Free · Japan · 国際郵便 · from Feb 1 2027
Japan Post international postage 2027: what will it cost?
Japan Post raises international mail prices for items posted from February 1, 2027. EMS switches to 1 kg weight bands (a 500 g EMS to the US goes from ¥3,900 to ¥7,400), postcards go from ¥100 to ¥140, and parcels, small packets and the International Air Packet all change. Pick a country and a weight to see the current and the new price of every service, the cheapest way to send it, and what you save by posting before January 31, 2027.
Examples: 500 g to the US · 2 kg to the UK
Your item
Nothing is sent anywhere. Weights round up to the next price band.
United States · Zone 4 · 500 g
500 g to United States: cheapest now Small packet, air ¥1,670; from 2027-02-01 Small packet, air ¥2,330. Biggest rise: EMS (express mail) +¥3,500 (89.7%).
| Service | Now (to Jan 31, 2027) | From Feb 1, 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EMS (express mail)EMS（国際スピード郵便） · tracked | ¥3,900 | ¥7,400 | +¥3,500 (89.7%) |
| International parcel, air国際小包（航空便） · tracked | ¥4,200 | ¥6,660 | +¥2,460 (58.6%) |
| International parcel, SAL (economy air)国際小包（SAL便） · tracked · suspendedSuspended (not accepted). | ¥2,900 | ¥5,660 | +¥2,760 (95.2%) |
| International parcel, surface (ship)国際小包（船便） · tracked | ¥2,600 | ¥3,400 | +¥800 (30.8%) |
| Small packet, air小形包装物（航空便） | ¥1,670 | ¥2,330 | +¥660 (39.5%) |
| International Air Packet (tracked small packet)国際エアパケット · tracked | ¥2,040 | ¥2,720 | +¥680 (33.3%) |
Cheapest by air (not ship)
Now: Small packet, air ¥1,670
Feb 2027: Small packet, air ¥2,330
Cheapest tracked
Now: International Air Packet (tracked small packet) ¥2,040
Feb 2027: International Air Packet (tracked small packet) ¥2,720
EMS weight band
From 2027-02-01 EMS is charged in 1 kg bands: 500 g pays the "up to 1 kg" price (now "up to 500 g").
- Ship date 2026-10-20 is before 2027-02-01: current rates apply (post by 2027-01-31, 104 days away). Rates go by the posting date.
- Current EMS and air-parcel prices to zones 3 and 4 include Japan Post's special surcharge (特別追加料金); it becomes ¥0 from 2027-02-01, already folded into the revised tables.
- Japan Post has suspended SAL acceptance; its 2027 FAQ says the restart date is undecided (引受再開の時期は未定).
- Japan Post may suspend or restrict services to a country; check 国・地域別の差出可否 before shipping: https://www.post.japanpost.jp/service/send/oversea/information/overview.html
- Goods need a customs form (CN22/CN23 or the online label). Lithium batteries, sprays and other dangerous goods are restricted; the destination's import duties and de minimis rules are separate.
Now → from Feb 1, 2027, by zone
| Item | Zone 1China, South Korea, Taiwan | Zone 2Asia (except China, South Korea, Taiwan) | Zone 3Oceania, Canada, Mexico, Middle East, Europe | Zone 4United States (incl. Guam and other territories) | Zone 5Central & South America (except Mexico), Africa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Letter 25 g | ¥120 → ¥160 | ¥120 → ¥160 | ¥140 → ¥190 | ¥140 → ¥190 | ¥160 → ¥220 |
| Small packet 500 g | ¥750 → ¥1,220 | ¥860 → ¥1,280 | ¥1,230 → ¥1,560 | ¥1,670 → ¥2,330 | ¥1,590 → ¥2,030 |
| Air Packet 1 kg | ¥1,620 → ¥2,360 | ¥1,830 → ¥2,420 | ¥2,500 → ¥2,900 | ¥3,090 → ¥4,020 | ¥3,260 → ¥3,770 |
| EMS 500 g | ¥1,450 → ¥2,850 | ¥1,900 → ¥3,800 | ¥3,150 → ¥5,100 | ¥3,900 → ¥7,400 | ¥3,600 → ¥5,800 |
| EMS 2 kg | ¥3,400 → ¥4,300 | ¥4,550 → ¥5,450 | ¥6,700 → ¥7,700 | ¥7,900 → ¥10,300 | ¥8,100 → ¥9,100 |
| Air parcel 5 kg | ¥4,850 → ¥7,250 | ¥7,300 → ¥8,820 | ¥12,450 → ¥13,410 | ¥14,200 → ¥16,560 | ¥15,350 → ¥17,100 |
Current prices include the special surcharge on EMS and air parcels to zones 3 and 4. Postcards: ¥100 → ¥140 to every country. Official pages: post.japanpost.jp/newsrelease/pressrelease/8139449440.html · post.japanpost.jp/service/send/oversea/information/fee_revis · post.japanpost.jp/service/send/oversea/information/fee_revis
For AI agents and developers
Keyless JSON, CORS open, GET or POST: /api/check?destination=US&weightGrams=500. All tables and countries: /api/rules. Docs: OpenAPI, llms.txt, MCP tool japan_international_postage_check on free-agent-tools.
