Helplife2.net: How do you address a letter to Japan?

[fishdbaz]

My school recently had a cultural exchange day thing where hundreds of Japanese kids showed up and mingled with everyone. I met a few people and decided that this year I'm actually going to follow the "friend cards" that I received. Might be neat.

So far, all the sources I've found (including the official Japan Post website: http://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/use/writing/normal_en.html) have said that the format for a Japanese mailing address is...

Name
Block #-Lot #-Building #,
City, Prefecture/State/Province
Postal Code, Country (JAPAN)

The problem is that two of the friend cards have additional digits before the block #- lot #-building# thing. (i.e. 666, 1408). What's the deal?

Also, what's the difference between a shi and a fu?

 

[Schall]

Vageta might know.

 

[Raziaar]

He only knows Chinese now.

 

[Vegeta897]

Yeah, I've only sent mail to China.

 

[fishdbaz]

I don't suppose the formats are similar at all, are they?

 

[Krynn72]

Viperidae might know. Send him a PM

 

[fishdbaz]

Done.

 

[Viperidae]

Alas, I never sent a letter when I was there, and never really had to bother with addresses because everything was on maps.

However: http://www.sljfaq.org/afaq/addresses.html

Written in English, it would look like this (if you follow the Japan P.O. guidelines):

Sunny Mansion #203
4-7 Hommachi 2-choume
Shibuya-ku, TOKYO 150-2345

However, most folks abbreviate it like this:

2-4-7-203 Hommachi
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-2345

Maybe?

 

[fishdbaz]

That looks to be the ticket. Thanks a ton!

 

[ríomhaire]

Bad timing?

 

[fishdbaz]

Bad timing?

If you mean that you know of something that I should add or change, I haven't mailed any of the letters yet.

 

[Vegeta897]

Perhaps he's referring to the earthquake.

 

[fishdbaz]

The area of Japan that the Japanese kids are from wasn't affected very much, but I see what you mean. Considering I'm using regular international mail, the letters probably won't arrive for a month or so. Regardless, I've added a little bit to the end of the letters addressing the earthquake.