Bibai City Shoto Elementary School

The circular concrete structure features three floors with a spiral staircase in the center and radiating fan-shaped classrooms extending from the middle point.

Founded in 1906 as Bannosawa Simple Education Center, the school expanded with the Mitsubishi Bibai coal mine, reaching 1,570 students across 29 classes at its peak.

The building earned the nickname 'Spectacles School' due to its appearance from above, as two circular buildings connected by curved corridors resembled eyeglasses.

The first floor remains partially submerged in water, while the upper floors contain broken windows and abandoned furniture from its closure in 1974.

The structure stands as one of the few circular school buildings in Japan, with glass blocks embedded in the top floor ceiling creating natural light patterns.

Location: Bibai

Inception: 1906

GPS coordinates: 43.31944,141.95147

Latest update: May 12, 2025 14:30