Job Discussion Forums

Dominique · Joined: 26 Aug 2004 Posts: 141 Location: Juso, Osaka

Hello Everyone,

I was just wondering if I could get any tips about returning home.

For example, I brought/bought a lot of books and I want to send them home. which is the cheapest way to send things home?

It's costing me a fortune to mail randomn bits and now the post office has some ridiculous rule where I need to weigh each item and put in the amount I paid for them. Apparently, it has to do with Canadian Customs.

Anyways, I have been shipping seamail but they give me a hassle if it's over 2kgs.

Another note, I am trying to cancel my internet before the end of the month but I know a couple who needs internet pretty quickly.
Will it be faster & easier for me to transfer my modem and things to them or for them to wait for their gaijin cards and then let them apply for it?

My concern is that if I cancel my internet, the person moving in after me will get my bill and I won't be able to get it from them. I will still be in Japan for another week or two, but I don't want someone to end up with my bill. If I can transfer it, then I can get my bill from the couple.

Also, I heard that when I move I have to tell the ward office so my mail isn't sent to that address anymore. Is this true? How would I go about doing that as my Japanese ability isn't that great.

Thanks in advance..

Dominique · Joined: 26 Aug 2004 Posts: 141 Location: Juso, Osaka

I found this on the net:

If you are mailing books, then you can use a service that few people know about. Go to the counter at the post office and ask for an "M-Bag." If they look at you like your from another planet, try going to the larger post office. An M-Bag is a fairly big, heavy duty canvas bag with a drawstring. You can stuff it absolutely full of books. I recommend putting them in a box, then putting the box inside the bag. The M-Bag will ship over in about 4-6 weeks, and the rate is significantly lower than mailing the books by any other means.

Has anyone tried doing this yet?

Doglover · Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 305 Location: Kansai

Dominique · Joined: 26 Aug 2004 Posts: 141 Location: Juso, Osaka

Hey Thanks.. that's super useful.

I went to the post office today and I asked for this M bag/pack whatever.. they had no idea what the hell I was talking about.. it's a really big post office too.. Sad

AH! now I know why:

"M-bags allow someone in the US to send a large amount of printed matter to someone outside the US."

Maybe this will prove to be useful for someone mailing backs to Japan from the US.

justuspost · Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Posts: 16 Location: Berkeley CA

fo-shizzle.... im gonna use tha M-bag thing for sure... i need to decide what books i need right away like my jap/eng dictionarys and guide books.. im sure ill need those from the time i lock my tray table and pop up my seat back.. AAHH

Justus

Lynn · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 696 Location: in between

I tried using the M-bag is Japan. They wouldn't allow it. They said I didn't have enough books to qualify for the M-bag rate.

I did however use the M-bag from New York city to Japan. It wasn't a problem.

Currawong · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 16

Don't know if it's any help, but I recently came from Australia and shipped stuff here with Nippon Express. They have counters in the major international airports and their sea rates are a hell of a lot cheaper than mailing boxes via air mail, that is, if the rate out of Japan is as good as the one in.