What To Do With A Misdelivered Mail in Japan? An Easy Guide

​​Getting mail to your address but not yours? 

Getting mail from the previous tenant?

If that is happening to you, you're not the only one. The address on the envelope is the same as yours, but the name differs. 

This guide is created so you know how to deal with misdelivered mail in Japan.

Misdelivered mail with Japan Post

Since Japan Post handles the majority of people’s mail, here are the step-by-step instructions on handling any misdelivered mail from them.

1) Do not throw the mail item away.

The sender will think the item was received and keep sending mail, bills, notices, catalogs, etc., to your residence.

2) Do not open the envelope.

Always check if your name and address are correct on the envelope before opening it.

If any, especially the name on the mail item, differs, do not open it.

3) Write 誤配達 on the envelope.

Write 誤配達 (misdelivery) directly on the envelope, or on a piece of tape stuck to it. This is the term Japan Post recognizes for mail addressed to someone else.

You can also write あて所に尋ねあたりません (addressee not found here). Avoid writing 受取人不在, since that term means "nobody was home," a different situation from misdelivery.

Stop handling your physical Japanese mail.

Are you tired of dealing with misdelivered mail? With MailMate, you’ll never have to worry about receiving mail that isn’t yours again.

MailMate ensures that all incoming mail is vetted, sorted, scanned, and managed digitally, allowing you to track all mail items and packages addressed to you.

Their staff will handle everything so you won't have to deal with any misdelivered items or unwanted mail ever again. 

a) Online dashboard

MailMate’s easy-to-use online dashboard lets you digitally view, sort, and manage your mail. 

Stay on top of your mail and deliveries anywhere.

b) Bilingual support

MailMate has bilingual staff, so there is no language barrier to stop you from requesting and managing your mail effectively. 

c) Forwarding capability

Need an important mail item? No worries. MailMate can forward any mail or package to any address you desire, whether in Japan or abroad. 

4) Drop off the envelope at a Japanese Post Box.

Drop off your mail item with the written note to your nearest Japanese post box. 

Note: Others have experienced a postal worker coming by your residence to confirm that mail was delivered to the wrong person. They will also write down the people living in your household for future reference.

However, others have not experienced that. So your experience will vary. 

Bonus option: take the mail to your nearest post office.

Alternatively, you can bring the piece of mail to your nearest post office.

Tell the staff that this person does not live at the location by saying: この人はここに住んでないです (kono hito wa koko ni sunde-nai desu).

It'll allow the Japan Post staff to be proactive on the spot.

Misdelivered mail with other delivery services

Kuroneko and Sagawa are the other two delivery services in Japan. Most of the time, if not always, they have you sign for the delivery to ensure the intended person receives the package.

However, if you are ever in a situation where there is a misdelivery for any of these couriers, here's what you can do.

Kuroneko (Yamato Transport)

For Kuroneko, the sales driver will recollect whether the package has been opened or not. 

You can refuse the delivery item by この人はここに住んでないです (kono hito wa koko ni sunde-nai desu) if the name of the person is wrong.  

For any package you received but then noticed it was a misdelivery, you'll need to use the provided chat box (Japanese). Here are the general steps:

1. Click on 回収手続きに進む (proceed to the collection procedure)

2. Click on お荷物（ポスト投函含む）の回収 (collection of parcels)

3. Select one of three options:

   1. 住所はあっているが違う人の荷物がある (the address is correct, but there is a package for a different person)

   2. 別の住所宛の荷物が手元にある (I have a package addressed to a different address)

   3. お届け先を変更したい (I want to change the delivery address)

4. Input the shopping number.

5. Input the delivered address.

You'll need to input the date and time for the sales driver to come by to recollect the item, so be sure to input a convenient time for you. 

Additionally, you can call your nearest Kuroneko office and state the misdelivery issue.

Sagawa

If a Sagawa delivery arrives with a different address or name, you can refuse that delivery. 

If you accidentally accepted a Sagawa delivery resulting in a misdelivered package, the easiest option for any misdelivered items for Sagawa is to fill out their contact form in Japanese and state the following:

• An item you received was a misdelivery

• The item's shipping number

• The address for the item to be recollected

You may also want to state a recollection date and time. However, that depends on Sagawa's staff's availability.

You can also call the closest Sagawa office to schedule a time for someone to collect the item immediately.

Is it illegal to keep or open misdelivered mail in Japan?

Yes, in most cases. Japanese law treats other people's mail seriously, even when it lands in your mailbox by mistake.

Opening someone else's mail

Opening someone else's sealed mail on purpose is a crime in Japan. It's called 信書開封罪, and it carries a penalty of up to 1 year in prison or a 200,000 yen fine.

If you open it by genuine accident, that's not a crime. You must reseal it and write a note with your name, address, and a short explanation that you opened it by mistake.

Throwing it away

Japan Post's own guidance on Postal Act Article 42 requires you to either mark misdelivered mail and return it, or notify Japan Post. Simply discarding it can break this legal duty. 

Intentionally throwing away or destroying someone else's mail can also lead to separate charges. These include property destruction or concealment of correspondence.

Keeping something valuable inside

Never keep or use an item of clear value from misdelivered mail, such as a gift card or cash card. Doing so can count as theft or embezzlement under Japanese law.

Is it illegal to use an address you don't live at as a return address?

No, not on its own. Japanese law doesn't require your return address to match where you currently live.

That said, this can cause real problems. If the mail can't be delivered, it may not make its way back to you. Some couriers also have their own rules against it, separate from the law itself.

This section is general information, not legal advice. Talk to a licensed legal professional about your specific situation.

Frequently asked questions

Can I just hand misdelivered mail to my neighbor instead of returning it?

Be careful. Handing it over yourself can raise questions about how you got it or whether you opened it. It's safer to return it through Japan Post or the courier.

Does this apply to packages, or just letters and envelopes?

Mostly, but not identically. The specific crime for opening sealed correspondence applies to letters, not packages. Opening or keeping a misdelivered package can still carry other legal risks, so treat it with the same caution either way.

What happens if I ignore misdelivered mail and do nothing?

You may keep receiving mail for that person indefinitely, since the sender assumes it arrived. Ignoring it also doesn't satisfy your legal duty to report or return it.

In closing 

Misdelivered mail items in Japan are rare, but they do happen, especially when the previous tenant of your residence doesn't submit a tenkyo todoke to Japan Post or forgets to update their shipping and billing information for different services.

Prevention is key, so it's best to check the address and the name on the package properly before signing off.