This country has an efficient and fast mail service, with post offices (yubin-kyoku) established all over the country, easily identified by their red-and-white signs of a T with a parallel bar across the top, the similar symbol that you'll find on the red letterboxes. Letters posted within Japan should get to their destination in one to two days, and all post can be addressed in Western script (romaji) provided it is clearly printed.

Central post offices usually open their doors at Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sunday 9am to 12.30pm, with most other branches opening Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm only. A few larger branches may also attend the public on a Saturday from 9am to 3pm, and may work after-hours services for parcels and express mail. The Tokyo International Post Office, next to Tokyo Station, is open daily 24 hours for both domestic and international mail.

Poste restante (tomeoki or kyoku dome ypbin) is accesible at the central post offices in the big cities, but mail will only be held for thirty days before being returned. The same goes for American Express offices (which only receive mail for card holders); unless it's marked "please hold for arrival". American Express provides offices in Tokyo.

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