Recommended appsPS-16
Which nengajo app should you use for Japanese New Year's cards? Free 2027 apps in Japan, Japan Post services and photo New Year's cards compared by home printing, ordering, address side and price
Choose a nengajo app by whether you print at home or order prints. We put the official 2027 information in tables, then give picks by use and notes on paper.
At a glance
This article walks through 15 topics, in this order.
- Conclusion: Which nengajo app should you choose for 2027?
- What size postcards do nengajo apps make?
- How do home-print and order-type nengajo apps differ?
- What nengajo apps does Japan Post offer?
- How much can you do for free with printer makers' nengajo apps?
- How do nengajo apps for ordering photo New Year's cards differ?
…and 9 more in the contents below.
In this article (15 sections)
- Conclusion: Which nengajo app should you choose for 2027?
- What size postcards do nengajo apps make?
- How do home-print and order-type nengajo apps differ?
What nengajo apps does Japan Post offer?2
- How much can you do for free with printer makers' nengajo apps?
- How do nengajo apps for ordering photo New Year's cards differ?
- How much does it cost to make 50 cards with a nengajo app?
- By when should you order with a 2027 nengajo app?
What should you watch for with paper when printing at home with a nengajo app?1
- How should you choose a nengajo app by use?
- What are common mistakes with nengajo apps?
- What terms appear in nengajo apps?
What else should you know alongside nengajo apps?3
What are common questions about nengajo apps?6
- Sources
A nengajo app is a tool for creating the design and the address of nengajo (Japanese New Year's cards) on a smartphone or computer. There are two ways to print: on your home printer, or by ordering prints that are delivered to you.
When choosing a nengajo app, look at four things: what you can use for free, home printing or ordering, whether it can make the address side, and how it handles photos.
For 2027 (Reiwa 9), some apps are already out and others have not been announced yet. Here is the key point. Choose by separating the officially published values from those not yet announced.
This article covers the following:
- A comparison of 8 nengajo apps for 2027 (free scope, printing method, address side, photos)
- The difference between Japan Post's official app and the post office's New Year's card printing
- What the free apps from printer makers can do
- How to calculate the cost of making 50 cards
- Order periods, and the deadline for delivery on New Year's Day
- Types of New Year postcards and settings for printing at home
Prices, features and order periods are values checked on official pages and app stores as of October 2026. Items not yet released for 2027 are marked "not yet announced."
Conclusion: Which nengajo app should you choose for 2027?
| Nengajo app | Provider | Free scope | Printing | Address side | Photos | 2027 version (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hagaki Design Kit (はがきデザインキット) | Japan Post | The app was free for the 2026 version | Home, 7-Eleven | Not stated in the official description | 2026 version: photo frame type only | Scheduled for release on November 2 |
| Post Office Print Service (郵便局のプリントサービス), web | Japan Post | Choosing a design is free; printing is paid | Order (delivered, or mailed for you) | Paid address printing | Photo types available | Taking orders (from September 1) |
| PIXUS Hagaki Creator (PIXUSはがきクリエイター) | Canon | App and address-side printing are free | Home (Canon printers) | Yes | Yes | Not yet announced (still the 2026 version) |
| Sumaho de Colorio Nenga (スマホでカラリオ年賀) | Epson | 2026 version: 565 designs free | Home (Epson printers) | Yes | Yes | Not yet announced (still the 2026 version) |
| Brother Hagaki/Nengajo Print (Brother はがき・年賀状プリント) | Brother | The app is free | Home (Brother printers) | Yes | Yes | Version for 2027 released |
| Shimauma Nengajo (しまうま年賀状) | Shimauma Print | Basic fee 0 yen; address printing and mailing service free | Order | Address printing available | Photo finish (silver halide) available | Taking orders |
| Tsumugu Nenga (つむぐ年賀) | Saltworks | App and address printing free | Order, home, convenience store | Address printing available | Photo types available | 2027 designs released |
| Sumaho de Nengajo (スマホで年賀状) | SFIDANTE | App free, basic fee 0 yen | Order, home, convenience store | Address printing included in the price | Photos through a sister app | Designs released in stages by early November |
"Free scope" in the table means the cost of the app and of the work of making the cards. With every nengajo app, the New Year postcards themselves cost extra.
New Year postcards (nenga hagaki) for 2027 cost 85 yen each for plain and inkjet paper. These are the values in Japan Post's list of card types.
If you are not sure: with a printer, choose the maker's free app; without one, choose from the ordering type. If you will not handwrite the addresses, check address-side support first.
