How to send a letter to Japan

How to address and send post to another country — the address layout, postage, delivery times and what you can and can’t send.

Japan

Sending post to Japan
Full name on envelopeRequired
Delivery timeApprox 5-14 business days.
PostageLetter, Parcel, Registered, EMS.
Postcode7-digit postcodes written NNN-NNNN; place after prefecture.

✉️ Addressing the envelope

Address layout
Full Name
Building, Street Number + Street
CITY, PREF NNN-NNNN
JAPAN
Example
Haruki Sato
Sunrise Apt 5-2-10, Chuo-dori
TOKYO, CHIYODA 100-0001
JAPAN
More examples
PO Box:
Aiko Tanaka
P.O. Box 123
OSAKA, OSAKA 530-0001
JAPAN
Full name
Required
Full name recommended.
Postcode
7-digit postcodes written NNN-NNNN; place after prefecture.
Language
Japanese locally; English acceptable for international.

📮 Sending

Postage methods
Letter, Parcel, Registered, EMS.
Delivery times
Approx 5-14 business days.

⏱️ How long letters take to reach Japan

From anywhere
about 11 days (739 letters)
From USA
about 13 days (194 letters)
From United Kingdom
about 10 days (73 letters)
From Germany
about 9 days (54 letters)
From France
about 11 days (39 letters)
From Australia
about 12 days (38 letters)
From Canada
about 9 days (32 letters)

Based on letters our members logged and marked as received over the last two years, using the quicker letters on each route. A letter may arrive sooner: members don’t always mark a letter as received as soon as it arrives.

🛃 Customs and restrictions

Customs
CN22/CN23 for goods.
Restrictions
Batteries, aerosols and other dangerous goods restricted.

💡 Tips

Write largest area last; include building and unit.
Looking for a penpal in Japan? Global Penfriends has members in 195+ countries writing real letters to each other. Join free See penpals in Japan