Country Conditions for Mailing — Japan

 

Prohibitions (130)

 

Items that infringe on patent rights, utility model rights, design rights, trademark rights, copyrights, neighboring rights, or layout design rights.

Narcotics, unless the intended recipient has received prior permission from the competent authority in the prefecture in which that person resides.

Restrictions  

Banknotes; securities payable to bearer; coins, gold bullion; bills of exchange; letters of credit; and other payment orders are subject to the conditions laid down in the law concerning foreign exchange and trade control.

Coins; banknotes; currency notes (paper money); securities payable to bearer; traveler’s checks; platinum, gold or silver, manufactured or not; precious stones; jewelry; and other valuable articles may only be sent in registered First-Class Mail International or First-Class Package International Service shipments or insured Priority Mail International parcels.

Firearms, including handguns, pistols, machine guns, and rifles; other types of weapons, including daggers, swords, spears, and switch blade knives; and the components of firearms and weapons may not be imported into Japan unless the intended recipient has received prior permission from the competent authority (i.e., the Public Safety Commission) in the prefecture in which that person resides.

Meat products are prohibited unless accompanied by an inspection certificate issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Observations  

1. Human ashes may be accepted if presented for mailing by a licensed crematory or licensed mortuary. The ashes must be packed in a sealed metal container enclosed in a substantial outer container. There must be enclosed within the outer container, but outside the metal container, a certified copy of the death certificate and a statement or certificate executed by the crematory or mortuary to the effect that the ashes are those of the person named in the death certificate.
2. Many articles are subject to an import license. Senders should ascertain from the addressee before mailing whether the necessary documents are held. Import permits are not required for articles intended for personal use and in quantities such that they could not be used for commercial purposes; articles for the relief of disaster victims; ashes of the dead; and publications sent to libraries as part of an exchange between countries.
3. A sales invoice is required for all articles valued at more than U.S. $1,600.00. The invoice must be affixed to the outside of the parcel or may be enclosed with the customs declaration in the plastic envelope of PS Form 2976-E. The sales invoice must not obscure the customs declaration, which must show through the plastic envelope.

 

 

Global Express Guaranteed (210) Price Group 3

 

Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable retail, Commercial Base, or Commercial Plus price.

Weight Limit: 70 lbs.

 

General Conditions for Mailing  

See Publication 141, Global Express Guaranteed Service Guide, for information about areas served in the destination country, allowable contents, packaging and labeling requirements, tracking and tracing, service standards, and other conditions for mailing.

Size Limits (211.22)

The surface area of the address side of the item to be mailed must be large enough to completely contain the Global Express Guaranteed Air Waybill/Shipping Invoice (shipping label), postage, endorsement, and any applicable markings. The shipping label is approximately 5.5 inches high and 9.5 inches long.

Maximum length: 46 inches

Maximum width: 35 inches

Maximum height: 46 inches

Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches

Value Limit (212.1)

The maximum value of a GXG shipment to this country is $2,499 or a lesser amount if limited by content or value.

 

Insurance (212.5)

 

Insured Amount not over	Fee	Insured Amount not over	Fee
$100	No Fee	For document reconstruction insurance or non-document insurance coverage above $800, add $1.00 per $100 or fraction thereof, up to a maximum of $2,499 per shipment.
200	$1.00
300	2.00
400	3.00
500	4.00
600	5.00
700	6.00
800	7.00	$2,499 max.	$24.00

 

Priority Mail Express
International (220) Price Group 12

 

Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable retail, Commercial Base, or Commercial Plus price.

Weight Limit: 66 lbs.

 

Priority Mail Express International — Flat Rate Envelopes and Flat Rate Boxes

Flat Rate Envelopes: The maximum weight is 4 pounds. Flat Rate Boxes: The maximum weight is 20 pounds. Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable retail, Commercial Base, or Commercial Plus price.

Size Limits (221.52)

Maximum length: 60 inches

Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches

Insurance (222.8)

Available for Priority Mail Express International merchandise shipments only

 

Insured Amount not over	Fee	Insured Amount not over	Fee
$200	No Fee	For insurance coverage above $2,000, add $1.50 for each $500 or fraction thereof, up to a maximum of $5,000 per shipment.
500	$2.35
1,000	3.85
1,500	5.35
2,000	6.85	$5,000 max.	$15.85

Customs Forms Required (123)

Articles Admitted	Required Customs Form/Endorsement
Correspondence, business papers, computer cards, punched paper tapes, shipping documents, and check clearances between financial institutions.	No form required. Endorse item clearly next to mailing label as BUSINESS PAPERS.
Merchandise samples not exceeding 10,000 yen in value, magnetic tapes and disks, and microfilm.	PS Form 2976.
Merchandise or any articles subject to customs duty.	PS Form 2976-A inside PS Form 2976-E (envelope).

