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The Post Office Guide is a free book that is available at main post offices or can be purchased from the International Postal Research Centre by calling the postal services information number above. It will cost around 200 yen. It is an excellent information resource.

The main post office in Aizu Wakamatsu is located on Main Street (before Shinmei-Dori).
Tel. 0242-22-1200
Hours (Closed on Sundays and National Holidays)
Main Post Office
9:00am to 7:00pm, Monday to Friday
9:00am to 3:00pm, Saturdays
24-hour emergency window (available only for stamps and letters)
Branch Offices
9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday

You can buy stamps from any post office, post office vending machine, many train station shops, and other stores marked with the post office symbol (a 'T' with an extra horizontal line on top). Many beautiful and interesting commemorative stamps are available periodically.

The post office will not accept packages that are too big, too heavy, or too small. Check weight and size restrictions carefully in advance.

If you send 10 or more packages at the same time, you can get a 10% discount.

As of February 2, 1998, the Japanese postal code system changed from a 3- or 5-digit number to a standard 7-digit number system. The first three digits represent a fairly wide area (e.g. 965 for Aizu Wakamatsu) and the last four digits represent a smaller, local area (e.g. 0871 for Sakae-machi, the area that the International Association is in, or 0001 for Ikki-machi, Matsunaga). To ensure speedy delivery of your mail, please ensure that all mail you send within Japan includes this seven-digit code. Also, please inform all relevant parties of your proper seven digit postal code. The International Association has a book which lists all of the postal codes for all of Japan, so please contact us if you need to find one out.

If you want to send New Year's postcards, please send them by December 24th and mark them with the kanji NENGA in red pen right under the stamp so the post office will know to keep them until January 1st. (You can buy a NENGA rubber stamp if you don't want to write the kanji.) If you receive any official postcards, you will notice that there is a lottery number on the bottom. The draw for this lottery will be on Coming of Age Day (the second Monday in January). You can watch the draw on TV, read the numbers in the paper the next day, or ask the post office for the results.

Post Office Banking
To open a post office savings account, bring your hanko and alien registration card to the bank and fill out the form.
It is possible to make direct payments of bills out of your post office account.
Banking hours: 9:00am to 4:00pm, Monday to Friday (Closed on National Holidays)
(Post Office cash machines may be open later and on National Holidays.)

In addition to the postal system, there are several private companies that provide inexpensive and fast delivery service within the country. You can send (or have sent) almost anything -- skis, food, documents, etc. These services are available at most convenience stores as well as hardware stores and rice shops. Ask around for the most convenient place near your home.

Another convenient service that the delivery companies offer is the delivery of luggage to domestic airports. This means that you can take the train to the airport without worrying about carrying loads of luggage. If you want to send your luggage to the airport, you may have to take it directly to the delivery store a few days in advance. Bring your flight information (particularly which terminal you will be using and when you will be departing). Keep the receipt that they give you because you will need to show it to pick up your luggage at the airport.