About the Museum
- Museum type
- Historical museum
- Hours
- 10:30–17:00
- Closed
- Mon; New Year holidays.
- Admission
- Adults: ¥200 / Children: ¥100 / Admission is free on the 23rd of every month.
- Payment
- cash only
- Suggested visit time
- Quick: ~10 min / Unhurried: ~20 min
- Website&SNS
- Official website & Instagram
- Address
- 1-4-23, Mejiro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo (Map)
- Phone
- +81 3-5951-3331
- Nearest station
- Mejiro Station; Takadanobaba Station
What Is the Philatelic Museum?
The Philatelic Museum is a very small museum dedicated exclusively to postage stamps, located near Mejiro Station, close to Ikebukuro. It is operated by the Mizuhara Philatelic Foundation, which traces its origins to a foundation established in 1988 by Meisō Mizuhara, a world-renowned stamp collector. The foundation is engaged in the collection, preservation, documentation, and research of materials related to postage stamps.
The museum houses approximately 350,000 types of stamps from around the world, as well as about 30,000 books related to philately, part of which are open to the public. Although the museum itself is quite small, it is a rare example in Japan of a museum specializing solely in stamps and serves as a place of relaxation and exchange for stamp collectors.
The interior is quiet and calm, making it a suitable spot for visitors to take a break after walking around the city. A reference library is also attached, providing a peaceful environment for reviewing travel plans or conducting research.
Please note that photography is not permitted inside the museum, so visitors should keep this in mind when planning their visit.
Visitor Information
At the Philatelic Museum, the main exhibition space is located on the first floor. The exhibition theme changes approximately every three months, and around 800 items are selected and displayed from the museum’s collection of stamps from around the world.
The second floor houses the museum library. This floor includes a space recreating the study of Akisō Mizuhara, a world-renowned stamp collector. In addition, the library holds a wide range of publications related to philately, including English-language materials such as Bibbons Stamp Monthly. For this reason, the library is well suited for travelers with an interest in stamps who wish to stop by during their sightseeing. The library is open to all museum visitors during regular opening hours.
The third floor is also an exhibition space, but it is open only during special exhibition periods. During these special exhibitions, rare stamps from around the world related to the featured theme are displayed. On some occasions, stamp sales by collectors and dealers are also held.
The museum shop is one of the highlights of the Philatelic Museum. Visitors can purchase stamps from various countries, and it is highly recommended for travelers with an interest in philately. While the selection varies depending on availability, stamps from a wide range of regions—including Asia, Africa, the Americas, Oceania, and Europe—are offered. The shop also sells tools and supplies necessary for stamp collecting.
Museum Highlights
The greatest highlight of this museum is the permanent display on the second floor library, which features the world’s first postage stamp and Japan’s first postage stamp.
The world’s first stamp is the Penny Black, issued in the United Kingdom in 1840. Japan’s first stamp is the Dragon Design Stamp (Ryūmon Stamp), issued in 1871. Although both stamps are very small in size, they are of exceptional historical importance, as they mark the starting points of postal history in their respective contexts and are regarded as extremely valuable on a global scale.
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