Sending parcels overseas? Use Japan Post’s international services

During your stay in Japan, sometimes you need to send parcels overseas. For example, you end up sending things that didn’t fit in your suits case by courier when you go home, or you may want to send some gifts or souvenirs to your family or friends in your country. There are lots of shipping and courier companies who can deliver your parcels to overseas addresses. Among all those internationally and domestically operating courier giants, Japan Post offers the best services at the most reasonable price for individual customers. So, let’s have a look what international services Japan Post offers.

※All services introduced in this column are for parcel that meet size requirements. The services are not suitable for large sized items such as furniture.

International parcels by Japan Post

There are four types of international post service by Japan Post. You can simply bring your parcels to the nearest post office to ship overseas. Get a waybill at the counter and fill it in either of English, French or national language of the destination country. Shipping times from Japan vary depending on zones while rates are charged based on weight and zones. Use the online rate calculator to find the rate and delivery time as well as the dimension requirements before sending a parcel.

Rate Calculator
Dimensions

Service	Delivery target	Weight
EMS	2－4 days	Up to 30kg
Air mail	3－6 days	Up to 30kg
SAL	6－13 days	Up to 30kg
Surface (Sea mail)	1－3 months	Up to 30kg

EMS (Express Mail Service)

The fastest service of the four international service by Japan Post. The rate setting is higher than other services as well. Customers can check the delivery status online by using a item number printed on top right of the waybill.

EMS waybill

Sender’ name, address and phone number
Receiver’s name, address and phone number
Description of contents (If you need more space, write “See the attached document(s) “and attach an additional form available from Japan Post website)
Choose from gift, merchandise, personal effects, sample, others and documents
Declare no dangerous goods included, then sign and date. If you are sending more than one parcel to the same address, fill in total number of parcels and what number the parcel is
Write total value of the items if you add insurance

Air mail・SAL・Surface (Sea mail)

Air mail・SAL・Surface (Sea mail) use the same waybill format in common. As the same as EMS, customers can check the delivery status online by using item number printed on top left of the waybill. Each service has different features as below.

Air mail: Second fastest service following EMS, it takes 3-6 days to arrive destinations. Normally it is cheaper than EMS, but sometimes the rate can be very similar to EMS. Make sure to check the rate with the online rate calculator beforehand.
SAL: Stands for Surface Air Lifted, it is processed as sea mail within Japan and the destination country, and transported by air between the countries. This service is faster than sea mail and cheaper than air mail.
Surface (Sea mail): This service takes much longer before delivery compare to other services as cargos transported by ocean between the countries. Instead, the rates are considerably low.

Postal parcel waybill

Sender’ name and address
Receiver’s name and address
Items description (If you need more space, write “See the attached document(s) “and attach an additional form available from Japan Post website)
Leave here blank if you are individual customer
Weight and value of items
Choose from gift, samples with no commercial value, and documents with no commercial value. If you are sending more than one parcel to the same address, fill in total number of parcels and what number the parcel is.
Check a box and write total value of the items if you add insurance
Sender’s sign and date
Choose the instruction in case the parcel cannot be delivered.
Choose the shipping method from Air, SAL and Surface (sea mail)

Invoice and other documents

You are required to fill in description of contents on the way bill when you send iternational parcels, but other than that, some countries requires invoices to be attached on the parcel. Invoice is an important documents to clear customs and quarantine in both the departure and destination country. The template of invoice is available from Japan Post website. Follow the instructions on the template to complete the form. Also, check Japan Post website if any other additional documents are required by the destination country before you send a parcel.

Custom duties and other expenses

The receiver is responsible for payment of any customs duty or other expenses occurred in the destination country.

Prohibited and restricted items

Some items are not accepted for international shipping under the International Mailing Regulations. Explosives and dangerous goods, illegal drugs, live animals and indecent goods cannot be sent by international mail or courier. The followings are examples of explosives and dangerous goods for your information.

Explosives: e.g. fireworks, crackers, gunpowder
Inflammable liquids: lighter fluid, paints
Compressed gas: Fire extinguishers, aqua lungs, dusting sprays, compressed oxygen, helium sprays, camping gas cylinders, lighter gas refill
Inflammable solids: lighters, matches
Acids: bleach, peroxides, portable oxygen generators
Poison: Chloroform, insecticide smokes
Corrosive substance: mercury, batteries
Other hazardous substance: engines of remote control helicopters, magnets
Radioactive substances: Must be below the limits specified by the International Atomic Energy Agency

Knock knock, parcel delivery!

Japan Post is known for its stable and fast delivery services with in Japan. They offers the same quality of service for international shipping as well. All international post services come with tacking number to check delivery status. Generally parcels are brought in a post office by customers for shipment but you can also arrange pickup service by phone or internet. This service is available only in Japanese. If you are confident in Japanese language, access the below link to use parcel pickup service. You will receive waybills from Japan Post staff upon pickup.

Package pick-up service (Japanese)