Summary: Japan Post starts selling New Year postcards (nengajo) for 2027 on Monday, November 2, 2026, from 9:00 at post offices. A plain card costs 85 yen, and a picture card with a charity donation costs 90 yen. If you want your cards delivered on New Year’s Day, Japan Post’s guideline is to post them by Sunday, December 27 — two days later than last year’s December 25. This guide covers the prices, the key dates, and what to do if you are sending nengajo for the first time.
Sending New Year cards is still a common custom in Japan, especially to coworkers, your child’s teacher, neighbors or your partner’s family. You do not have to send them, but if you plan to, the dates below help you avoid cards arriving late.
Key dates for 2027 nengajo
| What | Date |
|---|---|
| Sales start (post offices and other outlets) | Monday, November 2, 2026, from 9:00 |
| Special New Year handling starts | Sunday, December 20, 2026 |
| Post by this date for delivery on January 1 | Sunday, December 27, 2026 (guideline) |
| Sales end | January 15, 2027 (Kyodo News: extended from about January 10) |
Checked: 2026-10-30. Source: Japan Post news release (August 31, 2026) and Kyodo News (August 31, 2026).
How much do they cost?
| Type | Price per card |
|---|---|
| Plain card (muji) | 85 yen |
| Plain card for inkjet printers | 85 yen |
| Plain card with a tactile notch (for people with visual impairments) | 85 yen |
| Picture card with a charity donation (national and regional designs) | 90 yen (5 yen goes to the donation) |
| Card with advertising (some regions only) | 80 yen |
The postage is already printed on the card, so you do not need a stamp. If you print your cards at home on an inkjet printer, choose the inkjet type. Japan Post also sells sheets of four cards for printing companies; individuals can buy those from November 2, and you must cut them into four cards before posting.
Do you need to buy them on November 2?
No. Japan Post says sales continue until January 15, 2027, so there is no need to queue on the first day. The initial print run is about 556 million cards, down from 750 million for 2026, according to Japan Post, so popular designs may sell out in some places — if you want a specific picture card, buy it earlier.
What to do (first-time checklist)
- Make a list of who you will send cards to, with their postal codes and addresses. If you keep the list in a spreadsheet, you can print it later — see our guide to printing nengajo addresses from a spreadsheet (in Japanese).
- Buy the cards from November 2 at a post office. Pick the inkjet type if you will print at home.
- Write or print your message. A short greeting is enough.
- Post them between December 20 and December 27 if you want them to arrive on New Year’s Day. Japan Post’s special New Year handling starts on December 20.
- Too late? Cards posted after December 27 are still delivered, but may arrive after January 1.
If you are not sending cards
You do not need to do anything. Many people in Japan now send fewer paper cards or use messages instead. If you receive a card from someone, a reply card in early January is a polite custom, but it is up to you.
Related reading
- Japan’s 2026 income tax cut: basic deduction up to ¥1.04 million, settled in the year-end adjustment
- Flu shots in Japan 2026: who gets the subsidised shot, what others pay, and how to book
日本語で読む：2027年用年賀状の発売日は11月2日｜元日に届く差出期限は12月27日に繰り下げ
Sources
- Japan Post, “2027 (Reiwa 9) New Year postcards” news release materials (August 31, 2026): sales start, acceptance start, posting guideline, print run, prices
- Kyodo News via Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun, “New Year postcards fall for 16th straight year” (August 31, 2026): sales period to January 15, posting guideline moved from December 25 to December 27
