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Post Office Services
There are several helpful publications available at major post offices throughout Shiga Prefecture. The Post Office Guide, International Postal Service and Guide to Overseas Remittances are available free of charge. They are written in English and will answer most questions you may have about services provided by the post office, including domestic and international mail, postal savings accounts and international money orders. You can receive these at any major post office.
Much of this information is also available on-line:
The Post Office Guide For information concerning international and domestic mail, rates, weight restrictions, etc.
The YUUCHO Homepage For information concerning all finacial matters dealing with the post office, including postal remittances, ATM and banking information, as well as international joint ATM/Credit cards.
The Digital Post Office For regionally based information on various locations and post offices.
- Digital Post Office: Kinki Region(Japanese only)
- Digital Post Office: Shiga
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| THE POSTAL SYMBOL |
 The  mark is the symbol of the postal service. It is found anywhere there is any connection with the post office, and is sometimes used as a map symbol indicating the location of post offices. It is also displayed at stores and shops that sell postage stamps, revenue stamps and post cards. Further, it is used on printed materials to indicate the postal (zip) code. |
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| THE MAILBOX |
 The red square, cylindrically shaped mailbox or the square box-like mailbox is used for posting stamped mail. They are marked with the familliar postal symbol () and the word "Post." The mail collection schedule is clearly posted. If you want to mail a letter or postcard, just drop it in the mailbox, enabling the post office to collect and deliver it. Any letter or postcard can be dropped in a mailbox as long as it does not require any form of record keeping or is too large in size. Those items need to be brought to a post office counter. While most mailboxes with two slots are marked according to the type of mail that can be deposited (ex. "Letters/Postcards" and "Others"), some mailboxes are marked according to destinations. Although these signs are increasingly being added in English, if you are not sure, either one of the slots will do.
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| POST OFFICE SERVICE HOURS |
| Service |
Day |
Delivery Post Offices |
Nondelivery Post Offices |
| Mail |
Monday-Friday |
9-19:00 (9-17:00 at certain offices) |
9-17:00 |
| Saturday |
Closed (9-15:00 or 9-17:00 at certain offices) |
Closed |
| Sundays and Holidays |
Closed (9-12:30 at certain offices) |
Closed |
| Savings and Insurance |
Monday-Friday |
9-16:00 (9-18:00 at certain offices) |
| Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays |
Closed (ATMs and CDs at certain offices are in operation. Service hours: Saturdays vary from office to office. Sundays 9-17:00) |
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| INTERNATIONAL POSTAL REMITTANCES |
The International Postal Remittance is the most convenient, inexpensive way to send money to most countries. Those who want to send money to nations not covered by postal remittances (see The YUUCHO Homepage for more details) should consult the section on the Lloyd's Bank Remittance in the Banking section of this guide. Most post offices handle money orderes. To receive the form for the International Postal Remittance, ask the teller for the "Kokusai Soukin Kawase" ( ). Specify the currency that you wish to send in. You will then receive the forms. You will be asked to show identification (passport, alien registration, etc.). Some forms have English on them and others do not.
You must fill out this form in Roman letters. Do not write in Kanji for your own address. You will then receive the check(s) to send. You will also need to fill out the check with your own address and the Payees address. This must match the previous form, so fill it out in exactly the same manner (they're sticklers for details on this one, the slightest difference and you'll be filling out the forms again). If you want to send a certain amount of yen, but you are not certain what the amount would be in your desired currency, just tell them how much you want to send in yen and they will fill in the amount for you. Do not write an amount in yen in the "foreign currency amount" box. This cannot be directly sent to a bank by the post office, so if you are having the check deposited into a foreign account, write "living expenses for (name)" or "loan payment" in the "Purpose" box. This check can, however, easily be deposited or cashed at banks abroad.
On the second form you receive, which is pink in color, do not fill in the date or amount, the machine will automaticaly print it for you. Fill in only the addresses and a message if you would like. The method of processing and and filling out the remittances will vary slightly according to the country it will be sent. The amount in the foreign currency will be figured with the daily exchange rate.
The remittance will automatically be sent by the post office to the address you specified, unless, however, you are sending money to the United States. In this case, the clerk will ask if you would like to send the remittance yourself. It is perhaps easiest to have the post office send it for you. The remittance will be sent by registered mail (kakitome  ). You should always save the copy of the receipt in case the check does not arrive. If the check is not cashed within the designated period, you can receive a refund.
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| PACKAGE DELIVERY |
The post office and a variety of other delivery companies can send packages domestically and abroad. Boxes for shipping can be purchased at the post office or other stores. If you are shipping large packages, most shipping companies will come to pick them up. Pelican Jet Pak (Otsu: 537-2020) and Yamato Unyu (Otsu: 579-5061) are two examples. Ask someone you know for numbers or companies in your area.
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