I want a postmark from a distant post office!
I want the postmark of the post office at the top of Mt. Fuji, but I don’t want to go up there…
I heard they have a postmark of Kumamon, but I don’t plan to go to Kumamoto…
Don’t worry, I’ll show you how to get a postmark from a distant post office.
How do I get a postmark?
There are two ways to have a postmark applied.
1. At the counter
2.Request by mail
Yes, you can get a landscape seal from a distant post office by requesting it by mail. Also, special stamps, which are only used for one week after the stamp is issued, can be requested by mail as well.
Prepare to have it postmarked.
Find out if the postmark you want is in use at the post office.
In the case of a landscape seal
Please check if the post office uses a landscape seal at the Japan Post website.
In the case of special seals
It is a little complicated, so the following article explains how to get it.
Once you know that the post office uses a postmark, it’s time to apply for a postmark!
Prepare postcards (etc.) and stamps to be postmarked.
The postmark can be applied not only on a postcard, but also on a notebook, a notebook, or your own paper.
In fact, you don’t have to turn in the postmarked item as mail, but you can take it home with you. This is called a commemorative stamp.
As of April 2017, the fee is 52 yen, and from June, the fee will change to 62 yen. Please note that postage is included on official postcards, but if you want to have them stamped on commercial postcards, notebooks, etc., you’ll need to affix a 52 yen stamp (62 yen stamp from June) per postmark! Of course, you can also buy them at the post office and put them on there.
If you want to send it directly as a postal item, you only need to pay regular postage. There is no extra charge for a landscape seal.
When you’re ready, it’s time to request a postmark!
Have it postmarked at the counter.
Go to the post office and ask for a landscape seal, and show them your postcard or mount. The post office clerk will bring out a landscape seal that is stored away and stamp it for you. Unfortunately, you cannot stamp it yourself because it is an official seal just like a regular postmark. If you have any requests about the position of the stamp, you should politely tell the clerk.
Have it postmarked by mail (postal order)
If you are unable to go to the post office but want a postmark, you can request a postmark by mail. This is called “yurai”.
How to use the service
The method of mailing is as follows.
What to prepare (if you want to return it to us as a commemorative seal)
What you need when requesting a postmark by mail (postal order)
Envelope: Include the postmark mount and the return envelope.
Stamp: Affix a 52-yen stamp (62-yen stamp from June) for each postmark.
Return envelope: Write down the return address and affix a stamp to cover the return postage.
If you want to postmark a postcard and mail it directly, you do not need a return envelope. Write the address you want to send it to on the postcard. You can address it to yourself.
Don’t forget to write the type of postmark (such as a landscape seal) on the postcard. You can write it in thin pencil or write it on a sticky note and put it on the postmark. If there are detailed instructions or if it is a postmark for an important mount, it is a good idea to write the sender’s phone number as well, so that the postal clerk can check it in case he or she gets lost, and there will be no misunderstandings.
There are many unfamiliar words that may seem difficult, but once you try it, you will be surprised how easy it is to get one. Let’s get started collecting various postmarks from all over Japan!
