The Japanese post office (郵便局 / ゆうびんきょく) is a one-stop hub for mailing letters, shipping packages domestically and internationally, buying stamps, and even banking. With its red 〒 symbol everywhere, you'll encounter it frequently. This guide covers every kanji you need to navigate postal services confidently.
Mail Types (郵便の種類)
Japan Post offers various delivery speeds and service levels. Here's what each type means.
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 普通 | ふつう | Standard mail |
| 速達 | そくたつ | Express mail |
| 書留 | かきとめ | Registered mail |
| 簡易書留 | かんいかきとめ | Simplified registered mail |
| 配達証明 | はいたつしょうめい | Delivery certification |
| 内容証明 | ないようしょうめい | Content-certified mail |
| 現金書留 | げんきんかきとめ | Cash registered mail |
| 郵便物 | ゆうびんぶつ | Mail item |
Package Shipping (荷物・小包)
Shipping packages in Japan is remarkably efficient. Here are the kanji on shipping forms and labels.
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 小包 | こづつみ | Parcel / package |
| 荷物 | にもつ | Luggage / package |
| 重さ | おもさ | Weight |
| サイズ | サイズ | Size |
| 送り先 | おくりさき | Destination address |
| 差出人 | さしだしにん | Sender |
| 届け先 | とどけさき | Delivery address |
| 取扱注意 | とりあつかいちゅうい | Handle with care |
| 壊れ物 | こわれもの | Fragile |
| 天地無用 | てんちむよう | This side up |
Shipping Methods (配送方法)
Japan Post offers several shipping options with different price points and delivery speeds.
| Service | Reading | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ゆうパック | ゆうパック | Standard parcel service (tracked, insured) |
| レターパック | レターパック | Flat-rate envelope service |
| 定形外 | ていけいがい | Non-standard size mail |
| 定形 | ていけい | Standard size mail |
| クリックポスト | クリックポスト | Online prepaid parcel post |
| ゆうメール | ゆうメール | Media mail (books, CDs) |
Writing a Japanese Address (住所の書き方)
Japanese addresses follow a specific format — from large area to small. Here's the structure and kanji you need.
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 〒 | ゆうびんばんごう | Postal code symbol |
| 都道府県 | とどうふけん | Prefecture |
| 市区町村 | しくちょうそん | City/ward/town/village |
| 丁目 | ちょうめ | District block |
| 番地 | ばんち | Block number |
| 号 | ごう | Building number |
| 様 | さま | Honorific (for recipient) |
International Mail & Customs (国際郵便・税関)
Sending packages abroad requires filling out customs forms. These kanji appear on the declaration slips.
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 国際郵便 | こくさいゆうびん | International mail |
| 内容物 | ないようぶつ | Contents |
| 金額 | きんがく | Value / amount |
| 送り先 | おくりさき | Destination |
| 航空便 | こうくうびん | Airmail |
| 船便 | ふなびん | Sea mail |
| 税関告知書 | ぜいかんこくちしょ | Customs declaration form |
| 贈り物 | おくりもの | Gift |
| 商品見本 | しょうひんみほん | Commercial sample |
Stamps & Collectibles (切手・記念切手)
Stamps are a beloved part of Japanese postal culture, and many people collect limited editions.
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 切手 | きって | Postage stamp |
| 記念切手 | きねんきって | Commemorative stamp |
| はがき | はがき | Postcard |
| 年賀はがき | ねんがはがき | New Year's postcard |
| 収入印紙 | しゅうにゅういんし | Revenue stamp |
Other Post Office Services (その他のサービス)
Japanese post offices offer more than just mail — they're also banks and insurance providers.
| Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 貯金 | ちょきん | Savings (ゆうちょ銀行) |
| 保険 | ほけん | Insurance (かんぽ生命) |
| 為替 | かわせ | Money order |
| 窓口 | まどぐち | Service counter |
| 営業時間 | えいぎょうじかん | Business hours |
Related Reading on Kanjijo
Frequently Asked Questions
At the post office, ask for an international shipping form (国際郵便). Fill in 内容物 (contents), 金額 (value), 送り先 (destination), and 差出人 (sender). Choose from EMS (fastest), 航空便 (airmail), or 船便 (sea mail). Staff can help with customs declaration forms (税関告知書).
書留 (registered mail) provides full tracking, delivery proof, and insurance up to ¥500,000. 簡易書留 (simplified registered) offers tracking and insurance up to ¥50,000 at a lower cost. Use 書留 for important documents and 簡易書留 for everyday tracked mail.
Japanese addresses go from large to small: postal code (〒), prefecture (都道府県), city (市区町村), block (丁目・番地), building, then recipient name with 様. Write the recipient in the center and your return address (差出人) smaller in the upper-left corner.
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