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.

[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... :/

[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.