Former Yamabe School Building, Folk museum and former school building in Matsumoto, Japan
The Former Yamabe School Building is a wooden structure with characteristic roof lines from the Giyōfū period. The building contains multiple rooms where classes were once held and where collections are now displayed.
The school building was founded in 1885 when Japan was modernizing its education systems. It functioned as an active school for decades before later being converted into a museum.
The building shows how children learned here, with preserved classrooms and student belongings on display. Visitors can see what school life and teaching methods looked like during this period.
The building is accessible to visitors and has regular opening hours most days. It is best to visit during good weather since the wooden structure is sensitive to damp conditions.
The building displays a rare blend of Japanese wooden architecture and early Western construction techniques that is not often seen so clearly. This combination is a remnant of the period when Japan was integrating foreign influences.
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