Few things surprise newcomers in Tokyo like coming home to a small slip in the mailbox and no parcel. Japan's delivery system is fast and reliable, but it assumes you will be home, and almost everything about arranging a second attempt is in Japanese. The good news: once you understand the missed-delivery slip and your redelivery options, getting your package is genuinely easy, and you rarely lose anything for a week. This guide walks you through mail, post offices, sending parcels, and what to do when you are out.
Who delivers what
- Japan Post (Yubin Kyoku) handles letters, postcards, and Yu-Pack parcels. Post offices also have ATMs and Japan Post Bank counters, so they are useful beyond just mail.
- Yu-Pack is Japan Post's parcel service: roughly up to 170cm total (length plus width plus height) and up to 25kg, with tracking, a choice of delivery time slots, and compensation generally up to 300,000 yen if something is lost or damaged.
- Home-delivery couriers: “takuhaibin” (宅配便) is the generic word for door-to-door parcel delivery. The biggest carrier is Yamato Transport, whose service is branded “takkyubin” (宅急便) and marked with the black-cat Kuroneko logo; Sagawa Express is another major carrier. Most online shopping and gifts arrive this way.
- You can send parcels from a post office, from many convenience stores, or by booking a driver to pick up from your home.
When you are out: the missed-delivery slip
- 1Find the slip (fuzaihyo) left in your mailbox. It shows who attempted delivery, the date and time, the tracking/waybill number, and a phone number. Yamato's notice also lists a foreign-language customer service number.
- 2Identify the carrier from the logo and slip (Japan Post, Yamato, or Sagawa) so you contact the right one.
- 3Choose how to ask for redelivery: by phone, on the carrier's website, or via the carrier's app or LINE account if it offers one. The QR code on many slips opens a form with your tracking number pre-filled.
- 4Enter the tracking number, then pick a redelivery date and time slot, and submit. You will usually get a confirmation by email or SMS.
- 5If you would rather pick it up yourself, ask about collecting it at the carrier's local depot, a nearby post office, or a convenience store, depending on what that carrier offers.
Parcels are held at the local depot for only about one week from the date on the slip. Same-day redelivery has an earlier cutoff (often around 5pm for Yamato's automated phone line and Japan Post's web form), so request it as soon as you can. If the holding period passes, the item is returned to the sender, so do not let the slip sit.
Tips and common mistakes
- Japan Post's redelivery website offers English and other languages, but it only redelivers to your registered home address; for pickup elsewhere you generally need to phone the call center.
- If your building has delivery lockers (takuhai box) or a nearby PUDO open locker station, drivers may leave parcels there or you can route them there; check the slip or your delivery notification for a locker code.
- Keep the slip until the parcel is in your hands. The tracking number on it is what every redelivery method asks for first.
- Save your address in Japanese (building name, room number, and postal code) so you can paste it into forms and apps quickly.
- For sending, a convenience store is often the easiest drop-off point, and staff can help you weigh the package and attach the label.
- Which store takes which carrier matters when sending: 7-Eleven and FamilyMart accept Yamato (takkyubin), while Lawson and Ministop handle Japan Post (Yu-Pack). Pick the konbini that matches the carrier you want.
- Okihai (置き配, contactless doorstep delivery) leaves your parcel at the door without a signature. It is the default for Amazon Japan and is increasingly offered by Yamato and Japan Post, so you can receive parcels without being home or using a locker — handy if you keep missing the driver.
- I lost the slip but a parcel was attempted. What do I do?
- You can still arrange redelivery if you know your tracking number from the seller's shipping email. Otherwise, contact the carrier's customer service with your name and address and they can usually locate it. Check the carrier's official site for the current process.
- Can I get redelivery service in English?
- Often yes. Japan Post's redelivery web form supports several languages, and Yamato offers a foreign-language phone line. Phone menus may start in Japanese before announcing a language option, so listen for it or use the website instead.
- How do I send a parcel within Japan?
- Take it to a post office (Yu-Pack) or to a convenience store or courier office (takkyubin), or book a pickup. You fill out a simple waybill with the recipient's address and pay by size and distance. Check the official site for current sizes and fees.
