Japanese Post?

[dizzy]

We have a young friend of the family back in the states who collects postcards from around the world. So, obviously, we're in the perfect position to send some to him. However, as far as I know, there's no special postmark or anything coming from the base post. So we're wondering if it's possible to use the Japanese mail system...but we're clueless. So we need the following questions answered, and please forgive the naivety if we're asking a really dumb question:

1) We need a location, first of all...can't say I've ever noticed a random official post box sitting on the sidewalk off-base, like our famous Mr. R2D2. Any spots where one is located, or where a Japanese post office is? If there are only offices, do they work the same as the states?

2) Recipient's address: it would be normal as stateside, correct, except with USA after it? Like the following:(?)
Name
# Street
City, State Zip
USA

3) Return address: Would we put our normal address as we do when sending stateside mail? Like the following:
Name
PSC 78 Box #
APO, AP 96326
or do I need to put the Japanese address? If the latter, can somebody provide me with the CORRECT Japanese address we use? I've seen/read quite a few "versions" and want to try and make this as accurate as possible.

4) What about stamps? How many would I need, can we use "regular" or Forever stamps? If I knew it would work, I'd put ten of them on the damn thing, just to be safe...even at the expense of my dignity.


Any help would be -awesome-. I appreciate it, guys.

[MaggieMontgomery]

There is a Japanese mail box in front of our post office, by the R2D2 one, it will get you a Fussa-shi postmark, but you have to use Japanese stamps, which are only available off base. But once you've stocked up on Japanese stamps, you can just drop your postcards in that one.

The Fussa post office is straight out the Fussa gate. At the Y/fork, instead of bearing right to head for Seiyu, just stay straight. After you cross the Fussa station tracks you'll come to a big intersection (either the 1st or 2nd light). City hall will be on the far left corner, 2 big brick bldgs, and the PO on the far right corner. Turn right at the light and immediately left into the parking lot (small, but free). Inside there are several different lines for the counter: Insurance, banking and post, I think, but the signs are all in English so it's easy to figure out. Take a number from the ticket thingy for the Post/mail section. It's all self explanitory, but if you're not sure, just have a seat and watch for a few minutes to figure out where you need to be and what you need to do. I can't remember, but seems like a postcard stamp to the US was around Y80. Def. use a Japanese stamp, they've got some really cool/unique ones. I usually just get a full sheet or two to last me awhile. If you just want the one stamp, just hand over the postcard and the clerk will ring up the stamp and send it off for you just like the US PO. And just FYI, if you ever take the ITT Mt. Fuji trip to Station 5, you can mail postcards from up there for an awesome Mt. Fuji postmark!

You've got the To: address right. I don't typically put a return address on postcards, but nearly any variation of

PSC 78 Box XXXX
Yokota Air Base
Fussa-shi, Tokyo 197-0001
Japan

should suffice.

[dizzy]

Wow Maggie, awesome info! While writing my post I totally forgot about the Japanese mailbox in front of the post office, but I'm always reminded when I'm actually at the post office and I'm always wondering whether or not I can use it. I figured there'd be some sort of catch, especially since it says "Japanese mail only", and it'd be going off base to just go back to the states anyway. Stamps make sense, right?

Thank you so much! Our friend is gonna love it!

[roxy1969]

Make sure you grab one of the post cards at the top of Mt Fuji.