I'm taking my first trip to Nagoya, Japan in August and I am full of questions. One thing on my mind is sending postcards to my friends and family back in the US. I have a friend here in the States who is something of a world traveler and she's always been kind enough to send me many postcards on her trips - now I would like to be able to return the favor but I am uncertain about the process!

I'm wondering about all the basics - how much does a postcard from Japan to the US cost? How do I purchase stamps and get my cards sent? Are there self-service stamp areas in the Japanese post offices like in some American post offices? If not, what phrases in Japanese do I need to know to be most successful in the checkout line? Any other proceedures or advice you can give?

70yen

2.How do I purchase stamps and get my cards sent?
You can buy stamps at the counter or vending machine of Post Office.

You can also pay the fee and pass your postcard to the officer.

- At the counter, if you just present the postcard and say "air mail to USA," then they will tell you it will be 70-yen, you pay, and they post it for you. In most places they will know what you want :)