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1. Communicating by phone is easy in Japan. The public phones all take phone cards that can be purchased in machines that are usually near a large bank of phones (ie: airport, train station, department store...). You can place the card in the p hone, and it ticks off time as you speak. Just remember to take your card when you are finished! Calling long distance is a little more complicated. There are a few different long distance companies, and you dial a specific prefix to choose which one yo u want to use. Once you have an English phone book (see "finding the job") all this will be explained. Another option for international calling is to use an American calling card (ie: AT&T, Sprint...). It may be slightly more expensive, but you will have assistance from an operator in America and a bill sent to you seperate from the telephone bill. Of course you must get this card before you go to Japan.
2. Faxing works the same as it does in America. If you don't have access to a fax machine, many train stations will have a post office or business office that will fax for you at a reasonable price. These stores often sell stamps, make copies, and assist with calling. These are similar to stores like Kinko's or Copytron in America.
3. Sending mail is also fairly easy, but there are a few things to keep in mind. When telling your friends and family your address, also ask them to print or type on the envelope. Cursive handwriting can make it difficult for the post office to deliver. It takes about five days to a week to receive international mail, and about three days for local mail. Post offices are indicated by a red double crossed T and a re fairly easy to locate.
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