Missed Delivery Slip in Japan? How to Rearrange Redelivery

What the slip is

If you come home to a small paper slip in your mailbox, a courier tried to deliver a parcel while you were out. In Japan it's called a 不在連絡票 (fuzai renraku-hyō), literally a “notice of absence.” Japanese couriers rarely leave parcels at the door unless you've arranged it in advance, so these slips are very common.

The good news: redelivery in Japan is usually free and quick, often the same day or the next. You just need to tell the courier when you'll be home.

The three couriers you'll see most are Japan Post, 日本郵便 (Nippon Yūbin); Yamato Transport, ヤマト運輸 (Yamato Un'yu), with the black cat logo; and Sagawa Express, 佐川急便 (Sagawa Kyūbin). Each has its own slip design and its own redelivery system.

Reading the slip

Slips are mostly in Japanese, but the key information tends to be in the same places. Look for:

• The courier's name and logo, usually at the top.
• The tracking number, often labeled 問い合わせ番号 (toiawase bangō) or 伝票番号 (denpyō bangō). You'll need it for every option below.
• The sender's name, so you know what the parcel is.
• The date and time of the delivery attempt.
• The holding deadline, sometimes marked 保管期限 (hokan kigen). After this date the parcel may go back to the sender. Holding periods are often around a week, but they vary by courier and service [VERIFY: current holding periods for each courier].
• Contact details: a QR code, a website, an automated phone number, and sometimes the driver's handwritten mobile number.

Take a photo of the slip as soon as you find it. If you ever need help, a clear photo is all anyone needs to get started.

Option 1: Rearrange online or with the QR code

This is usually the fastest option, and you don't have to speak to anyone.

1. Scan the QR code on the slip with your phone camera. It usually opens the courier's redelivery page with your tracking number filled in.
2. If there's no QR code, go to the courier's website and look for 再配達 (saihaitatsu), meaning redelivery.
3. Enter the tracking number, and your postcode if asked.
4. Choose a date and a time window. Morning, afternoon and evening slots are common.
5. Confirm, and take a screenshot of the confirmation screen.

Some couriers have English pages, but the redelivery form may switch back to Japanese partway through [VERIFY: current English support on each courier's site]. Your browser's translate feature often helps. Courier membership apps can also let you manage deliveries in advance, such as choosing a time before the first attempt [VERIFY: current app names and features].

Option 2: Use the automated phone line

Most slips list a phone number for automated redelivery, 自動受付 (jidō uketsuke). You call, follow voice prompts, and type numbers on your keypad.

1. Call the number on the slip.
2. Follow the voice prompts, which usually ask for the tracking number, then the date and time you want.
3. Enter each item on your keypad and confirm.

The catch is that the prompts are typically Japanese only, and the menu order differs between couriers. If you can't follow the prompts, this option is hard to use.

Option 3: Call the driver or depot

Some slips have a mobile number handwritten by the driver. Calling the driver directly can be the quickest way to get a parcel the same evening, especially if they're still on their route nearby. You can also call the local depot, 営業所 (eigyōsho), listed on the slip.

Both calls are in Japanese, and drivers are busy. Keep it short: tracking number, your address, and when you'll be home. If you'd rather not make the call yourself, our package redelivery service handles it for you.

Option 4: Pick it up

If your schedule doesn't fit any delivery window, you can usually collect the parcel yourself.

• Japan Post: parcels are often held at the post office that handles your area, which isn't always your nearest one. Check the slip for the location and opening hours.
• Yamato and Sagawa: you can usually collect from the depot on the slip, and some services let you redirect a parcel to a convenience store or parcel locker [VERIFY: current pickup and redirection options].

Bring the slip and photo ID showing your name and address, such as your residence card, 在留カード (zairyū kādo). Visitors may need a passport plus proof of where they're staying. Arrange the pickup first if you can, because some depots need time to bring the parcel out.

When the English options don't work

Sometimes self-service just doesn't work. Common situations:

• The QR code page is in Japanese and the translation is confusing.
• The tracking number shows an error, or the parcel can't be found.
• You need to change the delivery address, not just the time, to your hotel or office, for example.
• The holding deadline is today or tomorrow and you can't risk a mistake.
• The parcel needs payment on delivery, 代引き (daibiki), or a signature from a specific person.

In these cases, a short phone call usually sorts things out in a few minutes. It's exactly the kind of call we make every day.

Missing parcels from overseas

Parcels from abroad add another layer. International shipments often enter Japan through Japan Post or an international courier, and may be handed to a Japanese courier for the final delivery [VERIFY: common handoff arrangements].

1. Start with the sender's tracking number and check it on the original carrier's site.
2. Look for a Japanese tracking number once the parcel arrives in Japan. It may be different from the original.
3. Check whether the parcel is held at customs. Import duties or taxes may be due before delivery, and the courier may contact you about payment [VERIFY: process for customs holds and duty payment].
4. If tracking says “delivered” but you have nothing, check your mailbox, any delivery box, the building manager's office and for a slip, then contact the courier that made the final delivery.

If it's something you lost yourself while out and about, our guide on losing something on a train in Japan explains how Japan's lost property system works.