In addition to delivering the mail, Japanese post offices also offer savings accounts and insurance. In general, post office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (until 4 p.m. for savings accounts and insurance-related business). Post offices are generally closed on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays, but some major post offices have extended hours. The “〒” mark is the post office logo, and mailboxes with this logo can be found along sidewalks.
When you write an address on a post card or letter, in addition to the name and address, you need to include the postal code designated for that location.
Undeliverable packages
If you are not at home when a package or piece of registered mail that requires proof of receipt is delivered, a notice will be left instead. You can bring the notice, a form of ID such as your resident card and your seal (a signature will also suffice) to the post office listed on the notice to pick up the package, or arrange another time for delivery.
Note: Japan Post has an English-language service for questions regarding the mail.
Tel: 0570-046-111 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.)
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Telephone
International calls
Charges and discount plans for international calls differ slightly from company to company. To make an international call, input the phone number in the following order:
ID number of the phone company you are using + 010 + country code + area code* + phone number
Note: If the area code begins with 0, leave off the 0 (except for some countries).
▼ID numbers and contact numbers for major telephone companies
| Major Telephone Companies |
ID Number |
Contact Number |
| KDDI |
001 |
TEL.0057 |
| NTT |
0033 |
TEL.0120-506506 |
| SoftBank |
0061 |
TEL.0120-030061 |
Note: Inquiries to NTT can be made in English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, German and French.
Tel: 0120-364463 (Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on national holidays)
Prepaid International Telephone Cards
Sales of the international prepaid card World Pre-paid Cards and the reusable prepaid Calling Card Neo will end on March 31, 2015, and service will be stopped on March 31, 2016.
<NTT Communications>
Pay phones
To use a pay phone, insert 10-yen coins, 100-yen coins or a telephone card, and dial the number. Telephone cards can be purchased at convenience stores, station kiosks and vending machines attached to pay phones.
Cell phones
Fees and discount services vary by cell phone service provider. Cell phone plans can be purchased at cell phone sales companies and electronics shops. When signing a contract, you will need your passport and resident card. To pay the phone bill, you will need a bank or postal account or a credit card.
▼Major Cell Phone Companies
Major Cell Phone
Companies |
Contact Numbers |
| KDDI(au) |
Tel: 0077-7-111 (in Japanese only) |
| NTT Docomo |
Tel: 0120-005-250
(languages available: English, Portuguese, Chinese, Spanish) |
| SoftBank |
Tel: 0088-21-2000 (in Japanese only) |
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Internet
To use Internet services such as e-mail and visit websites, you need to sign a contract with an Internet provider.
Free Wi-Fi hotspots: Wi-Fi connections are available free of charge at major convenience stores and fast-food shops (in some cases, you have to register to use the service).
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Television and radio
In times of emergency, television and radio are reliable sources of information. When a major earthquake or a tsunami warning is issued, television and radio stations make emergency broadcasts.
Note: NHK (public broadcasting) signal system
Based on the Broadcast Act, if you have a television, you are legally required to pay dues to NHK whether you watch NHK programming or not. In principle, all residents in Japan are required to pay NHK dues.
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