In which someone has to get used to doing things from the other end

[matataku_hoshi]

In my two years of time in Japan, I felt like I became pretty familiar with the Japanese postal service.  (Especially towards the end.  At first they just laughed when I came in with box after box, and then I think they got a little worried...)  However, I know very little about sending things to Japan from America.

If I want to send letters to certain pure, proper, and beautiful people in Japan from America, what's the best way to go about doing so?  I would think it would just be via the local post office, but how long should I expect for letters to take to arrive if I send them that way?  Are there any other options I should be looking into?  Preferably one that won't break my limited bank account?

Comments

[shirabyoshi.livejournal.com]

When I write letters I just pop on a few stamps (ninety cents if it's just a sheet or two in an ordinary-sized envelope, a dollar eighty otherwise) and leave them in my letterbox. Judging by the reports of persons I've sent things to in Japan who are allowed to acknowledge receiving them, it takes the seven to ten days one would expect for international airmail, although sometimes as little as six.

[muffin-song.livejournal.com]

Hmm, that's not too bad, although I'll admit I'm spoiled. If I sent things sokutatsu through the mail system in Japan, they would get there the next day.

But truly, that's not too bad. Thank you.

[shirabyoshi.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Did you get my last email? I think it sent, but I'm having a little IMAP trouble...

[muffin-song.livejournal.com]

I got it <3 Unfortunately my senjafuda seem to be in hiding, but I'm on a hunt now!

ETA: Never mind, just found them (!!!!)

[shirabyoshi.livejournal.com]

Excellent work! They're slippery little things, aren't they? Especially in those plastic packets in which you can't even tell how many are left.

[muffin-song.livejournal.com]

The problem was that I moved them from their original envelope at the last minute due to fear of bending. But it was a little traumatizing to open up the envelope which I had originally labeled "senjafuda" and to not find them there.

...I'm going to feel so much better after I know all of my Graphs safely made it. If you ever feel like praying, please put in a word for them.

[shirabyoshi.livejournal.com]

I can't imag-- er, yes, I can imagine your anxiety. I hope the day is approaching rapidly when your treasures will be reunited under one roof, where you can conveniently clutch at them and weep.

[ruderal-species.livejournal.com]

FYI, the price went up to ninety-FOUR cents in May. :) *stocked up on 94-cent stamps recently*

Postcards are also 94 cents, so one might as well send letters.

[shirabyoshi.livejournal.com]

Hmm. The postage calculator on USPS.com still counts in units of ninety. This is most suspicious.

[ruderal-species.livejournal.com]

Sure you're not linked to an old cached page or something? I just tried the postage calculator and got 94-cents for a one ounce letter. :/

[ruderal-species.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I wouldn't send things to the theater any way other than regular mail (except maybe presents...) Other ways may require signatures, which might mean it never got delivered at all... :/

[shirabyoshi.livejournal.com]

I've FedExed the Tokyo theatre twice with no problem. Someone signed.

[kalen9.livejournal.com]

Regular mail, of course, but watch it - there are surcharges for certain kinds of envelopes, and I once sent a square card with a postcard in it that wound up being $2.
Also, I've since realized this most likely has to do with Chicago being the worst place on earth, but mail there took 3 weeks in either direction. From New York it's about 4-6 days.

[ladybretagne.livejournal.com]

I would just get the international mail stamps from the post office, it'll be the easiest and save you a few cents per letter. Other than that I've never had any problems just dropping letters in the usual outgoing mail box.