Former Ise Post Office (Uji-Yamada Post Office): Japan's Only Surviving Meiji-Era Wooden Post Office
Standing gracefully among the historic buildings of Museum Meiji-mura in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, the Former Ise Post Office — officially known as the Uji-Yamada Post Office — is a rare architectural treasure from the dawn of Japan's modern postal system. Completed in 1909 during the Meiji era, this elegant wooden building is the only surviving full-scale wooden post office from that period, and it was designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan in 1999. What makes this building even more remarkable is that it still functions as a working post office today, allowing visitors to send letters stamped with a special Meiji-mura postmark.
A Brief History: From Ise Shrine to Meiji-mura
The Uji-Yamada Post Office was originally constructed in front of the main torii gate of Ise Grand Shrine's Outer Shrine (Geku) in what was then Uji-Yamada City (now Ise City), Mie Prefecture. The year of its construction, 1909 (Meiji 42), coincided with a Shikinen Sengu — the periodic rebuilding ceremony of Ise Grand Shrine that takes place every 20 years — making the building's creation a fitting symbol of renewal and modernization in the sacred city.
Designed by Enji Shiraishi, an engineer of the Ministry of Communications, the building served as a hub for postal, telegraph, and telephone services. Construction began on November 25, 1908, and the post office was completed on May 14, 1909, with construction supervised by Kisaburo Ishiwatari and built by local contractor Saijiro Okada.
The building continued to serve as a working post office for nearly 60 years. When the Ise Post Office relocated to a new building in 1967, the historic structure was carefully dismantled and relocated to Museum Meiji-mura in 1969, where it was given the name "Uji-Yamada Post Office." In 1971, it began operating once more as the Museum Meiji-mura Simple Post Office, a role it continues to fulfill today.
Why It Was Designated an Important Cultural Property
In 1999, the building received its designation as an Important Cultural Property of Japan for several compelling reasons. First, it is the sole surviving example of a full-scale wooden post office building from the Meiji era — a period when Japan was rapidly modernizing and building new postal infrastructure across the country. As such, it provides an invaluable window into the architectural practices and postal operations of that transformative period.
Second, the building's distinctive V-shaped floor plan, with a circular central hall flanked by angled wings, represents a highly original and innovative approach to Western-style architecture. This unique design, combined with the Northern European half-timbered exterior, demonstrates the creative ways in which Japanese architects of the Meiji era adapted Western building traditions to local needs and aesthetics. The Cultural Properties Protection Committee recognized that the building holds exceptional value in the history of Japanese architecture.
Architectural Highlights and Design Features
The Uji-Yamada Post Office is a single-story wooden structure with a copper-plate roof covering a total building area of approximately 602 square meters. Its most striking feature is its unconventional layout: a circular central hall crowned by a conical dome sits at the heart of the building, while two wings extend outward in a V-shape to the east and west. On either side of the entrance, square turrets topped with small domes add a sense of grandeur.
The exterior draws on the Northern European half-timbered (Fachwerk) style, in which the structural timber frame is left visible and the spaces between are filled with different materials. In this case, the architect Shiraishi employed a combination of white plaster panels and horizontal clapboard siding, creating a visually dynamic facade. The transom areas above the windows are decorated with plaster relief ornaments, adding a layer of artistic refinement that was unusual for post office architecture of the time.
During the comprehensive restoration completed in 2022, researchers discovered that the building's original exterior color was green — not the faded blue-yellow tone it had acquired over the decades. The restored green clapboard walls now offer a vivid impression of the building as it appeared when it first opened in 1909.
Interior Spaces
Stepping through the front entrance, visitors enter the circular public hall, where a high ceiling draws the eye upward to a distinctive tulip-shaped pendant light. A curved wooden counter with glass partitions separates the public area from the postal workers' space, just as it did over a century ago. Along the walls, original private mailboxes (54 compartments with four different types of locks used across different periods) remain intact.
Beyond the public hall, the building reveals its functional depths. The eastern wing houses the telegraph and telephone operations rooms, while the western wing contains service corridors and workspaces. Particularly notable is the stamp warehouse — an entire room built as a fireproof vault with brick walls inside the wooden structure, a corrugated iron ceiling covered with a thick layer of sand for fire protection. This ingenious design ensured the safety of stamps, which held the same value as currency.
The 2022 renovation also opened previously restricted areas to the public, including the telephone exchange room, the night-duty room, and the delivery staff quarters, providing a comprehensive view of how a Meiji-era post office actually operated.
Visitor Experiences: A Working Post Office from the Past
One of the most delightful aspects of visiting the Uji-Yamada Post Office is that it still operates as a real post office. Visitors can purchase stamps and mail letters and postcards right from the building. Each piece of mail sent from here receives a special Meiji-mura original postmark featuring the Uji-Yamada Post Office building — a wonderful souvenir for friends and family back home. Please note that stamps of 63 yen or more are required.
The post office also offers a unique service called "Heartful Letter" — write a letter, submit it at the counter, and it will be delivered to the address you specify 10 years in the future. Imagine the surprise and emotion of receiving a letter from your past self a decade later!
Inside the building, newly created exhibition areas (located in the former mail sorting and operations room) present the history of Japan's postal system from its founding in 1871 through the early modern era, along with displays about the city of Ise and the context in which the post office was built.
The 2019–2022 Restoration
From 2019 to 2022, the building underwent a major four-year conservation project. This comprehensive restoration included seismic reinforcement, complete replacement of the copper-plate roof, full interior and exterior refurbishment, and the reconstruction of the stamp warehouse to its original brick-lined state. The project was a collaboration between Japan Post Architecture, Museum Meiji-mura's cultural property specialists, historians, and skilled craftspeople.
