Can I Blame This on USPS Being Self-Funded?
September 18, 2015 7:18 AM   Subscribe

I (an American) am trying to visit the Saiho-ji (Koke-dera) temple in Kyoto in November. It only accepts reservations by International Reply Coupon, which the USPS no longer sells as of 2013. What is the fastest and cheapest way for me to send a self-addressed stamped postcard or similar to Japan? Possible solutions, none of which are great:

1. My parents are currently in Europe, and I could ask them to pick up an IRC for me there and mail it to me once they get home. Problem: slow.
2. Purchase new Japanese stamps here, apply them to a postcard and send that to the temple along with my letter. Problem: Slow and not obvious where to buy uncancelled Japanese postage.
3. Buy an IRC on ebay. Problem: slow.
4. Send a FedEx or UPS envelope with a paid return to the temple. Problem: expensive, don’t know if temple will know what to do with it.
5. I guess this place will do it for me for a mere 1,900 Yen: http://www.saihoji-kokedera-reservation.com/about/. Problem: expensive
posted by Atrahasis to Grab Bag (7 answers total)
 
If you are staying at a hotel in Japan, their concierge may be able to arrange reservations for you.
posted by muddgirl at 7:34 AM on September 18, 2015 [1 favorite]


(I mean, if you are planning to stay in a hotel, you may be able to call them up in advance to arrange it for you)
posted by muddgirl at 7:36 AM on September 18, 2015 [2 favorites]


It might be worth posting this here.
posted by wonton endangerment at 7:38 AM on September 18, 2015 [1 favorite]


6. Ask a Canadian MeFite - who can still buy IRCs - to print and send your scanned application letter. An IRC is $6.50, and airmail to Japan is $2.50

Go on, memail me.

(The non-availability of IRCs in the US is more to do with the hate your government has on for basic services, combined with a minor fear of the possibility of IRC fraud. As a ham radio operator, the noise on the radio BBSs over the loss of IRCs a couple of years ago was irritating.)
posted by scruss at 7:42 AM on September 18, 2015 [5 favorites]


If you memail me I can sell you an IRC.

OTOH, there's no reason why buying one on eBay has to be slow, as you suggest above. No slower than buying one from me.
posted by JimN2TAW at 8:56 AM on September 18, 2015


Best answer: 1900 yen is just under $16 USD. Given that the IRC + postage to Japan is likely to run you half that anyway, I wouldn't find the extra cost to have them make the reservation for you prohibitive - seems worth the convenience to me!
posted by insectosaurus at 9:26 AM on September 18, 2015 [8 favorites]


Response by poster: The people have spoken; I will go with the reservation service.

GrumpyFilter: This is what the externalization of costs from the collective to the individual looks like when your government hates basic services per scruss's note.
posted by Atrahasis at 3:54 PM on September 19, 2015 [1 favorite]


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