What size postcards do nengajo apps make?
Nengajo apps make postcards of the same size as regular postcards. You can get the pixel counts with the tool and table below.
| Size | mm (w × h) | px (300 dpi) | px (350 dpi) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese postcard | 100 × 148 | 1181 × 1748 | 1378 × 2039 |
Source: Japan Post domestic postal terms, Art. 21
The app sets the size automatically, so you usually do not need to think about dimensions. Use these values when you crop photos yourself or bring in an image you made.
Postcard dimensions and postal rules are summarized in postcard size.
How do home-print and order-type nengajo apps differ?
With home-print apps, even if the app is free, you pay for postcards and ink. Order-type apps charge for printing, but you can leave the addresses and even the mailing to them.
| Point | Home-print type | Order type |
|---|---|---|
| Examples | Printer makers' free apps, Hagaki Design Kit | Post Office Print Service, Shimauma Nengajo |
| Cost | Postcards + ink | Postcards + printing fee (+ address printing) |
| Printer | Needed (maker apps are for the maker's own models) | Not needed |
| Address side | You print it yourself | You can order address printing |
| Mailing | You post the cards yourself | Some offer a mailing service |
| Photo quality | Depends on your home printer and paper | Some offer a photo finish |
| Best for | Changing the message card by card, small numbers | Printing many with the same design, no time at year end |
Even among the order types, Tsumugu Nenga and Sumaho de Nengajo also let you print at home or at a convenience store. An app with both lets you switch the printing method partway through.
If you want to add a handwritten note, choose a design with blank space on the message side, whichever type you use.
What nengajo apps does Japan Post offer?
Japan Post's nengajo app is Hagaki Design Kit. To order prints, use the web-based Post Office Print Service.
What people call "the post office's nengajo app" often means one of these two. Their roles differ as follows.
| Point | Hagaki Design Kit | Post Office Print Service |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Smartphone app and web version | Web (browser on a computer or smartphone) |
| Printing | Home printer, 7-Eleven multifunction copier | The post office prints and delivers |
| Start for 2027 | Scheduled for release on November 2, 2026 | Taking orders since September 1, 2026 |
| Price | 2027 version not yet announced (2026 version free) | Printing fee quoted per design |
When can you use the 2027 Hagaki Design Kit?
The 2027 Hagaki Design Kit is scheduled for release on November 2, 2026. Japan Post announced this on August 31.
The press release lists the following for the 2027 version:
- There is a smartphone app version and a web version
- Designs made in the app version can be printed on a home printer
- Konbini Hagaki Print (コンビニはがきプリント), printing on 7-Eleven multifunction copiers, is available as in past years
- You can send designs on LINE, or save the image and share it on social media
The number of templates and the app's price for 2027 have not been announced yet. The 2026 version was free on the App Store, with over 400 templates.
In the 2026 version, only the photo frame type could hold a photo. If you want to use photos large, check the types after the 2027 version is released.
What does the Post Office Print Service do?
The Post Office Print Service prints on New Year postcards and delivers them. It prints the design you choose and the sender's address and name.
As of October 2026, the official page and press release show the following:
- Web orders run from September 1, 2026 to 18:00 on January 15, 2027
- Ordering on the web gives up to 30% off the printing fee
- According to Yubin Nenga.jp (郵便年賀.jp), the early discount runs until November 11, 2026
- There are over 300 web-only designs
- Address printing (for members) costs a base fee of 1,100 yen plus 31 yen per address (tax included)
- Printing fees include tax and shipping. Postcards are extra and not discounted
- If you choose the mailing service, they post the cards directly after printing
The printing fee is given as a quote for each design and quantity. This article does not list amounts that vary by design.
At post office counters, you can also order from a catalog of about 210 designs. Catalog orders are accepted from September 1 to December 23, 2026.
How much can you do for free with printer makers' nengajo apps?
Printer makers' nengajo apps are free, designs included. What you pay for is postcards and ink.
| Point | Canon PIXUS Hagaki Creator | Epson Sumaho de Colorio Nenga | Brother Hagaki/Nengajo Print |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free | Free |
| 2027 version | Not yet announced (the latest on the App Store is the Year of the Horse version) | Not yet announced (the official page is for 2026) | Version for 2027 released |
| Number of designs (official wording) | Over 300 New Year's card designs (2026) | 565 (2026) | Over 400 templates |
| Address side | Vertical, horizontal, pale gray ink (usuzumi). Address book of 1,000 entries, 100 at a time | Imports address books from other companies' apps. Fills in the address from the postal code | Address book from iOS Contacts. Regular and New Year postcards |
| Photos | Tap a frame to insert one | Photos can be inserted | Makes photo postcards in 3 steps |
| Printers | Canon PIXUS, GX/G series and others | Epson printers | Brother printers |
Maker apps assume you print on that maker's printer. Choosing the app from the same maker as your printer saves you from confusion over paper settings.
