gunmajet.net

Sending Things Home
Your baggage allowance limits for flying back to North and South America is 2 pieces not to exceed 32 kilos each, while pretty much the rest of the world is 20 kilos TOTAL.

Post Office

Packing
 Sort things to be packed. Pack fragile items separately from heavy items. Clearly label “fragile” in English and Japanese 「壊れ物」on all sides.
 It’s best to leave your boxes unsealed when you go to the post office as they will likely want to inspect the contents.
 You will fill out an “international parcel label” which serves as an invoice, customs declaration and address label.
 Number and label your boxes on the outside and put this information on a piece of paper inside: your name, your phone number, the destination address, the shipping agent, the shipping agent’s telephone number. Keep two copies of the inventory yourself and give the shipping company two copies of the inventory.

Shipping Options
 Surface Mail
The cheapest way to send parcels by post when there is no hurry, the charge is about 1/3rd of what you’d pay to send them by airmail.
 Economy Air (SAL)
A combination of air and surface mail, it’s cheaper than airmail, but faster than surface mail. SAL parcels will reach your home countries in between 2 and 5 weeks.

Insurance
Air, SAL, and surface mail may be insured upon request, with amounts varying upon destination. The first 20,000Y is included in the original shipping price.
Each additional 20,000Y you wish to insure costs 50Y.
Although proof of value is not necessary to buy the insurance, it is almost impossible to file a claim without it. Receipts or photos can serve as proof.

Discounts
All parcel post of ten or more items at a time get a 10% discount. The discount rises to 20% when you send 50 packages or more, even if they are being sent to more than one destination, so join together with friends.
If you are sending books or printed matter, you can get a price reduction simply by writing “Printed Matter” in the upper left-hand corner of the addressed side of the parcel. Hand it in unsealed.

Parcel Size
For up to 20kg the sum of all dimensions must not exceed 3 meters. The length must not exceed 1.5 meters OR the sum of all dimensions must not exceed 2 meters. The length must not exceed 1.05 meters.
The Post Office Guide is useful and available at most post offices.
The Post Office Information Line (English) is 03-547-25-8512, or check out their website at
http://www.post.japanpost.jp/english/index.html
Each country has customs restrictions on what may be brought into the country. Restrictions may apply to: quantity of alcohol, purchases made in other Asian countries, Japanese antiques, etc. If in doubt call your embassy!

Shipping Companies
There are many private shipping companies available for both air and sea freight. In shipping, prices will vary depending on the departure and destination points, services such as door-to-door pick up and delivery , packing, crating and special insurance. Freight is usually calculated by volume rather than weight, so it might be better to send heavy items in small boxes and lighter bulkier items by post.
If you want to use a shipping company, plan ahead. For international shipping, most companies like two or three months notice, with one month being a minimum. Your best bet in choosing a shipping company is to look for a door-to-door delivery rate per given unit of volume. Shipping companies have specifications for crate dimensions and may charge fees for ignoring them. However, many companies will provide you with crates and, if given warning, will tailor make a crate for oddly-shaped items.

Web Sites
iljnet.or.jp/elco/moving_english.html Excel International Shipping
www.jluggage.com Japan Luggage Express (cheapest in Japan) 0120-48-0081 (Japanese and English). This company specializes in small shipments and is popular among students and English teachers.
www.japanexpress.co.jp/hikkoshi/eng.htm Japan Express
www2.nittsu.co.jp/cont.html Nippon Express. E-mail moving@nittsu.co.jp or call 0120-150-422 and ask for an English speaker if you wish.
www.pakmail.co.jp/index_e.html Pakmail
www.economovejapan.com Economove Japan Co Ltd. (They apparently offer a 5% discount to those who use the “jetsetjapan” website)

Judith
CIR/PA
Gunma

Thanks for all the help.

Just in case someone searches for this at a later date, the number in the above post for the Japanese Post Office English Helpline has been changed to 0570-046111