靜岡市立井川小中學, Combined elementary and junior high school in Aoi-ku, Shizuoka, Japan.
Shizuoka Municipal Igawa School combines elementary and junior high education at 800 meters elevation in a mountain setting. The institution brings nine years of continuous education together in one location surrounded by forests and alpine terrain.
Founded in 1947, the school has operated as an educational center for local children since the post-war period. Over the decades it has evolved alongside the mountain community it serves.
The school weaves learning into mountain life, where students regularly work in local forests and fields as part of their education. This connection shapes daily routines and ties the community closely to the surrounding landscape.
The mountain setting requires preparation for high-altitude conditions and changing weather, so visitors should come equipped appropriately. Access may be limited during winter months, making advance planning helpful.
The school uses its high-altitude location and mountain surroundings as a natural classroom for outdoor learning. Seasonal shifts in the forest landscape provide students with direct experiences of nature and climate change.
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