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Japan's Underwater Postbox: Mail from the Deep!
13 Sep
Summary
- An underwater postbox operates at a depth of 10 meters in Susami Bay.
- Divers mail waterproof postcards from the submerged mailbox.
- It is the world's deepest underwater postbox, recognized by Guinness.
In the late 1990s, the small Japanese fishing town of Susami sought a unique attraction to draw tourists. Toshihiko Matsumoto, the local postmaster, proposed an unconventional idea: an underwater mailbox in Susami Bay.
Assisted by a dive shop, the community installed a functional, red postbox at a depth of about ten meters in 1999. This mailbox officially joined Japan's postal system, with divers sending waterproof postcards from its depths.
The postbox, maintained by rotating two boxes due to saltwater corrosion, has become a significant draw. Since its inception, it has collected nearly thirty-eight thousand waterproof postcards, earning recognition from Guinness World Records as the world's deepest underwater postbox.
This initiative transformed Susami into a notable destination for scuba divers. What began as a modest idea to enhance a local fair has become a lasting symbol of the town's ingenuity and appeal.
