“I want to start an online shop, but I am worried about putting my home address in the notation required by the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (特定商取引法, tokushoho).” “I want to sell handmade items as a side business, but I do not want people to know where I live.” For people like you, MyLetter.jp, which has provided address services since 2006, introduces how to run a shop without showing your home address.
The short answer: the tokushoho notation needs an address where you can be reached. It does not have to be your home
For online shops and other mail-order sales, the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (特定商取引法, tokushoho) requires the seller to display their name (business name), address and phone number. Even individuals and side businesses count as “sellers” if they sell goods repeatedly, and must display this information.
However, the address you display does not have to be your home. Many people run shops using a private mailbox or rental address, as long as it is an address where mail reliably arrives and where you can receive customer contacts and returns. With a MyLetter.jp address, you can use an address in Ginza (Tokyo), Osaka Nishi-honmachi, or Sendai from ¥990 per month (tax included).
Writing “disclosed on request” will not fully protect your home address
The Act on Specified Commercial Transactions lets you omit your address and phone number if you state that you will “disclose them without delay upon request.” Some services, such as Mercari Shops, can also display the operating company’s address on your behalf.
But this system means that if a customer asks, you must promptly give your real address. In other words, if you have registered your home address, it will be given to any customer who asks. If you use an address other than your home as your business address from the start, you can feel safe even if disclosure is requested.
What You Can Do When You Use a MyLetter.jp Address for Your Shop
- You can put it on your tokushoho notation, shop profile, delivery slips and business cards instead of your home address
- For mail and parcels that arrive, we notify you with photos on Mybox (your member page). On your instructions, we forward them to your home or elsewhere
- We can also receive returns from customers. Parcels we receive can be forwarded to your home
- We can also receive mail addressed to your shop name. Please register your shop name as a Nickname (the first one is free)
- The address stays the same, so you do not need to change your shop’s address even if you move
How to Write the Tokushoho Notation (Example)
*Note: For the address of the MyLetter.jp address you use, displaying it on the web as an image is permitted, but displaying it as text is not allowed.
*Please be sure to include your Box number (ML●●●●) in the address. Without the number, mail and parcels may be returned to the sender. (How to write your Box number)
*If you also do not want to show your home or mobile phone number, you can use the Business Plan’s phone forwarding.
Fees
| Plan | Monthly fee (tax included) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan (same-day shipping) | ¥990 | People who want items forwarded as soon as they arrive |
| Free Week Plan | ¥1,880 | People who want items forwarded together on the weekend |
| Basic Plan | ¥1,980 | People who want items stored for up to 21 days and forwarded when needed |
| Company Registration Plan | ¥4,980 | People who incorporate their shop and want to register it at the Ginza address |
| Business Plan | ¥5,980 | People who also want combined packing, phone forwarding and fax mail forwarding |
When forwarding, the actual shipping cost and a forwarding fee are charged separately. Nicknames such as a shop name are free for the first one and ¥440 per month (tax included) from the second. For details, see the price list.
How to Get Started
- Sign up and choose an address (Ginza, Osaka or Sendai) and a plan
- Submit your ID documents (What are ID documents?)
- Once verification is complete, put your address with Box number on your shop’s tokushoho notation
- If you want to receive mail under your shop name, register the shop name as a Nickname in Mybox
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I put a rental address on my tokushoho notation?
A. Many businesses use a private mailbox or rental address as their business address, as long as mail reliably arrives and they can respond to customer contacts and returns. For the detailed rules on the notation, please also check the Consumer Affairs Agency’s Act on Specified Commercial Transactions guide.
Q. Can I receive mail addressed to my shop name?
A. Yes. If you register your shop name (an organization or business name that is not a company) as a Nickname, we will also receive mail and parcels addressed to that name.
Q. Is it okay if customers send returns by cash on delivery (COD)?
A. We can receive COD parcels (a COD handling fee applies). To be safe, it helps to state in your shop’s return policy that returns must be sent prepaid.
Q. Can I use it for my residence certificate or bank account address?
A. No. A residence certificate must be registered at the place where you live. The address cannot be used for filings with government offices, change-of-address notices, or procedures at financial institutions. (Is there a service that just holds your residence registration?)
Q. Can I pick up items at the Ginza counter?
A. The Ginza address does not offer counter pickup. Mail and parcels we receive are forwarded and delivered to the address you specify.
*This article is general guidance on the notation required by the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions. To check whether the notation on your own shop is appropriate, please consult the Consumer Affairs Agency’s guide to the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions or a professional.
