Shipping to an FPO from Japan

[morales]

I have a friend who just went over to Afghanistan with the Marines. I'm living in Japan and want to send him a postcard and a care package. I wasn't sure where else to find out this information, and searching around this seemed like it might be the place to ask. Can I ship it directly from Japan? Or should I send it to my family back home and have them ship it?

[P_chan]

If you have an APO or FPO box it shouldn't be a problem. Just go to the post office and ask them about it, they can help you more.

I know shipping between APO/FPO boxes is usually free.

[Trail]

We have sent both mail and packages to Iraq and Afghanistan for free since we have an APO address and so do they. If you have anymore questions you should talk to the Post Office since they seriously know more than we do.

[DoctorP]

I have a friend who just went over to Afghanistan with the Marines. I'm living in Japan and want to send him a postcard and a care package. I wasn't sure where else to find out this information, and searching around this seemed like it might be the place to ask. Can I ship it directly from Japan? Or should I send it to my family back home and have them ship it?

I assume you are living on the economy...you can send it from a Japanese Post Office, but it will be a bit more expensive. If you are cheap, then send it to family in the US then have them forward it.

[Takako]

From FPO/APO to FPO/APO, just put MPS where the stamp woud go and it will be delivered for free. Not sure about off base though.

[morales]

From FPO/APO to FPO/APO, just put MPS where the stamp woud go and it will be delivered for free. Not sure about off base though.


Yeah...I'm a civilian living off-base. I don't care about the cost, so I'll just try and ask the Japanese Post Office if they know anything about shipping to an FPO. I'm kind of in the middle of nowhere, so they might have to call some places, but hopefully it won't be a problem.

Thanks for all the replies.

[DoctorP]

One thing to remember though...going from Japan to FPO will mean that your package will go to the US (San Francisco area) and then to the FPO/APO address you are shipping to. It will take added time. Make sure that the box is packaged well.

[htran804's slave]

Do you know anyone that has access to the base post office?

[okifamily3]

If you can ship from on base, ship it MPS. Most address' will allow MPS which is free. However, I was given 2 seperate stories. My husband was delployed there and for the first 10 packages, I had to pay, then someone told me the secret of MPS. But they said in order to MPS, I had to ship something "Mission essential" like uniform items (socks, shirts, etc.). Then I was told by someone else that I could ship whatever, whenever, free, with MPS regardless of the Mission Essential items. Just to be safe, I always shipped my husband an extra pair of socks, green undershirts, razors, etc...he always got them ok.

[Sex Wax]

Nothing to read here...there was never a message from a spammer quoted in SexWax' post!

Ban Hammer Smite !!!!!!!!!!!

Edited to add: Cool ! The Ban Hammer and the Post Smiter have struck !!

[uriel]

If you can ship from on base, ship it MPS. Most address' will allow MPS which is free. However, I was given 2 seperate stories. My husband was delployed there and for the first 10 packages, I had to pay, then someone told me the secret of MPS. But they said in order to MPS, I had to ship something "Mission essential" like uniform items (socks, shirts, etc.). Then I was told by someone else that I could ship whatever, whenever, free, with MPS regardless of the Mission Essential items. Just to be safe, I always shipped my husband an extra pair of socks, green undershirts, razors, etc...he always got them ok.

They fed you a line. You don't have to send mission essential anything. It is free, and well, fre..

[Tyru]

One thing to remember though...going from Japan to FPO will mean that your package will go to the US (San Francisco area) and then to the FPO/APO address you are shipping to. It will take added time. Make sure that the box is packaged well.

Not always. My wife sent me stuff using MPS when I was in Bahrain last year it almost arrived in 5 days because it went on Gulf Air via Manila.

I sent something to a friend in Iraq using MPS and it got there in under 10 days.

[DoctorP]

Not always. My wife sent me stuff using MPS when I was in Bahrain last year it almost arrived in 5 days because it went on Gulf Air via Manila.

I sent something to a friend in Iraq using MPS and it got there in under 10 days.

That is why I said Japan to a FPO...not MPS...I was speaking of the Japanese post office.

[Oki alumni]

That is why I said Japan to a FPO...not MPS...I was speaking of the Japanese post office.

Just curious since I'm not SOFA and can't use the APO in any case, BUT, do packages shipped via MPS (outside Japan) need a customs form?

-Oki Alumni:old:

[DoctorP]

no they don't