The building reopened to the public on November 3, 2022, revealing its restored beauty — including the historically accurate green exterior that surprised many longtime visitors who had only known the building in its faded state.
Surrounding Attractions at Museum Meiji-mura
The Uji-Yamada Post Office is located in the 4-chome (Block 4) area of Museum Meiji-mura, an expansive open-air architectural museum covering approximately one million square meters on the shores of Lake Iruka. The museum preserves over 60 historic buildings from the Meiji, Taisho, and early Showa periods, including 11 designated Important Cultural Properties.
While at Meiji-mura, visitors should not miss these highlights:
- The Main Entrance and Lobby of the Imperial Hotel, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright — the museum's most iconic structure
- St. Francis Xavier Cathedral from Kyoto, with stunning stained glass windows
- The Former Mie Prefecture Government Office, another Important Cultural Property
- Rides on Japan's oldest steam locomotives and a vintage Kyoto streetcar
- Meiji-era cuisine, including the famous beef hot pot (gyunabe) at the Oi Beef Shop
The nearby city of Inuyama offers additional attractions including Inuyama Castle — a National Treasure and one of Japan's oldest surviving castles — and its charming castle town with traditional shops and cafes.
Access and Practical Information
Museum Meiji-mura is located in Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture. From Nagoya Station, take the Meitetsu Inuyama Line to Meitetsu Inuyama Station (approximately 30 minutes), then transfer to a Gifu Bus bound for Meiji-mura (approximately 20 minutes). Direct highway buses also operate from the Meitetsu Bus Center and Sakae Bus Terminal in Nagoya (65–87 minutes). Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the museum grounds for international visitors.
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Q＆A
- Can I actually send mail from the Uji-Yamada Post Office?
- Yes! The building operates as the Museum Meiji-mura Simple Post Office, a real working post office where you can purchase stamps, send letters and postcards, and even receive a special Meiji-mura original postmark. A stamp of 63 yen or more is required. Please note that international mail cannot be processed at the counter, but letters and postcards with the correct postage can be dropped into the mailbox for international delivery.
- What is the "Heartful Letter" service?
- The Heartful Letter service allows you to write a letter and have it delivered to any address in Japan 10 years in the future. Simply prepare your letter, fill out an application form, and submit both at the counter. It is a wonderful way to send a message to your future self or a loved one.
- Do I need to pay a separate fee to see the Uji-Yamada Post Office?
- No additional fee is required to view the Uji-Yamada Post Office beyond the general Museum Meiji-mura admission ticket. As of 2025, adult admission is 2,500 yen, high school students 1,500 yen, and elementary/junior high school students 700 yen. Children under school age enter free.
- Is English signage or guidance available at the museum?
- Museum Meiji-mura provides free Wi-Fi throughout the grounds for international visitors. While English signage is available at many exhibits, guided tours are primarily conducted in Japanese. It is recommended to download a translation app or review the museum's English website before your visit for the most enjoyable experience.
- How long should I plan for a visit to Museum Meiji-mura?
- The museum covers a vast area of approximately one million square meters with over 60 buildings. To see just the Important Cultural Properties, plan around 3.5 hours. A focused tour of Western-style buildings takes about 3 hours. For a comprehensive visit, a full day is recommended. Village buses, a steam locomotive, and a Kyoto streetcar are available within the grounds for getting around.
Basic Information
| Official Name | Former Ise Post Office (Uji-Yamada Post Office) / 旧伊勢郵便局舎（宇治山田郵便局舎） |
|---|---|
| Cultural Property Designation | Important Cultural Property of Japan (designated May 13, 1999) |
| Year of Construction | 1909 (Meiji 42) |
| Architect | Enji Shiraishi (逓信技手 白石圓治), Ministry of Communications |
| Structure | Wooden, single-story, copper-plate roof; Building area: approx. 601.9 m² |
| Architectural Style | Half-timbered (Fachwerk) Western style with V-shaped floor plan and central conical dome |
| Original Location | In front of Ise Grand Shrine Outer Shrine (Geku), Uji-Yamada City (now Ise City), Mie Prefecture |
| Current Location | Museum Meiji-mura, 1 Uchiyama, Inuyama City, Aichi Prefecture (Block 4, No. 46) |
| Owner | Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd. |
| Museum Hours | Vary by season: generally 9:30–17:00 (Mar–Oct), 10:00–16:00 (Dec–Feb). Last admission 30 minutes before closing. |
| Museum Admission | Adults: 2,500 yen / High school students: 1,500 yen / Elementary and junior high: 700 yen / Preschool children: Free |
| Access | From Nagoya Station, Meitetsu Inuyama Line to Meitetsu Inuyama Station (~30 min), then Gifu Bus to Meiji-mura (~20 min) |
References
- 旧伊勢郵便局舎（宇治山田郵便局舎） — 文化遺産オンライン
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/175312
- 宇治山田郵便局舎 — 博物館明治村
- https://www.meijimura.com/sight/宇治山田郵便局舎/
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- https://www.japanpost.jp/corporate/facility/museum/index04.html
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- https://www.japanpost.jp/information/2022/20221020181006.html
- 現存する最大の木造郵便局舎「宇治山田郵便局舎」がリニューアル公開！ — メイジノオト
- https://www.meijimura.com/meiji-note/post/ujiyamada/
- 博物館明治村簡易郵便局 — Wikipedia
- https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/博物館明治村簡易郵便局
- 重要文化財旧伊勢郵便局舎(宇治山田郵便局舎) — 株式会社アイチケン
- https://aichiken-jsk.com/shaji_works/787/
- 旧伊勢郵便局舎（宇治山田郵便局舎） — 日本郵政建築株式会社
- https://www.jp-ae.japanpost.jp/projects/uji-yamada-post-office/
Last verified: 2026.03.22