The worst part of shopping online or anticipating a package is the wait time. You try to pick the fastest delivery option only to forget the delivery date soon after. As a result, you arrive home with a missed delivery notice placed neatly in your mailbox (ご不在連絡票).
Thankfully, the Japanese postal system is more than efficient and with a few quick steps, you’ll be able to have your package redelivered in no time.
| English | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Missed delivery notice | ご不在連絡票 | gofuzai renrakuhyou |
| Missed delivery notice | 郵便物等お預かりのお知らせ | yūbinbutsutō oazukari no oshirase |
| Redelivery | 不在表 | fuzaihyou |
Online application for redelivery
The easiest way to have your package redelivered is to use the QR code attached to the notice. Afterward, it’s a matter of clicking on the request a redelivery button on your phone (再配達さいはいたつのお申もうし込こみ), filling in the next box with your postal code (郵便番号), tracking number (追跡番号) which usually has 11 to 13 digits or notice number (お知しらせ番号) which is anywhere between six to eight digits. When you’ve finished click on the next page button (次へ進む).
| English | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Request a redelivery | 再配達さいはいたつのお申もうし込こみ | saihaitatsu no omoushikomi |
| Postal code | 郵便番号 | yuubinbangou |
| Tracking number | 追跡番号 | suisekibangou |
| Notice number | お知しらせ番号 | oshirasebangou |
| Proceed to the next page | 次へ進む | tsugiesusumu |
Missed delivery date and package type
On the next page, you’ll be asked for the delivery date (ご不在連絡票のお届け日を選んでください) and the place and date of the attempted delivery.
Next, you may be asked to fill in what kind of package it was you were expecting. If you used 追跡番号 then click one of the options in the upper box. For お知らせ番号, choose from the options in the lower box.
This portion of the redelivery process is subdivided into domestic and international packages. For domestic packages choose from the options under the postal items (郵便物) category. In the case of overseas parcels, click on the ones underneath foreign postal items (国際郵便物).
| English | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Select delivery date (original) | ご不在連絡票のお届け日を選んでください | gofuzairenraku hyou no otodokebi o erandekudasai |
| Postal items | 郵便物 | yuubinbutsu |
| Foreign postal items | 国際郵便物 | kokusai yuubinbutsu |
| Small overseas package | 国際小包・ＥＭＳ | kokusai kotzutsumi/EMS |
| Unknown | 不明 | fumei |
Choosing the redelivery location
You know you’re nearing the end of your redelivery application when you are asked to choose from a selection of delivery locations. Figure out if you want the package redelivered to your home (ご自宅等), office (勤務先きんむさきに配達), or if you want to pick it up at the nearest post office (郵便局の窓口でお受け取とり).
| English | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| One’s home | ご自宅等 | gojitakutou |
| Leave with one’s neighbor | ご近所様きんじょさまに配達 | gokinjousama ni haitatsu |
| Workplace delivery | 勤務先きんむさきに配達 | kinmusaki ni haitatsu |
| Nearest post office pick up | 郵便局の窓口でお受け取とり | yuubinkyoku no madoguchi de ouketori |
| Collection in another post office | 他窓口でお受け取とり | ta no madoguchi de ouketori |
Choosing the redelivery time
Finally, select a time you will actually be available to receive your precious mail.
You’ll be asked to fill in receiver details (受け取り人様情報の入力) such as your name, phone number, and email address. Remember to fill out the required information (必須), and press submit (登録する).
| English | Japanese | Romaji |
|---|---|---|
| Time period not specified | 時間指定なし | jikanshiteinashi |
| Any time from 8:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. | 午前中 | gozenchuu |
| Receiver details | 受け取り人様情報の入力 | uketori ninsama jouhou no nyuuroku |
| Optional | 任意 | nini |
| Required | 必須 | hitsusu |
| Submit | 登録する | tourokusuru |
Now all you have to do is sit pretty and don’t forget your redelivery date or you’ll have to go through this entire process all over again!
If you get too frustrated with it all, the redelivery notices do have an English phone number at the bottom. But you’re here to become a kanji master and absolute boss at Japanese, so just follow these steps and you’ll be fine.