Missed a Delivery? Redelivery Slips and Parcel Lockers in Japan

Learn what the notice slip in your mailbox means, how redelivery is usually requested, and when lockers or convenience stores make receiving parcels easier.

Published October 20, 2026 at 1:44 PM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: When a courier cannot hand over a parcel in Japan, a notice slip (often called a furizai renraku hyo, or absence notice) is usually left in the mailbox with contact details and a tracking number. The recipient then asks for redelivery, commonly by phone or online, and picks a day and time band. Lockers and convenience-store pickup are alternatives.

What the absence slip is

Home delivery in Japan is known as takuhai, a word that covers door-to-door parcel services run by private carriers and by the post office. Couriers normally try to hand a parcel to a person at the address. If nobody answers, the driver leaves a printed slip, usually in the mailbox or tucked into the door, saying that delivery was attempted and the parcel is waiting.

The slip generally shows the carrier, the date and time of the attempt, a tracking number, and a way to arrange a new delivery. The wording is mostly in Japanese, so a phone camera with a translation function can help. The tracking number is the most useful item on the slip, because it identifies the parcel for any later request.

Many carriers also send a message or email when an attempt fails, if the sender or recipient registered contact details at the time of ordering. Readers who expect a parcel can check that the address, apartment number and name on the order match the name on the mailbox, since a clear name and room number help a driver confirm the right door.

How redelivery is usually requested

The slip normally lists several ways to ask for another attempt. The most common are a phone number for the local delivery office, an automated phone line that works with the tracking number, and a web form. Each carrier runs its own system, so the slip itself is the best guide. Check the carrier's official page for the current options and hours, because the details change from time to time.

When requesting redelivery, the recipient is typically asked for the tracking number, the preferred date and a time band. Carriers have long offered time bands, which are short windows during the day or evening, so a parcel can arrive when somebody is home. Same-day redelivery may be possible if the request is made early, but that depends on the carrier and the area.

A request can usually be changed or cancelled before the driver sets out, which is useful if plans shift. Keep the slip until the parcel is in hand, because the number on it is the key to every option described here.

Choosing a time band in advance

Time-band delivery is a long-standing feature of Japanese courier services, and it explains why redelivery is so ordinary. When ordering online, shoppers often choose a date and a window at checkout. A delivery that arrives inside that window feels reliable, so missed attempts tend to come from schedule changes rather than carelessness.

Travelers staying in hotels or short-term rentals can ask the front desk how parcels are handled. Many hotel front desks can help guests with parcels and with forwarding luggage, though policies differ. If a parcel is addressed to a hotel, the sender normally needs to include the guest's name and the check-in date, and it is polite to tell the hotel before the parcel arrives.

Residents who are away for a few days can often change the date through the carrier's online system, or ask for the parcel to be held at a nearby depot until they return. Holding periods vary, so the slip or the carrier's page is the place to confirm how long a parcel will wait.

Parcel lockers and convenience-store pickup

Parcel lockers are unattended units where a parcel is placed in a compartment and the recipient receives a code, often by text message or email, to open it at any hour. Several companies, including carriers, the post office and online retailers, have set up locker networks in Japan, and one large carrier reported roughly 4,300 locker locations in major cities by mid-2019. Lockers appear at apartment buildings, stations and stores.

Using one is simple. The shopper chooses the locker as the delivery address at checkout, receives a notification when the parcel is stored, and enters the code on the touch screen. Because the recipient can collect later, lockers reduce failed home deliveries. One large carrier reported that unsuccessful home deliveries made up roughly 20 percent of its deliveries in 2016, which helps explain why lockers expanded.

Convenience stores are another option. They are widely described as offering courier and postal services, and many accept parcels to be collected in person or sent from the counter. Pickup rules differ by carrier and by store, so the order page or the slip should say whether the option exists for a given parcel. Bring photo identification or the code, in case the store asks for it.

Sending bags ahead and using coin lockers

Visitors often want the opposite service: sending luggage ahead so it can travel without them. Official tourism information describes hands-free luggage services where bags are dropped at a counter marked with a Hands-Free Travel logo and a delivery form is filled in. Airports such as Narita, Haneda and Kansai offer delivery to hotels, and some hotels and convenience stores also accept bags for forwarding.

Delivery can be arranged for the same day or for a set date and time, tracking is available, and multilingual support is offered. Examples of size and weight limits are up to 160 centimeters in combined dimensions and about 25 to 30 kilograms, but fees and limits vary by airport, destination and carrier. Valuables, fragile items, fresh products, liquids and hazardous materials are listed as items that cannot be sent.

For short waits, coin lockers are found at most stations and tourist facilities. A rough cost is 300 to 600 yen depending on size, many modern facilities accept IC cards, and lockers at busy locations can fill up quickly. Having a plan B, such as a nearby station or a second locker bank, is wise.

Packing and labelling for smooth delivery

Whether sending or receiving, a few habits make the process smoother. A clear label with the address written in Japanese, the recipient's name, and a working phone number lets drivers contact the person if the door is not answered. Apartment and room numbers deserve extra attention, since buildings often have many units and drivers rely on the number to find the right mailbox.

Parcels that contain fragile items should be wrapped with generous padding, and sealed boxes are generally preferred. Items that are restricted or prohibited by the carrier cannot be accepted, so check the carrier's list before sending anything unusual. When parcels cross borders, forms for customs are required, and the post office staff can help with the paperwork if a traveler is unsure.

Neighbors are sometimes asked to accept a parcel, but this depends on the sender's instructions and the carrier's policy, and many carriers prefer to deliver to the named recipient. Placing a note on the door with a phone number can be considered, though a message to the carrier through its official channel is more reliable. Check the carrier's current rules before relying on any of these steps.

Etiquette and considerate habits

Couriers usually plan routes around many stops, so a prompt redelivery request helps keep a route running smoothly. Many households ask for a specific window and then stay home during it. A quick reply at the door, a small bow and a thank-you to the driver are the usual courtesies.

If a parcel is not collected, carriers usually return it to the sender after a holding period, so it is worth acting on the slip within a few days. A request for redelivery can also be made if the recipient will be away at the end of the holding period, though the rules differ by carrier.

This guide shares general information; rules change, so confirm details with the official agency or provider before you act. For anything involving valuable items, medicines or international shipments, the carrier's own page or the post office counter is the most dependable place to ask.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I find a delivery notice slip in my mailbox?

Look for the carrier name, the tracking number and the contact options on the slip. Then request a new delivery by phone or through the carrier's online form, choosing a date and time band. Keep the slip until the parcel arrives, since the number on it identifies the item and is needed for every request.

Can visitors receive parcels at a hotel in Japan?

Hotel front desks generally can receive parcels for guests, but policies differ. Ask the hotel before ordering, and have the sender include the guest's name and check-in date. Tell the staff to expect the parcel, and check the hotel's page or confirmation email for any limits on size or timing.

Are coin lockers and parcel lockers the same thing?

No. Coin lockers are paid storage boxes at stations and attractions where people leave their own bags for a few hours. Parcel lockers receive deliveries, and the recipient opens them with a code. Both are widely available, but busy coin lockers can fill up, so a backup plan is helpful.

Want to go deeper? Tokyo Paul's book Building a Life in Japan is available on Amazon.

Keep Exploring

More guides from Tokyo Paul: Packing Light for Japan: A Carry-On Approach for Short and Long Trips, Free Hotel Extras in Japan: Amenities You Can Ask For and Use and Coin Lockers in Japan: Easy Luggage Storage at Stations.