Useful Japanese phrases at the post office:

I'd like (1/2/3) 110 yen stamps?                                               Download these to your handheld PDA !!
hyaku juu en kitte o (ichi/ni/san) mai kudasai ?

Is there an English speaking employee ?
Eigo o hanaseru hito irashaimasu ka?

I would like to send a/an ....... to (the U.S./Canada/England/Korea)
...... o (Amerika/Kanada/Igrisu/Kankoku) ni okuritai desu. 

express mail  sokutatsu
letter  tegami
parcel  kozutsumi
postal money order  yuubin kawase
postcard  hagaki
certified mail  haitatsu shoomei yuubin
zip code  yuubin bango
poste restante  tomeoki
registered mail  kaki tome
stamp  kitte
surface mail  funabin

Some useful information:

Postage to the U.S. is 110 yen.

You can't buy envelopes or packaging supplies at the post office.  If you need envelopes, you should be able to find one at your nearest convenience store.

If you send money using the post office, you will be charged 500 yen per $700 sent.  If you are going to send about 280,000 yen or more, you might want to check out the Tokyo-Mitsubishi Bank where you can wire transfer any amount you like for a flat fee of 2,500 yen.  It usually takes about 4 to 7 days.  They also provide a 2 to 3 day service for about 4,500 yen.

If you are planning on leaving the country for 2 weeks or more, I strongly recommend that you fill out a form at the post office.  If you receive a package when your gone and it's not claimed within two weeks they will automatically send it back to the sender.

If you receive a notice that you have received a package.....don't worry about picking it up as you can pick it up 24 hours a day.  The post office has a special overnight window just for picking up packages. 

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