You open your mailbox and find a slip marked ご不在連絡票. It means a delivery was attempted while you were away. First identify the delivery company printed on the slip. If it is Japan Post, check the item number and storage deadline, then request redelivery to your home or ask about collection at a post office. Other carriers have their own procedures.
What the Japan Post slip says
| Japanese on the notice | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ご不在連絡票 | go-fuzai renrakuhyō | Missed-delivery notice |
| お届け日時 | otodoke nichiji | Date and time of attempted delivery |
| 郵便物等・ゆうパック | yūbinbutsu-tō; Yū-Pakku | Mail item; Japan Post parcel service |
| お問い合わせ番号・追跡番号 | otoiawase bangō; tsuiseki bangō | Item or tracking number |
| お知らせ番号 | oshirase bangō | Notification number on some slips |
| 保管期限 | hokan kigen | Last date the item is held |
| 保管郵便局 | hokan yūbinkyoku | Post office holding the item |
| 再配達 | saihaitatsu | Redelivery |
| 配達希望日・時間帯 | haitatsu kibōbi; jikantai | Preferred delivery date; time window |
| 窓口で受け取る | madoguchi de uketoru | Collect at the post office counter |
| 差出人へ返送 | sashidashinin e hensō | Return to sender |
The layout and labels change by item and notice type. Keep the original slip until you receive the delivery.
Option 1: Ask for redelivery to your home
- Check that the slip is from Japan Post and that the addressee and address match yours.
- Use the QR code on the slip or open Japan Post’s official redelivery form yourself. The form accepts the 6-digit notification number or the 11–13-digit item number shown on applicable notices. Follow the instructions for your particular slip.
- Choose an available delivery date and time window, enter the requested details, and save the confirmation. Available windows and cutoffs depend on the item and address; use the choices displayed by the official service.
- Be at the delivery address during the selected window. Some items require a signature or identification at handover.
The official online form says it is for redelivery to the home address on the notice. For another location or counter collection, contact Japan Post through the instructions on the notice. Japan Post also lists other redelivery request methods.
Option 2: Collect it at a post office
Look at 保管郵便局 and the counter’s hours. If you want a different post office or need the item today, contact the delivery office first; an item may still be returning from the delivery route. Japan Post’s same-day collection FAQ advises checking whether the item is ready and whether the counter is open.
For an ordinary missed delivery, bring the notice and an identity document showing the recipient’s name and address, and be prepared to sign or use a personal seal. Requirements can differ for special services or collection by someone else. Check Japan Post’s counter collection requirements for your item before leaving. Do not assume that every neighborhood post office holds it.
How long do you have?
Read the deadline printed on your notice. Japan Post’s general FAQ says undelivered domestic mail and Yu-Pack items are normally held at the delivery post office for seven days before return to sender. An overseas parcel FAQ describes a different holding period, and special items can have different rules. The notice or Japan Post’s confirmation for your specific item is the safest source. If you are close to the deadline, contact the office rather than assuming a new redelivery slot will remain available.
Useful Japanese at the counter or on the phone
| Situation | What to say | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Show the notice | 不在連絡票が入っていました。 | I found a missed-delivery notice. |
| Ask for redelivery | 再配達をお願いしたいです。 | I would like to request redelivery. |
| Ask about counter pickup | この郵便物を窓口で受け取れますか。 | Can I collect this item at the counter? |
| Check whether it is ready | もう郵便局に戻っていますか。 | Has it returned to the post office yet? |
| Check the deadline | 保管期限はいつまでですか。 | Until when will you hold it? |
If you are unsure which number to give, say お問い合わせ番号はこちらです。 (“Here is the item number.”) and show the slip. Japan Post also publishes a point-and-speak sheet with redelivery and counter pickup phrases.
Common mix-ups
- A missed-delivery slip is not the same as a long-absence notice. A separate 不在届 is a request to hold mail while you are away for an extended period. Its procedure and period are different.
- The six-digit number and tracking number are not interchangeable everywhere. Japan Post’s app guidance says tracking uses the 11–13-digit item number, while the redelivery form may accept either number shown on an eligible slip.
- Do not follow an unexpected payment link. Use the printed slip or navigate directly to the official carrier website. Confirm any customs duty or cash-on-delivery request with the carrier and your order information.
For sending mail and parcels, read our post office guide. If the delivery went to your old address, start with our Japan Post forwarding guide; forwarding and redelivery are separate requests.
