Japan Times wrote:Reader AM informed us that Japan Post no longer accepts alien registration cards as valid identification.
"Even though alien registration certificates are valid until 2015, Japan Post decided effective July 9, 2012, to no longer accept such cards. Please see this website," he writes.
"I found this out when needing to show identification for receiving a restricted delivery mail service document. I am a permanent resident. I find it odd, perhaps discriminatory, and certainly a bureaucratic overreach on the part of the postal service."
We confirmed this with Japan Post; it's true that they are now only accepting the new resident cards (zairyūkādo, 在留カード), which have replaced alien registration cards, despite the fact the latter are still valid until renewal or 2015 (whichever comes first). If you have another form of picture ID, such as a driver's license, this should work, or a passport if your address doesn't need to be confirmed.
Source
From the website mentioned:
Japan Post wrote:平成24年7月9日以降、外国人登録証明書(在留カード又は特別永住者証明書とみなすものを含みます。)を本人確認書類として使用することはできなくなりましたので、ご注意ください
Twats.