If you are looking for “a service where I can just keep my resident registration somewhere”, this is for you. MyLetter.jp, which provides address services in Osaka, will honestly tell you what is possible and what is not.
In short: you cannot register your residence at a private mailbox or rental address
By law (the Basic Resident Registration Act), your resident registration (juminhyo) must be kept at the place where you actually live. For that reason, you cannot move your resident registration to a private mailbox, a rental address, or a virtual office address. At MyLetter.jp as well, our addresses cannot be used as a place to register your residence.
For the same reason, our addresses cannot be used for the following procedures either.
- Resident registration and notifications to government offices (procedures with public agencies)
- As the destination of a Japan Post change-of-address notice
- As the registered address for bank accounts, credit cards and the like (financial procedures)
Even if you see a service that advertises “just hold your resident registration”, registering your resident registration at a place where you do not actually live is not permitted. Please check carefully before you apply.
So what can an Osaka address service do?
Even though it cannot hold your resident registration, it can be used widely as “an address to receive mail” and “an address to give to others”. With the MyLetter.jp Osaka address (Nishi-honmachi, Nishi-ku, Osaka), you can do the following.
① Receiving and forwarding mail
We notify you with a photo of mail that arrives at your Osaka address. On your instruction, we forward it to your home, your business trip destination, or an address overseas. Whether you are before or after a move, on a long business trip, or living abroad, you can receive your mail from Japan.
② Address for online shops, flea markets and business cards
You can use the Osaka address instead of your home address for the Specified Commercial Transactions Act notice of an online shop, as the sender address on flea market apps, and on business cards and invoices. You can run a business or side job without revealing your home address.
③ Address for company registration (Company Registration Plan)
The Osaka address can be used to register a company’s head office location (Company Registration Plan, ¥4,980 per month, tax included). It suits people who want to set up a company without renting an office.
Plans that suit you
| Who you are | What you can do | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Living overseas | Receive mail and parcels from Japan in Osaka and forward them abroad | Plans for forwarding overseas (there is also a plan at ¥0 per month) |
| Do not have a home yet, or move often | Use your Osaka address as the single destination for your mail, and forward it once you settle | Free Plan (same-day shipping), etc. |
| Do not want to reveal your home address | Use it as the address for online shops, flea markets and business cards | Free Plan / Basic Plan, etc. |
| Want to set up a company | Company registration at your head office location | Company Registration Plan (¥4,980 per month) |
The Osaka address is available from ¥990 per month (tax included). When forwarding, the actual shipping cost and a forwarding fee are charged separately. For plan prices, see the price list, and for details on the Osaka address, see Private mailbox and address rental in Osaka.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Can I receive only my mail in Osaka without moving my resident registration?
A. Yes. Your resident registration stays where you live, and you can use the Osaka address as the place to receive your mail. Please give senders the Osaka address and your personal receiving number (ML number).
Q. Can I use it for my bank account address or for notifications to government offices?
A. No. It cannot be used for resident registration or procedures at government offices, as the destination of a change-of-address notice, or for financial procedures such as bank accounts (FAQ).
Q. What do I need to apply?
A. You need to submit ID documents. Applying is completed entirely online.
