Sending a postcard from Japan takes four steps: decide whether it is going within Japan or overseas, write the address, add the correct postage, and place it in a Japan Post mailbox or hand it to a postal clerk.

The destination changes the price. As of September 12, 2026, a standard domestic postcard costs ¥85. An international postcard sent by airmail costs ¥100 worldwide. A souvenir picture postcard normally does not include postage; a postal card sold by Japan Post may already have its value printed on it.

Destination Current postage What to write clearly Best choice when unsure
Within Japan ¥85 Japanese destination, postal code, recipient name Postal counter
Any country overseas, airmail ¥100 Roman-letter address, country name, AIR MAIL Postal counter
Any country overseas, surface mail ¥90 Roman-letter address, country name, surface-mail request Postal counter

The ¥10 difference between surface and airmail is small, so airmail is the practical default for most travelers. International service availability can change by destination; check Japan Post’s current service updates before relying on a time-sensitive delivery.

Step 1: check that it qualifies as a postcard

Do this before buying the stamp. A thick decorated card or an unusually small souvenir can be treated as a letter instead of a postcard.

For a domestic postcard, Japan Post’s standard dimensions are 14–15.4 cm long and 9–10.7 cm wide, with a weight of 2–6 g. For an international postcard, the long side must be 14–23.5 cm, the short side 9–12 cm, and the long side at least 1.4 times the short side.

Write POST CARD at the top of the address side of a homemade or souvenir card. Japan Post says a homemade card without a postcard indication is handled as a letter. Do not attach bulky objects. If a decoration makes the card thick, uneven, or non-rectangular, show the finished card at the counter.

Step 2: address a postcard going within Japan

Use the exact Japanese address supplied by the recipient. A horizontal address can follow this pattern:

〒100-0001
東京都千代田区千代田1-1
[建物名・部屋番号]
[受取人の氏名] 様

Put the recipient block in the main address area. Keep the postal code, building name, room number, and recipient name together. Add 様 after an individual’s name unless the recipient gave you a differently formatted label.

Place an adhesive stamp at the upper-right when the postcard is horizontal. Japan Post’s general rule is upper-left for a vertically oriented postal item and upper-right for a horizontally long one.

Need help with the parts of a Japanese address? Use the copy-ready layouts in How to address an envelope in Japan; the same address hierarchy applies to a postcard.

Step 3: address a postcard going overseas

Write the destination in Roman letters and Arabic numerals unless the destination country requires another script. Put the country on its own final line in uppercase:

JANE SMITH
10 MAIN STREET
BOSTON MA 02110
USA

Add your return address in a smaller, clearly separated block. End it with JAPAN. Leave enough open space for postal markings, and do not place the sender beside the recipient in a way that makes the two blocks easy to confuse.

Write AIR MAIL or PAR AVION clearly near the top when using the ¥100 airmail rate. A postcard is correspondence, not a parcel, so a plain postcard without merchandise does not use a customs declaration. If you are attaching or enclosing an item, stop and ask at the counter because it may no longer qualify as a postcard.

Step 4: buy the right stamp

The simplest place is a post-office counter. Show the finished card and say where it is going; the clerk can confirm the category and sell the exact postage.

Useful Japanese:

このはがきをアメリカへ航空便で送りたいです。
Kono hagaki o Amerika e kōkūbin de okuritai desu.
“I’d like to send this postcard to the United States by airmail.”

To buy the stamp directly:

100円切手を1枚ください。
Hyaku-en kitte o ichimai kudasai.
“One ¥100 stamp, please.”

Some convenience stores are contracted postage-stamp retailers, but their denominations and stock vary. If the exact stamp matters, use a post office. The detailed guide to buying stamps in Japan explains payment options and what to ask for.

Step 5: use a mailbox or postal counter

A correctly addressed and stamped postcard can go into a red Japan Post mailbox. Check the collection schedule printed on the box. When the mailbox has two slots, read the labels rather than choosing by color alone; slot arrangements can differ.

Use a postal counter instead when:

  • the card is handmade, thick, unusually shaped, or close to a size limit;
  • you are not certain whether postage is already printed on it;
  • you want registered handling or another optional service;
  • international service to the destination may be restricted;
  • the card contains anything other than ordinary flat correspondence.

Once a postcard is in the box, you cannot correct it. A 30-second counter check is worth doing when the card is important.

Common postcard mistakes

Treating a souvenir price as postage

The amount printed on a shop receipt or price sticker is what the card cost to buy. It is not postage. Look for an official postage mark on the address side; if none appears, add a stamp.

Using the domestic rate overseas

An ¥85 domestic postcard does not cover an international airmail postcard. Add enough postage to reach the current international rate.

Forgetting the country

For overseas mail, put the destination country alone on the final line in large Roman letters. Do not make a sorting clerk infer it from a city or postal code.

Covering the address with decoration

Keep stickers, tape, and drawings away from the destination, postage, and postal-code area. Anything three-dimensional can also change how the card is classified.

Quick answers

How much is a postcard from Japan to the United States or Europe?

The current airmail postcard rate is ¥100 to every country, including the United States and European destinations. Check service availability for the specific country before sending urgent mail.

Can I send it from a convenience store?

A convenience store may sell stamps, and some stores have a Japan Post mailbox in or outside the building. The store counter itself is not a substitute for postal acceptance. Deposit the card only in an actual mailbox, or use a post office.

Can I use more than one stamp?

Yes. Several valid Japanese postage stamps can make up the required total. Keep them fully attached and do not overlap them.

Sources checked

Sources reviewed September 12, 2026. Rates and international acceptance conditions can change; Japan Post is the final authority.