History of customs - It started with the end of national isolation policy

  During the Edo Period when Japan maintained a national isolation policy, the small island of Dejima in Nagasaki was the only port connecting Japan with other countries. Beginning with the Consular Convention between Japan and the United States of America concluded in 1854 (Ansei 1), the last days of the Edo Period, Japan opened one port after another to foreign countries.
In 1859 (Ansei 6), Unjosho was established at the ports of Nagasaki, Kanagawa, and Hakodate to conduct tax collection and diplomatic affairs. This was the forerunner of today's customs.
Later, on November 28, 1872 (Meiji 5), unjosho were uniformly renamed as "Customs" and thus the custom service officially started in Japan. In remembrance of that day, November 28 is celebrated every year as "Customs Memorial Day."

History of Tokyo Customs

  The history of the customs at the port of Tokyo dates back to October 1867 (Keio 3) when Tokyo Unjosho was established in Edo Tsukiji Teppouzu (today's Akashi-cho, Chuo-ku) by the Shogunate Government of Edo. The current Tokyo Customs dates from August 1953 (Showa 28) when it was established as an independent customs office with jurisdiction over the Tokyo metropolitan area in place of the Tokyo Customs Branch of Yokohama Customs.
Later, Saitama, Gunma, Yamanashi, Niigata, and Yamagata Prefectures were added to the jurisdiction of Tokyo Customs.

  The port of Niigata was opened in 1868 (Meiji 1) and the original office building of Niigata Customs Branch still exists in its original location. The building is now designated as an important cultural property and is open to public as Niigata Local Historical Museum.