Note: For mailers completing PS Form 2976-B or an online combined shipping label and customs form that electronically transmits customs-related data, no additional customs form is required (see 222.5).

Notes:  

1. Commercial shipments must be accompanied by two (2) copies of the invoice.
2. Coins; banknotes; currency notes, including paper money; securities of any kind payable to bearer; traveler’s checks; platinum, gold, and silver; precious stones; jewelry; watches; and other valuable articles are prohibited in Priority Mail Express International shipments to Japan.
3. Priority Mail Express International With Guarantee service — which offers a date-certain, postage-refund guarantee — is available to Japan.

Reciprocal Service Name: Business Mail

Country Code: JP

Areas Served: All, including Okinawa.

 

Priority Mail International (230) Price Group 12

 

Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable retail, Commercial Base, or Commercial Plus price.

Weight Limit: 66 lbs.

Note: Ordinary Priority Mail International includes indemnity at no cost based on weight. (See 230.)

 

Priority Mail International — Flat Rate

Flat Rate Envelopes or Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes: The maximum weight is 4 pounds. Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable retail, Commercial Base, or Commercial Plus price.

Flat Rate Boxes — Medium and Large: The maximum weight is 20 pounds, or the limit set by the individual country, whichever is less. Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the retail, Commercial Base, or Commercial Plus price.

 

Size Limits (231.22)

Maximum length: 60 inches

Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches

 

Insurance (232.92)

Available for Priority Mail International merchandise parcels only (see 323.72 for markings)

 

Insured Amount not over	Fee	Insured Amount not over	Fee
$50	$2.45
100	3.60	Add $1.15 for each additional $100 or fraction of insurance coverage.
200	4.75
300	5.90
400	7.05
500	8.20	$5,000 max.	$59.95

 

Customs Forms Required (123)

Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes:

PS Form 2976 as required (see 123.61)

Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes:

PS Form 2976

Priority Mail International parcels:

PS Form 2976-A inside PS Form 2976-E (envelope)

 

 

First-Class Mail International (240) Price Group 3

 

Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable retail price.

Weight Limit: 3.5 ozs. for letters and postcards; 4 lbs. for large envelopes (flats)

Size Limits  

Letters: See 241.212

Postcards: See 241.221

Large Envelopes (Flats): See 241.232

Customs Form Required (123)

PS Form 2976 as required (see 123.61)

 

 

First-Class Package International Service (250) Price Group 3

 

Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable retail, Commercial Base, or Commercial Plus price.

Weight Limit: 4 lbs.

Size Limits  

Packages (Small Packets): See 251.22 and 251.23.

Customs Form Required (123)

PS Form 2976

 

 

Airmail M-bags (260) —

Direct Sack to One Addressee Price Group 3

 

Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable retail price.

Weight Limit: 66 lbs.

Customs Form Required (123)

PS Form 2976

 

 

Free Matter for the Blind (270)

Free when sent as First-Class Mail International, First-Class Package International Service, Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes, or Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes. Weight limit: 4 pounds.

Free when sent as Priority Mail International. Weight limit: 15 pounds.

Customs Form Required (123)

First-Class Mail International items, First-Class Package International Service items, Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes, and Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes:

PS Form 2976 as required (see 123.61)

Priority Mail International parcels:

PS Form 2976-A inside PS Form 2976-E (envelope)

 

 

Extra Services  

Certificate of Mailing (313)

 

Individual Pieces — Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable price:

Individual article (PS Form 3817).

Firm mailing books (PS Form 3877), per article listed (minimum 3).

Duplicate copy of PS Form 3817 or PS Form 3877 (per page).

Bulk Quantities — Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable price:

First 1,000 pieces (or fraction thereof).

Each additional 1,000 pieces (or fraction thereof).

Duplicate copy of PS Form 3606.

 

Registered Mail (330)

 

Fee: Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable price.

Maximum Indemnity: $45.59

Available only for First-Class Mail International, including postcards, First-Class Package International Service, Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes, Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes, and Free Matter for the Blind.

 

Return Receipt (340)

 

Fee: Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable price.

Available for Registered Mail and insured Priority Mail International parcels only.

 

Restricted Delivery (350)

 

NOT Available for International Mail as of January 27, 2013

 

International Postal Money Order (371)

Use MO Form MP1

Maximum Amount Available: $700 Fee: $4.50

Money Order Inquiry: Fee: $5.75

 

International Reply Coupons (381)

 

NOT Available for International Mail as of January 27, 2013

 

International Business Reply Service (382)

Fee: Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable price:

Envelopes up to 2 ounces.

Cards.