Canon's and Epson's 2027 versions were not out yet as of October 23, 2026. Once they are released, check the number of designs and the supported models.
Epson also has Epson Photo+ for computers. Its official 2026 page says it supports address printing and address book management.
Building the address book has nothing to do with the design, so you can do it before the 2027 versions come out. That saves you a rush at year end.
How do nengajo apps for ordering photo New Year's cards differ?
Photo card ordering apps differ in the finishing method and in how they handle address printing and mailing. Early-bird deadlines also vary by company.
| Point | Shimauma Nengajo | Tsumugu Nenga | Sumaho de Nengajo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic fee | 0 yen | None (order from 1 card) | 0 yen |
| Price per card (official wording) | Check the price table on the official page | Not stated in the app description | From 99 yen with tax (includes design, address printing and mailing; postcards extra) |
| Early-bird discount (as of October 2026) | Yes (check the deadline in the app) | Yes (check the deadline in the app) | Not stated in the description |
| Address printing | Free | Free | Included in the price |
| Mailing service | Free | Not stated in the description | Included in the price |
| Photo finish | Photo finish (silver halide) and print finish | Photo type and illustration type | Photos are made in a sister app |
| Printing at home or a convenience store | Not stated | Home (save the data), four convenience store chains | Home (with some exceptions), convenience store |
| Trial | Free trial | Not stated | Free sample order |
Silver halide is the method of exposing the photo onto photographic paper, as photo shops do. Print finish prints directly on the postcard.
If photo color and skin tones matter to you, a service that offers a photo finish is a good fit.
Whether there is an early-bird discount, and when it ends, varies by company; the earliest ones end in October. Check in the app before you order.
How much does it cost to make 50 cards with a nengajo app?
Making 50 cards with a nengajo app costs 4,250 yen for the postcards alone. At home you add ink; when ordering you add the printing fee.
| Method | Calculation | Total (official values as of October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Print at home (free app) | 85 yen × 50 cards | 4,250 yen + ink |
| Post Office Print Service, with address printing | Postcards 4,250 yen + address printing (1,100 yen + 31 yen × 50 addresses) | 6,900 yen + printing fee |
| Sumaho de Nengajo (cheapest conditions) | (99 yen + 85 yen) × 50 cards | From 9,200 yen (includes address printing and mailing) |
The Post Office Print Service's printing fee varies by design and quantity. Add the quoted amount to compare.
If you buy postcards from Japan Post's online shop, shipping may apply. Shipping is 360 or 720 yen with tax, and free for orders of 5,000 yen or more.
Since 85 × 59 = 5,015, buying 59 or more at once means no shipping fee.
Once you know how many you need, working out the postcard cost first makes comparison easier. The difference between apps is only the remaining printing and address part.
By when should you order with a 2027 nengajo app?
For delivery on New Year's Day, post the cards by December 27, 2026. For the order types, count back by the days needed for delivery.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 1, 2026 | Web orders for the Post Office Print Service begin |
| October 26, 2026 | Orders for New Year postcards open at Japan Post's online shop (until January 13, 2027) |
| November 2, 2026 | New Year postcards go on sale, Hagaki Design Kit is released, Yubin Nenga.jp opens |
| November 11, 2026 | Early discount deadline for the post office's New Year's card printing (per Yubin Nenga.jp) |
| December 20, 2026 | Acceptance of New Year's cards begins |
| December 27, 2026 | Recommended posting date for New Year's Day delivery |
| January 15, 2027 | New Year postcard sales and Print Service web orders end |
Starting with the 2027 cards, the start of acceptance moved from December 15 to December 20. The recommended posting date also moved from the 25th to the 27th.
New Year's cards posted on or before December 19 arrive within the year, not on New Year's Day. This is because they are delivered as regular mail.
For the mailing services of the order types, order by each company's deadline. For Sumaho de Nengajo's direct mailing to recipients, the cutoff is orders placed by 24:00 on December 24. Orders up to then are expected to arrive on New Year's Day (plain paper only).
What should you watch for with paper when printing at home with a nengajo app?
If you print on a home inkjet printer, choose New Year postcards made of inkjet paper. Also match the paper type in the app and on the printer.
