# How long does it take to get a letter from the States to Japan?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-a-letter-from-the-states-to-japan/336092>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 17, 2005, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-a-letter-from-the-states-to-japan/336092 "2005-12-17T20:12:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-a-letter-from-the-states-to-japan/336092/1 "2005-12-17T20:12:46Z")

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My friend in Japan has a birthday next Saturday. I sent her a card today (air mail.) Does anyone know the average time it takes for mail to get from here to there?

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**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-a-letter-from-the-states-to-japan/336092/2 "2005-12-17T20:58:12Z")

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Try the [USPS’s Postal Rate (and Delivery Time) Calculator.](http://ircalc.usps.gov/)

Here’s [a sample chart for an 1-ounce envelope sent to Japan](http://ircalc.usps.gov/intl_speed.asp?CID=10214&MailType=envelope&Pounds=0&Ounces=1). It says the letter should take 4 to 7 days to arrive.

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**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2005, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-a-letter-from-the-states-to-japan/336092/3 "2005-12-17T21:34:25Z")

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> [@Reply](#):
>
> It says the letter should take 4 to 7 days to arrive.

That also matches my experience, assuming the address was written correctly.