簡易書留 : a way to send registered and insured mail, up to ￥50,000 will be insured
一般書留 : a way to send registered and insured mail, the contents will be reimbursed in the case that the letter is not delivered
現金書留 : a way to send money in the mail
親展 : a label that indicates only the person addressed should open the letter
Mail Boxes in Japan
Japanese mail boxes have two slots.
The slot on the left side, labeled 手紙 and はがき is for letters and postcards.
The slot on the right side, labeled 大型郵便, 速達郵便, 電子郵便, and 国際郵便 is for mailing large letters, express mail, electronic mail, and international mail.
Delivery Notices
Japanese delivery services will deliver packages that are too big to fit into a mail slot directly to the addressee.
When there is no one at a residence to receive a package, the delivery service will leave a delivery notice with information about how to request the package be redelivered.
There is no additional service charge.
The delivery service notice may have a notification deadline.
Procedures
Contact the delivery service and arrange the time that you would like to receive the package.
Be present when the delivery service redelivers the package.
Forwarding Mail When Moving
The Japan Post has a system in place that allows people when they move to have their mail forwarded from their previous address to their new address for one year.
People interested in using this service may register before or after they move.
Procedures
To register, complete the Japan Post’s Address Change Notification Form (転居届) at a Japan Post office or on the Japan Post’s e転居 page, only available in Japanese.