Japan Post 2027 price questions
When do Japan Post international mail prices go up?
For items posted on or after Monday, February 1, 2027. Japan Post announced the revision on October 9, 2026: every EMS, international parcel (air, SAL, surface), letter, postcard, small packet and International Air Packet price changes, EMS weight bands up to 6 kg become 1 kg steps, and the special surcharge (特別追加料金) on EMS and air parcels ends. The Asahi Shimbun reported an average rise of about 37%. Anything posted up to January 31, 2027 pays the current price.
How much will EMS to the USA cost from February 2027?
A 500 g EMS to the US is ¥3,900 now (incl. the surcharge) and ¥7,400 from February 1, 2027, because the new first band is up to 1 kg. 1 kg: ¥5,300 → ¥7,400; 2 kg: ¥7,900 → ¥10,300; 5.5 kg: ¥16,300 → ¥21,400. Enter your own weight above.
Why do light EMS items go up the most?
Today EMS is priced in 100 g steps up to 1 kg (from a 500 g first band), then 250 g and 500 g steps up to 6 kg. From February 1, 2027 every band is 1 kg, so a 510 g item pays the 1 kg price. Light items under 1 kg see the biggest percentage rise; the small packet or International Air Packet (up to 2 kg) is often much cheaper for them.
How much is an international postcard from Japan in 2027?
¥100 to anywhere by air now, ¥140 from February 1, 2027 (surface postcards ¥130). A standard letter up to 25 g to Europe or the US goes from ¥140 to ¥190, to China, Korea or Taiwan from ¥120 to ¥160.
What is the cheapest way to send a small package from Japan abroad?
Up to 2 kg, the untracked small packet (小形包装物) by air is usually the cheapest; the International Air Packet adds tracking (国際特定記録) for a bit more. Over 2 kg, surface parcel is cheapest but slow (often 1–3 months); air parcel and EMS are faster. SAL is suspended. The calculator lists every option with old and new prices for your weight.
Is SAL back in 2027?
Not announced. Japan Post published revised SAL prices, but its FAQ for the 2027 revision says SAL and non-priority bulk mail remain suspended and the restart date is undecided (引受再開の時期は未定).
Which zone is my country in?
Zone 1: China, South Korea, Taiwan. Zone 2: the rest of Asia (Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, India …). Zone 3: Oceania, Canada, Mexico, the Middle East and Europe (incl. Russia, Turkey and Central Asia). Zone 4: the United States incl. Guam, Puerto Rico and other territories. Zone 5: Central and South America (except Mexico) and Africa.
Should I ship before February 1, 2027?
If you were going to send it anyway, posting by January 31, 2027 pays the current price: the calculator shows the yen difference. Japan Post can still change the current special surcharge, suspend services to a country, or change customs rules before then, so check 国・地域別の差出可否 and the counter.
Is there a free API for AI agents?
Yes. GET or POST https://japan-intl-postage.vercel.app/api/check?destination=US&weightGrams=500 (keyless, CORS open), all tables and the country list at /api/rules, OpenAPI at /openapi.json, llms.txt, and the MCP tool japan_international_postage_check on free-agent-tools.vercel.app/mcp. Every response carries rulesAsOf, sources and a disclaimer.
国際郵便の料金はいつから値上げされますか？
2027年2月1日（月）以降に差し出す郵便物から改定後の料金になります（日本郵便 2026年10月9日発表）。EMSは6kg以下の重量帯が1kg刻みになり、EMS・航空小包の特別追加料金はなくなります。2027年1月31日までの差出は現行料金です。
アメリカ宛てEMSはいくらになりますか？
500gまでの場合、現行3,900円（特別追加料金込み）→2027年2月1日から7,400円。1kgは5,300円→7,400円、2kgは7,900円→10,300円です。はがきは全世界100円→140円。重さと国を入れると全サービスの新旧料金を比較できます。