Mailbox kanji cheat sheet
Most apartment mailboxes in Japan have a single dial that you turn right, then left. Your instructions will probably use some of these words.
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 右 / 時計回り | migi / tokei-mawari | right / clockwise |
| 左 / 反時計回り | hidari / han-tokei-mawari | left / counter-clockwise |
| 2回 / 2回転 | ni-kai / ni-kaiten | 2 times / 2 turns |
| まわす / 回して | mawasu / mawashite | turn (the dial) |
| 合わせる | awaseru | line up with (the ▼ mark) |
| 引く / 押す | hiku / osu | pull / push |
| 開かない | akanai | won’t open |
| 管理会社 | kanri-gaisha | management company |
Step by step
- Turn right (clockwise)Turn the number of times you were told, and stop when the first number is under the ▼ mark.
- Turn left (counter-clockwise)Stop on the second number. If you go past it, start over.
- Pull the knobPull the dial knob towards you to open the door. On some models you push a lever or twist the knob instead.
Mechanisms vary by model and by how the code was set. If your building gave you specific instructions, follow those.
It won’t open
- You overshot
- Even one click past the number won’t work. Go slowly as you approach the last number.
- Counting turns
- 右に2回 usually means “let the number pass the mark twice, stop the third time”. If that fails, try two full turns and then stop on the number.
- Reset
- Spin the dial right a few full turns, then start again from step 1.
- Different lock
- Some boxes have two small dials you line up at once (2点合わせ). That type doesn’t use right/left turns.
- No code?
- Ask your 管理会社 (management company) or landlord. Don’t force the box open: you may be billed for repairs.
FAQ
What does 右に2回 (migi ni nikai) mean on a Japanese mailbox?
Turn the dial right (clockwise) so the number passes the mark twice, then stop on it the third time it comes around. Some instructions mean two full turns and then stop on the number.
My Japanese mailbox won’t open even with the right code.
The usual causes are overshooting the last number, turning the wrong way, or counting turns differently. Spin the dial right a few times to reset, then start again slowly. Some boxes open by pulling the knob, others by pushing a lever.
I don’t know my mailbox code. Who do I ask?
Ask your management company (kanri-gaisha, 管理会社) or landlord. It is often written in the move-in documents. Don’t force the box open: you may be charged for repairs.
Is my code sent anywhere?
No. Everything runs in your browser. The code only exists in the share link’s URL, and shared links are marked so search engines don’t index them.