Q: Can I include a letter along with the package when I send it?

A: Unfortunately, no.

When sending gifts to friends, many people may want to include a letter to convey greetings and send them together with the package using a delivery service. However, this practice is illegal in Japan. According to Article 4, Clause 4 of the Postal Service Law in Japan, letters can only be sent through “postal operators” (referring to Japan Post) and cannot be sent through delivery services such as Yamato Transport. It is also prohibited to include letters inside packages. If caught, both the delivery service provider and the sender may face penalties, including imprisonment for up to three years or fines of up to 3 million Japanese yen.

Usually, when people take their packages to a delivery service for shipping, they will ask if there is a letter inside. If they find out that there is one, they won’t accept it!

However, this regulation is not always strictly enforced, and there are exceptions. As long as the following four conditions are met, it is allowed to send letters along with the package:

1. The letter is placed together with other content in the package.
2. The primary focus is on the contents within the package, while the letter serves as a secondary aspect.
3. The content of the letter is closely related to the other contents inside the package.
4. The letter should not be enclosed in an envelope, or if the letter is put in an envelope, the envelope must remain unsealed with its opening fully exposed.

Q: When the package is delivered and the intended recipient is not at home, how can I contact the delivery service to arrange a redelivery of the package?

A: Key document information:不在連絡票（which means ‘delivery attempt notice’）

This means that in cases where the recipient or the designated person specified in the previous clause is unavailable for delivery, a written form should be provided to the recipient indicating the date and time of delivery, the name of the delivery service, contact phone number for inquiries, and other necessary details regarding the delivery of the goods.

How can I receive a delivery attempt notice?

Typically, delivery attempt notices are placed by the courier in the corresponding mailboxes of each household. If the mailbox is located in a more hidden or if an apartment doesn’t have an external mailbox, the delivery person will place the delivery attempt notice through the door slit, delivering it inside the door.

Q: How can I arrange redelivery?

A:1. Call the delivery manager directly in your area (in Japanese) when there is no corresponding contact information on the delivery attempt notice, and each region has different managers and phone numbers. Provide the tracking number and ask them to arrange a delivery time. Usually, you need to schedule a specific delivery time. If the recipient’s address is a hotel, you can ask the hotel staff for assistance in making the phone call and contact them.
2. You can directly fill out the redelivery or forwarding request on the official website of the corresponding courier company. This allows you to choose the delivery time and address according to your preferences. You can also request delivery to a nearby convenience store or choose to pick up the package yourself.

Q: I have scheduled a specific delivery time and patiently waited within that timeframe, why does it still happen that I miss the delivery person?

A: Although we have the option to choose a preferred delivery time when requesting redelivery or placing an order on a website, the time slots are usually broad, such as morning, 12 pm-2 pm, 2 pm-4 pm, 4 pm-6 pm, and so on. Please see the example below:

If you work during the day and choose a delivery time of 7 pm to 9 pm, but if you arrive home at 7:30 pm, you may likely miss the delivery person. You will find a “Delivery Attempt Notice” in your mailbox near the entrance. It will indicate the time of the attempted delivery, the origin of the package, and other relevant information. The notice will also provide a phone number and a QR code for you to reschedule the delivery. In reality, it might have been just a difference of a few minutes…

Q: When there is a problem with delivery, will the Japanese courier call to get in touch?

A: Unfortunately no. In Japan, even though the delivery address often includes a phone number, it is common for delivery personnel to not proactively call the recipient. This is due to the cultural practice in Japan where people tend to avoid answering calls from unknown numbers.

So basically if you receive a phone call from the delivery office to confirm how to handle a package that is being held in storage, it is likely that you are approaching the deadline of the free storage period for your parcel. If communication at this stage is not successful, the delivery company will return the package to the sender’s address.

If it is a cash-on-delivery package, there may be an additional cost for the two-way delivery, which the delivery company will request from the sender of the package.

If the seller is an online merchant, as a customer in Japan, your behavior may be judged by Japanese people as intentional fraudulent behavior. Consequences for such actions can include having your account suspended or being prohibited from future purchases. In severe cases, you may even face complaints from the seller, involving police intervention and warnings. This not only leaves a stain on your credit but can also result in substantial financial penalties that will deeply impact you.

Q: When I am not at home, is it possible to ask the delivery person to leave the package at a designated location, such as my doorstep?

A: Upholding the spirit of Japanese people being “serious and meticulous,” they will certainly take responsibility to ensure that you sign for the delivery in person.

The only exception, of course, is if your apartment has a “Home Delivery Box.” This can be understood as a password-protected temporary storage locker. If the delivery person places the package in the “Home Delivery Box” located below your apartment, they will leave you a message similar to the delivery attempt notice. However, instead of providing the package tracking number and contact information for the delivery person, the most important information will be the corresponding Home Delivery Box storage locker number and password.

Having packages delivered to workplaces during the daytime is unheard of for them. Therefore, any workplace that allows you to receive packages is considered a workplace with a considerate atmosphere!