How to respond to a Japan Post undeliverable item notice

Sep 5, 2023

If Japan Post tries to deliver a package to you, but you're not there, they'll leave an "undeliverable item notice" in your mailbox.

This notice gives you a phone number to call, which connects you to an automated phone system. You can use this to request re-delivery. This guide explains how to use this system.

Preparation

Before calling you need to know:

• Your phone number
• The date you desire delivery, in MMDD format (e.g. 1st December would be 1201)
• The code for the desired delivery time (details below)

Sequence

1. Call the phone number listed on the notice. If there's more than one, call the first one.
2. Once the call connects, the system will start speaking.
3. You will hear: "Odenwa arigatou gozaimasu. Kochira wa Nippon Yubin Saihaitatsu Uketsuke Center desu." (Thank you for the calling. This is Nippon Yubin Saihaitatsu Uketsuke Center"). This will be followed by further explanation of the process.
4. Next you will hear the prompt: "Hajimeni, denwakino komejirushi no botan wo ichido oshite kudasai" (First, please press * button once on your phone).
5. So now press: *
6. Next you will hear: "Fuzai-renraku-hyo ni kisai no tsuiseki-bangou matawa oshirase-bangou wo nyuuryoku shitekudasai" (Please input the numbers on Fuzai-renraku-hyo or Oshirase-bangou).
7. So now: input the notice number attached to the notice. Typically this is 12 digits, attached by a sticker to the notice, in the format: xxxx-xxxx-xxxx.
8. The system will now repeat your numbers.
9. Next you will hear: "Yoroshikereba 1 wo, teiseisuru baai wa 3 wo nyuryoku shitekudasai" (If it's correct, push 1; if not, push 3 please).
10. So now: press 1 (if you made a mistake just hang up and try again)
11. Next you will hear: "Gokibou no haitatsubi wo 4 keta de nyuryoku shitekudasai" (Please input ideal delivery day with 4 digits numbers). This is in format MMDD. E.g. 0905 for 5th September.
12. So now: input your desired delivery date in this MMDD format.
13. Next you will hear: "Gokubou no haitatsu jikantai no bangou wo nyuryoku shitekudasai" (Please input your ideal time number of delivery time). This refers to the number codes in the middle column of the table at the bottom of the notice. The number "1" means morning (in practice, from around 8am to 12 noon). The subsequent numbers refer to various 24-hour time ranges, indicated in the first column.
14. So now: press the number corresponding to your desired delivery time.
15. Next, the system will repeat your order.
16. Then: press 1 to confirm.
17. Next the system will ask for your phone number.
18. So now: enter your phone number.
19. Finally, you need to push "3" to confirm.

If you completed those steps successfully, you can now expect your delivery to arrive at your requested date, in your requested time range.