I've come to find that even though it is inexpensive to send mail to my friends on base, it takes anywhere from ten days to two weeks.

I'm curious if there are off base families or areas of support that would accept holiday gifts or care packages via Fed Ex within a few days so that our loved ones can get them sooner.

Some of us would definitely pay for that privilege.

You can definitely use the Japanese Postal Service, which I have used several times.

I have had good success with the Onbase postal service though....
What you first must understand, that the Onbase postal service send everything through the military post, which eventually arrives in California..  That takes anywhere between 1-4 days they have told me...  From there, it takes additional time to arrive to the final destination..  Usually if I send FEDEX to the East Coast from Yokosuka it takes around 5-7 days...

Here is the Japanese Postal website: 
http://www.post.japanpost.jp/english/index.html

You can use this calculation to figure out when you want something to arrive, and the estimate for how much it will run you:
http://www.post.japanpost.jp/cgi-ch...p?lang=_en
 

I have used the Fed Ex office in the port area of Yokohama to mail packages from Japan. They are very professional, speak English, and very helpful. A world class service. This is right off the internet off a Goggle search:

Yokohama Station
279-1 Yamashita-cho, Naka-ku,
Yokohama 231-0023
9:00 - 19:00 (Mon-Fri)*
9:00 - 18:00 (Sat)*
Closed (Sun, Holidays)

Everyone who lives in base housing has a home address they can get FEDEX to. It is expensive but very fast.

Your FPO also has a Japanese equivalent address, at least it does in Iwakuni. I've found most of the postal clerks don't know it, so you have to ask around. If there is a Japanese employee in your post office, they'd probably know it. In Iwakuni, it's:

PSC 561 Box xxx
MCAS Iwakuni-shi
Yamaguchi-Ken
740-0025

If I order anything from a Japanese vendor, I give them this address and they can send it using domestic postage. Note: Black Cat cannot deliver to FPO, only Japanese post office can.

On a related topic, if you have to send books or smallish items around Japan there is something called Expack 500 (or Expack go-hyaku, in Japanese). Like US express mail, it's a fixed-price envelope that you can mail anything you can fit for 500 yen all around Japan. You can buy the envelope at Japanese post offices, or sometimes Lawson or other convenience stores. If you're visiting the US embassy for a visa, they require you to bring an Expack 500 envelope with you with a Japanese return address so they can mail the passport back to you.

Oh, the home address I posted above is for Yokosuka main base, btw. Call housing if you need your address on Ikego or Negishi. It's good for any of the delivery companies. FEDEX, Black Cat, DHL, etc.

The Japanese version of the main base post office address is
238-0001 Yokosuka-shi
1 Banchi Tomari-cho
PSC # Box #
FPO AP
Japan

Just thought I would add. this thread here is proof positive that this website and these forums are providing a much needed service. the information here is something someone normally has to live here for years to acquire and we get it for the price of creating a username. I ahve alsoe seen the same thing happen repeatedly in many posts. Thank you Adam, japan bases staff, and all who post on these forums. Esp. the guy (Takabell) who answered my query about horse races.

Posted By FavoritePrincess on 12-07-2010 11:39 PM
Oh, the home address I posted above is for Yokosuka main base, btw. Call housing if you need your address on Ikego or Negishi. It's good for any of the delivery companies. FEDEX, Black Cat, DHL, etc.

The Japanese version of the main base post office address is
238-0001 Yokosuka-shi
1 Banchi Tomari-cho
PSC # Box #
FPO AP
Japan

Is this still valid?  If anyone can confirm that this does work, that would be great.  Thinking of placing on online order from a Japanese company that does not have a retail store.  I'd hate to think they would have to ship overseas to CONUS and back through military post.

thanks in advance.

Frank -

For regular mail yes that works. Its how I get my statements from AU. If they use a shipping company - like black cat - then no.

<----wife, not chris.

Anyways, yes it does work. We have to use the Japanese versions of "US" addresses all the time for my job. Any confusion I've ever run into comes from the base post office itself or command post offices, not the Japanese mail system.

I have found Black Cat to be awesome, I  mail items all over Japan and use them when I have a Japanese only address.  Most of the time it's next day delivery and in person, some of the distant locations like Okinowa it takes a few days.

For the exact same size as a small priority square box it runs about 7-800 Yen, the USPS charges 6.80 if you include delivery confirmation on it.

When I receive items they deliver them to the military base supply gate, they are there everyday for an hour in a delivery truck.  You just show up and pick up your items.

Awesome, a troll-free response. Thanks to all for confirming!!!

Posted By yokota on 05-03-2012 10:21 AM
I have found Black Cat to be awesome, I  mail items all over Japan and use them when I have a Japanese only address.  Most of the time it's next day delivery and in person, some of the distant locations like Okinowa it takes a few days.

For the exact same size as a small priority square box it runs about 7-800 Yen, the USPS charges 6.80 if you include delivery confirmation on it.

When I receive items they deliver them to the military base supply gate, they are there everyday for an hour in a delivery truck.  You just show up and pick up your items.

Black Cat will deliver to your house on base using this address:

Very good information.  Thanks again to everyone who chimed in.