The Philatelic Museum explores the history and cultural impact of stamps, with a focus on their art and design. Its eclectic range of traveling exhibits looks into the development of stamps and how they made their mark on aspects of local and international societies. Attend one of the weekend flea market events to purchase some of the historic Japanese postal stamps.
Browse the various exhibits to learn the importance of selecting an appropriate stamp for your envelope. The first-floor traveling galleries are changed roughly three times per year, covering such themes as stamps relating to the British Royal Family. Learn how in an email-dominated world, letter-writing has become a traditional and artistic niche, with emphasis placed on such old-world practices as stamp-collecting and handwriting.
Impressive maps showing stamps from Japan and the rest of the world adorn the interior walls. Study the valuable stamps in antique albums that are kept within glass cases. Information plaques stand beside the exhibits, explaining the history and significance of each stamp.
Head upstairs to the second floor for a library filled with journals and publications on the subject of stamps. Among the highlights is the desk that once belonged to renowned collector and the museum’s founder, Meiso Mizuhara. Check out the old-fashioned card catalog, a wooden box that contains information about stamps from across the globe. Purchase frames, stamps and albums from the gift shop.
Buy a ticket to access the museum and get a discount for children. You can also pay for admission in postage stamps. The site opens Tuesday through Sunday from late morning until late afternoon. Admission is free on the 23rd of each month, in celebration of letter-writing day.
The Philatelic Museum is a little south of central Toshima in the heart of Tokyo. Take the train to the Mejiro railway station and walk south for a couple minutes to get to the museum. While in the area, make sure to visit other sights such as the Sakaki Altar, Otomeyama Park and the Kanda River.
