Japan Post Holdings Co. is running into opposition from various quarters, including architects and politicians, to its plan to tear down the central post office buildings in Tokyo and Osaka and replace them with high-rises.

Japan Post, which controls privatized postal services, including those dealing with mail, savings, insurance and over-the-counter services, announced a redevelopment plan in May to construct a 37-story building to take the place of the Tokyo central post office and solicited designs from the public.

It selected the designer in August. A similar process is under way for the Osaka central post office.