When making a large purchase in Japan, it can be quite challenging to carry all the items back with you, especially if you've bought a lot of anime or manga merchandise.In such situations, let me provide you with a smart solution. You can send the items to your own country using the Japanese post office. By using international mail services, your package can arrive in your country within a few days.This way, you can avoid the hassle of carrying the items yourself. I encourage you to refer to this article and enjoy a comfortable sightseeing experience in Japan.
Packaging Your Items
First, when sending your items from Japan to your country, it's important to package them. Tools for packaging your valuable goods can be found at 100-yen shops.There are many 100-yen shops in Tokyo, known by names such as DAISO, Can Do, and Seria.The items sold at 100-yen shops are very affordable. Even if you buy scissors, tape, and packaging materials, it won't cost more than 1,000 yen.
DAISO in Japan is known as a "100-yen shop," where a wide range of everyday items is sold for 100 yen. While the quality of products at 100-yen shops may not be high, they can be extremely useful for urgent needs. When traveling in Japan, you can conveniently and affordably acquire necessary items at this store.
Sending Packages Using EMS at the Post Office
Next, let's take the packaged goods to the post office. The post office handles an international postal service called EMS, which stands for Express Mail Service. EMS is treated as the highest priority among international mail services, resulting in faster delivery to the destination compared to other international mail options. Packages from Japan to the United States typically arrive within one week.
■ EMS Service Description (Japan Post)
https://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/ems/index_en.html
You can process the EMS service at various post offices throughout Japan, and tracking is also available. The Japanese post office is known for its meticulous work, so the chances of losing a sent package are minimal.With EMS, you can send packages from Japan to 120 countries worldwide. You can ship packages to countries such as the United States, Europe, China, Korea, and Oceania.For a detailed list of countries eligible for shipment, please check the following website.
With EMS, you can send documents, general food items, and packages weighing up to 30kg. However, there are restrictions on items such as banknotes, explosives, matches, lighters, and in some cases, lithium-ion batteries that may be included in gaming consoles. Please be cautious in such situations.When sending a package with EMS, first, bring your packaged items to the post office and fill out the necessary details on the dedicated EMS label at the postal counter.
The label should include:
- Sender's name and address, recipient's name and address
- Description and quantity of the contents, value of the items
After handing the labeled package to the postal staff, they will inform you of the shipping cost, which you can pay at the counter.The price of EMS depends on the destination country and the weight of the package.For example, if you want to send a 1kg package to Taiwan, it falls under the Asia region, with a price of 2,100 yen (per 1kg).Sending a 1kg package to the United States falls under the Oceania, North America, Central America, and Middle East regions, with a price of 2,900 yen (per 1kg).Sending a 1kg package to France falls under the Europe region, with a price of 3,200 yen (per 1kg). As you can see, the price slightly increases for more distant countries or regions from Japan.
When sending via EMS, you will receive a receipt with a tracking code from the postal staff. Keep this receipt safe as it will allow you to track your package.
Upon entering a Japanese post office, you will find a counter for sending mail and a display of EMS shipping labels.
The EMS shipping label includes the following information, and it also provides instructions in English, making it understandable for foreign tourists. If you're unsure about how to fill it out, feel free to ask the postal staff at the counter for assistance.