The types of New Year postcards for 2027 are as follows.
| New Year postcard (2027) | Price per card | Japan Post's description |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | 85 yen | The most basic type |
| Plain (inkjet paper) | 85 yen | Paper for inkjet printers |
| Plain (with notch) | 85 yen | A semicircular notch at the lower left shows top and bottom, front and back |
| Plain (four-up sheet) | 340 yen for 4 | For bulk printing. Cut into 4 cards before posting |
| Illustrated, with donation | 90 yen | 5 yen per card goes to donations |
| With advertising | 80 yen | Limited regions. Carries an ad and costs 5 yen less |
Inkjet photo paper is not in the 2027 list of card types. To print photos at home, choose inkjet paper.
Canon's manual divides commercially sold postcards into these 3 groups:
- Postcards / New Year postcards
- Inkjet postcards / inkjet-paper New Year postcards
- Inkjet glossy postcards / photo New Year postcards
Set the printer's "paper type" to match the postcards you load. If they do not match, the ink will not sit properly on the paper.
The same manual says the address side of inkjet postcards cannot be printed from the control panel. Print the address side from the app or a computer.
What if you want to print photos beautifully?
If photo quality comes first, an order-type service with a photo finish is a good fit. If you print at home, check how the photo will be cropped first.
Smartphone photos have enough pixels for a postcard. For 12 megapixels (4032 × 3024), the calculation is:
- 4032 ÷ (148 ÷ 25.4) ≈ 692dpi
Postcards and smartphone photos have different aspect ratios. If you fill the whole postcard with a photo, a little is cut off at the top and bottom or at the sides.
How much is cut for each ratio is tabulated in the photo sizes article. Types of photo paper are compared in paper types.
How should you choose a nengajo app by use?
Choose a nengajo app by whether you have a printer and who prints the addresses. Picks by use are in the table below.
| Situation | Suitable nengajo app | Basis (official wording as of October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Printing at home, keeping the cost to postcards and ink | The free app from your printer's maker | App and designs free. Also makes the address side |
| Printing 2027 designs at home right now (Brother printer) | Brother Hagaki/Nengajo Print | 2027 version already released |
| No printer, want to print at a nearby convenience store | Hagaki Design Kit (from November 2) | Supports 7-Eleven's Konbini Hagaki Print |
| Leaving everything to the post office | Post Office Print Service | Address printing and mailing service. Up to 30% off on the web |
| Keeping photo colors beautiful | Shimauma Nengajo | Photo finish (silver halide). Address printing and mailing free |
| Ordering from 1 card, deciding how to print later | Tsumugu Nenga | Order from 1 card. Can also print at home or a convenience store |
| Comparing by per-card price including address and mailing | Sumaho de Nengajo | From 99 yen with tax, including address printing and mailing |
Rather than one being the best, the answer changes with where you print and how many. Choose the row whose "basis" fits your conditions.
What are common mistakes with nengajo apps?
The most common is thinking a free app costs nothing. Postcards and ink cost extra.
| Mistake | What happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Thinking a free app costs nothing | You pay for a postcard for every card | Work out 85 yen × number of cards first |
| Using a maker's app with another brand's printer | It will not print, or the settings do not match | Choose the app from the same maker |
| Printing with the paper type still set to plain paper | The ink does not sit right on the paper | Match the postcard type |
| Planning with last year's discounts and deadlines | You miss the deadline | Check the official 2027 values |
| Posting on or before December 19 | The cards arrive within the year, not on New Year's Day | Post between December 20 and 27 |
| Filling the whole postcard with a photo | Faces or text at the edges get cut off | Check how much is cut and leave a margin |
| Putting off the address book | The address side is not ready by year end | Make the address book before the design |
Most year-end rushes come from the address side and the deadlines. Settle these two first and you can avoid most of them.
What terms appear in nengajo apps?
| Term | Meaning | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Message side (tsushin-men) | The side with the design and the greeting | Japan Post |
| Address side (atena-men) | The side with the recipient's address and name | Japan Post |
| Inkjet paper | New Year postcards for inkjet printers | Japan Post's list of card types |
| Four-up sheet (yonmen renzuri) | 4 postcards arranged 2 by 2, for bulk printing | Japan Post's list of card types |
| Mailing service | A company posts the printed cards for you | Post Office Print Service |
| Photo finish (silver halide) | A finish exposed onto photographic paper, as at a photo shop | Shimauma Print |
| Early-bird discount (hayawari) | A lower printing fee for ordering early | Each company's official page |
| Acceptance start date | The day cards start being accepted as New Year's cards | Japan Post |
| Address book | The list of recipients printed on the address side | Each company's app description |
What else should you know alongside nengajo apps?
