The Ueno Building Gate Posts and Wall
The Ueno Building (Former Mitsubishi Goshi Kaisha Wakamatsu Branch) Gate Posts and Wall (上野ビル（旧三菱合資会社若松支店）門柱及び塀, Ueno Biru Monchū oyobi Hei) are the brick gate posts and boundary wall of a former office compound in Honmachi, Wakamatsu-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture; built in 1913, they were registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on March 29, 2013. They were put up in the same year as the Main Building and the warehouse to enclose the Wakamatsu branch of Mitsubishi Goshi Kaisha.
According to the national database, the Ueno Building Gate Posts and Wall consist of 6 brick gate posts and a brick wall with a total length of 115 meters, counted together as a single structure.
Why the Ueno Building Gate Posts and Wall Were Registered
The Ueno Building Gate Posts and Wall are registration number 40-0084, registered as a model of design. The Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that they keep their original appearance well and convey how a coal company set out its local office.
Kitakyushu City describes the wall and gate posts as the element that binds the Main Building, the warehouse and the Former Analysis Room into one group. Buildings alone, without the line of the plot, would make the branch hard to read as a whole. The Ueno Building Gate Posts and Wall keep that outline visible: a single walled lot on the harbor holding office, warehouse and laboratory together.
What to Look For at the Ueno Building Gate Posts and Wall
The Ueno Building Gate Posts and Wall have three gateways. The national description places one toward the east end of the south side, the front of the site, and one each at the east and west ends of the north side. The wall runs along the south, east and north. With 6 posts, that works out to a pair for each gate.
The one to see is the main gate on the south side, facing the harbor. Its posts stand 2.3 meters high, a little over head height. Built of the same material as the Main Building behind them, they make gate and entrance read as one continuous frontage.
Walk along the wall and the 115 meters of brick trace the edge of the site. A gate facing the harbor in front and two more at the back suggest how the branch divided its comings and goings between a formal front and a working rear.
Seeing the Ueno Building Gate Posts and Wall
Because the Ueno Building Gate Posts and Wall form the outer edge of the site, the parts visible from the street, including the main gate on the south, can be seen freely at any time. The main gate stands directly in front of the Wakamatsu landing of the Wakato ferry, so it is the first thing you see on stepping ashore.
Inside the gates are the grounds of a working building used by tenant offices and shops. Do not lean on or climb the wall or posts, and keep clear of people coming and going. The official website allows personal, hobby photography without permission (as of October 2026). Directions are on the Ueno Building group page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Fukuoka
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Ueno Building (Former Mitsubishi Goshi Kaisha Wakamatsu Branch) Gate Posts and Wall
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Q&A
- How large are the Ueno Building Gate Posts and Wall?
- There are 6 brick gate posts and a brick wall 115 meters long in total. The main gate posts are 2.3 meters high.
- Where are the gates in the Ueno Building Gate Posts and Wall?
- The main gate is toward the east end of the south side, the front of the site, with two more gates at the east and west ends of the north side. The wall encloses the south, east and north sides.
- When were the Ueno Building Gate Posts and Wall registered?
- On March 29, 2013, together with the Main Building, the warehouse and the Former Analysis Room, as registration number 40-0084.
- Why are the Ueno Building Gate Posts and Wall a cultural property?
- They keep their 1913 appearance and show how a coal company enclosed its local office, binding the three buildings into one lot.
- Can anyone see the Ueno Building Gate Posts and Wall?
- Yes, the parts facing the street can be seen freely. The main gate faces the Wakamatsu landing of the Wakato ferry.
Basic Information
| Name | Ueno Building (Former Mitsubishi Goshi Kaisha Wakamatsu Branch) Gate Posts and Wall (上野ビル（旧三菱合資会社若松支店）門柱及び塀) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1-14-1 Honmachi and other lots, Wakamatsu-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered March 29, 2013 |
| Quantity | 1 structure |
| Dimensions | 6 brick gate posts and brick wall, total length 115 meters |
| Owner | Linker Co., Ltd. |
| Public Access | Parts visible from the street can be viewed freely |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Ueno Building Gate Posts and Wall
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00009541
- Cultural Heritage Online: Ueno Building Gate Posts and Wall
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/206224
- Kitakyushu City: Ueno Building Gate Posts and Wall (Japanese)
- https://www.city.kitakyushu.lg.jp/contents/02101060_00003.html
- Ueno Building official website (Ueno Kaiun): Home (Japanese)
- https://ueno-building.com/
- Ueno Building official website (Ueno Kaiun): Short-Term Use and Photography (Japanese)
- https://ueno-building.com/short.html
Last verified: 2026.10.15
