Mail Call!

I had to stop by the post office today.  I didn't have any postal business.  I actually needed cash from the ATM.  When living in a cash society (cards are rarely welcome, but are becoming more so), one must always have plenty of cash on hand. 

It may sound strange to go to an ATM at the post office, but Japan's postal system is private (not governmental, like the US).  The company, JP Post, offers many services to it's customers.  It is a bank, an insurance company, and a mail company.  Typically, each location has at least one clerk for each division of the company.

In addition to a clerk, every post office has ATMs.  They are the best place for withdrawing money using a foreign account (in my experience), as they don't charge fees.  The foreign bank will, but at least you won't be double charged!  The frustrating thing about these ATMs is that they strangely aren't available 24 hours.  Depending on the branch, the machines are often turned off after either 7 or 9 pm!  So if you need some late night cash or money on a national holiday, you might be out of luck!  I find Japanese people to be prepared for almost every situation.  This just feeds into that stereotype.  They wouldn't be caught without enough cash on a Saturday night.

Since I was at the post office, I decided to get some stamps after I got my cash.  I am one of those rare people that still puts letters into the mailbox.  I love getting cards and letters, so I make a point to send them!  Plus, I love all the fun stamps.  Before I buy, I check out the bulletin board that has all the available designs and pick out the ones I like the best.  I have found that the most attractive stamps are for domestic postage rates, so I often overpay for my letters or have several stamps on the envelope.  But I just can't pass up the cute stamps!

In Japan, you don't send mail from your house.  Instead, you must find a red post box and put your letter into one of two slots.  The slot on the left is for domestic, regular postage.  While the slot on the right is for international, non-standard sized, express, or electronic mail.  (I have no idea what electronic mail is...)  If you have a package, you must go to the post office.

Since the company is private, they are allowed to bend the rules whenever they want.  Sometimes when you're looking for a post box, it isn't the traditional red!  There are special post boxes all over.  The airport has a special post box with an airplane on it, Nerima city hall has one with the city character/mascot, and Kawagoe has a black mailbox!  It is so fun to find the special boxes.  It feels almost like a treasure hunt. 

Here's one final tip - if you are sending a package from Japan, see if it qualifies as a "small parcel," as those rates are SO MUCH LESS than the regular package rate!  That way you can buy more cute stamps!