Where can you find postcard dimensions and postal rules?
Postcard dimensions and postal rules are summarized in postcard size. The paper thickness of private postcards is covered there too.
New Year postcards are the same size as regular postcards.
What if you want to know the paper thickness for New Year's cards?
Paper thickness units and conversions are explained in paper thickness. There are also notes on feeding thick paper through a printer.
If you print on paper you supply yourself, first check the thickness your printer can feed.
Where do this site's numbers come from?
Dimensions come from a single data set based on ISO, JIS and Japan Post documents. The tables and tools read the same data.
How we check and our editorial policy are described in About this site.
Envelopes and mailWhat Size Is a Japanese Postcard in cm? Pixels, Aspect Ratio, Japan Post Rules and Making Your OwnJapanese postcard size in cm and pixels by dpi, vs A6 and L-size, aspect ratio, Japan Post rules for return and private postcards, bleed, A4 layout and overseas cards.
Photo and drawing paperPhoto print sizes in Japan: dimensions and ratios of L-size, 2L-size, KG, Rokugiri and Yotsugiri, how phone photos get cropped, pixel counts and framesJapanese photo print sizes from L-size and KG to Yotsugiri, Hangiri and Zenshi in mm, inches and pixels, plus ratios, phone photo cropping, frames and ID photos.What are common questions about nengajo apps?
Which nengajo apps are free?
Printer makers' nengajo apps are free, designs included. Hagaki Design Kit was also free for the 2026 version.
In every case, postcards cost extra.
What is the post office's nengajo app?
Japan Post's official app is Hagaki Design Kit. The 2027 version is scheduled for release on November 2, 2026.
To order prints, use the web-based Post Office Print Service.
Which nengajo apps can print at home?
The makers' free apps and Hagaki Design Kit print at home. Tsumugu Nenga and Sumaho de Nengajo also have a way to print at home.
Maker apps are for printers from the same maker.
Can nengajo apps make the address side too?
The Canon, Epson and Brother apps support the address side and address books. With the order types, you can order address printing.
Address printing from the Post Office Print Service costs a base fee of 1,100 yen plus 31 yen per address (tax included).
When can you use the 2027 nengajo apps?
Hagaki Design Kit from November 2, 2026. Brother and Tsumugu Nenga had 2027 versions out as of October 2026.
Canon's and Epson's 2027 versions were not yet announced as of October 23, 2026.
By what date should you post New Year's cards to arrive on New Year's Day?
Posting by December 27, 2026 falls within the guideline for New Year's Day delivery. Acceptance starts on December 20.
If you post on or before December 19, the cards arrive within the year, not on New Year's Day.
Sources
- Overview of the 2027 (Reiwa 9) New Year postcards and related issues (Japan Post, August 31, 2026, in Japanese. Sale dates, Hagaki Design Kit and acceptance dates)
- Attachment 1: List of 2027 (Reiwa 9) New Year postcard types (Japan Post, in Japanese. Types and prices)
- Yubin Nenga.jp (Japan Post, in Japanese. New Year's card schedule and early discount)
- Post Office Print Service: New Year's card printing (Japan Post, in Japanese. Order period, web discount and address printing)
- Nengajo 2026 Hagaki Design Kit (App Store, Japan Post, in Japanese. Free app, over 400 templates)
- New Year's cards 2026 with PIXUS (Canon, in Japanese. Free designs and apps)
- PIXUS Hagaki Creator (App Store, Canon Marketing Japan, in Japanese. Address side and address book)
- Free New Year's card designs 2026 (Epson, in Japanese. Free designs and Epson Photo+)
- Nengajo 2026 Sumaho de Colorio Nenga (App Store, Seiko Epson, in Japanese. Designs, address side and photos)
- Brother Hagaki/Nengajo Print (App Store, Brother Industries, in Japanese. Templates, address book and photo postcards)
- Shimauma Nengajo (Shimauma Print, in Japanese. Photo finish, address printing and mailing service)
- Nengajo 2027 Tsumugu Nenga (App Store, Saltworks, in Japanese. Ordering from 1 card, home and convenience store printing)
- Nengajo 2027 Sumaho de Nengajo (App Store, SFIDANTE, in Japanese. Price per card, direct mailing deadline)
- Usable paper, TR9530 series (Canon online manual, in Japanese. Types of postcards)