Summer Vacation Unit - Writing Guidelines

Part 4: Addressing an Envelope in Japanese

Read the guidelines below and observe how they correspond with the address information that follows.

  1. (〒) is the sign associated with postal services it precedes the postcode (zip code)
  2. Addresses are written beginning with the largest regional area and working down to the smallest vocational information (prefecture, city, town, neighborhood, street, house number)
  3. The addressee's name is written after the address, last name first
  4. 様（さま)is written after the name (polite form of さん)
  5. Addresses may be written horizontally or vertically (right to left, top to bottom)
  6. Special words indicate prefecture, city, street, etc.

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〒 682-5201

東京都（とうきょうと)
大阪府（おおさかふ）
千葉県（ちばけん）

立川市（たちかわし)

西町（にしちょう)

3丁目（ちょうめ)

56-247

山田たかし様　
山田(やまだ)　　
たかし
様（さま）

-> Postcode with sign

-> Prefecture (state) name
Find these prefectures on a map of Japan


-> City name
The city name is indicated by 市
-> Town name
The city name is indicated by 町
-> Number of the area in the town
The city name is indicated by 丁目
-> House number


-> Addressee's last (family) name
-> Addressee's first name
-> Mr. Mrs.




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