parcel label (a combination of invoice, customs declaration and address label) fill it out and select whether you wish to send your parcel via surface or SAL. Please ask a postal worker for the time needed for the different freight methods, as this varies greatly depending on destination.

Special rates are available for small packets weighing up to 2kg ( 小型包装物、kogata hosobutsu). Please write 'Petit paquet' or 'Small Packet' in the upper left corner of the addressed side of the packet (under the name and address of the sender) and bring it to a post office counter after attaching a customs label or customs declaration form.

Economy Air [SAL] 
Economy Air (SAL) uses open space on airplanes to transport parcels, and is therefore less expensive than airmail and faster than surface mail. SAL requires 3 to 7 days extra compared to airmail to reach its destination. Please affix the 'SAL' sticker or write 'SAL' in the upper left corner of the addressed side of the item (under the name and address of the sender).

EMS ( 国際スピード郵便、kokusai kupiido-yubin) 
The post office offers this express delivery service of documents and parcels to 118 countries and territories worldwide. When sending articles by EMS, you will need to attach a CN22 (Green Label) or a declaration and invoice for customs clearance. An online EMS tracking system is available at this site.

D-mail & P-mail ( Dメール/Pメール、D me-ru & P me-ru)
If you are airmailing 500 items or more, you may be eligible for a reduction in postage. Special rates for priority bulk mail (D-mail) apply to airmail containing printed matter that weighs 500g or less per piece. Non-priority bulk mail (P-mail) special rates apply to airmail with lower priority and that contain printed matter that weighs 5kg or less per piece. D-mail and P-mail are handled at delivery post offices.

International Letax ( 国際電子郵便、kokusai denshi-yubin)
International Letax is the fastest international mail possible by combining facsimile and the postal network, covering 31 countries and territories with delivery on the same day or the following day. International Mini-Letax, with a uniform rate for all of these countries and areas, is also available.

International Calls
Direct Calls A direct overseas call can be made from a public telephone displaying an International and Domestic Telephone sign. These phones are not widespread, but can be found at airports, hotels, and other key facilities. Direct dial calls can be made via a telephone company using the company's access number.

Credit Card Calls
A credit card call can be made from a telephone with an International and Domestic Telephone sign. Insert a 100 yen coin (returned when you finish the call) and input an access number. The telecom business is fiercely competitive and so rates and systems change often.

Mobile Phones
Now you can use your mobile phone number in Japan using SoftBank Mobile and NTT DoCoMo's 3G (3rd generation) service areas. Simply bring your own SIM card and insert it to a rental phone or your own 3G handset. For more details, please check with your local mobile phone service provider, SoftBank Mobile or NTT DoCoMo.

Rental phone services are also available. You can find rental phone shops at Narita Airport and Kansai Airport.