Sending a postcard to Japan
Facts checked
Mailing a postcard from the US to Japan costs $1.75: one USPS Global Forever stamp, the same price as every other country. USPS has charged $1.75 since July 12, 2026. With Paper Plane Post, $7 covers the printed 4×6 photo postcard, the postage and the mailing. We print your card in the US and mail it from there, and our delivery estimate is 1–3 weeks to Japan. USPS publishes no delivery standard for international mail, and international postcards can’t be tracked.
How to address it
Mail to Japan uses this layout. Write the country last, in capitals.
〒154-0023
PREFECTURE
Street address
Recipient name
JAPAN
- Postal code: required, written like 154-0023, 350-1106, 951-8073.
- Prefecture: required.
USPS’s International Mail Manual adds:
- “Japan Post requests that each item addressed to Japan include the correct postal code on the address label and, when applicable, also on the customs form. Information regarding Japanese postcodes is available in Japanese at https://www.post.japanpost.jp/zipcode/dl/roman-zip.html. For customers who are able to access the website in English, Japanese postcode information is available under the heading “Download Data.””
What USPS says about Japan
- No customs form, unless the mail holds goods.
USPS lists no prohibited items for Japan.
USPS lists no service disruptions for Japan, as of .
See what it costs to make one yourself, with a printed card and a stamp.
Questions
How much does it cost to send a postcard to Japan from the US?
$1.75 for one USPS Global Forever stamp, the same as every other country. With Paper Plane Post it’s $7 for the printed photo postcard, the postage and the mailing.
How long does a postcard take to get to Japan?
USPS publishes no delivery standard for international mail. Paper Plane Post’s estimate is 1–3 weeks to Japan.
Can I track a postcard to Japan?
No. USPS offers no tracking on international postcards, so nobody can track one, whether you mail it yourself or Paper Plane Post does.
Does a postcard to Japan need a customs form?
No. USPS requires no customs form for mail to Japan unless it holds goods, and a postcard with a message on it is correspondence.
How do I address a postcard to Japan?
Write it on separate lines in this order: 〒154-0023, then PREFECTURE, then Street address, then Recipient name. Put JAPAN on the last line in capitals. Include the postal code.