Former Kaichi School, Educational museum in Matsumoto, Japan.
The Former Kaichi School is a two-story wooden building in Matsumoto containing 16 rooms filled with historical school objects, furniture, and photographs from different periods. The museum displays how classrooms and learning spaces were arranged roughly 150 years ago.
The school building was constructed in 1876 and marked a turning point in Japan's education system during the Meiji period, moving from exclusive samurai training to teaching for all citizens. This shift toward public schooling fundamentally changed the country.
The building combines Japanese craftsmanship with Western design elements, including French plate glass windows and decorative dragon sculptures visible throughout the rooms. This mix shows how the school brought together different cultural traditions in its physical structure.
The museum is about 25 minutes on foot from Matsumoto Station and is easy to reach. Visitors should allow enough time to explore the rooms slowly, as the place rewards close attention to small details and craftsmanship.
The construction was a community effort: local farmers and residents paid 70 percent of the costs themselves. They also reused materials from an abandoned temple and installed paper ceilings and doors to save money.
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