Former Ishikawa Prefectural Second Junior High School Main

The Three Spires of Kanazawa: A Meiji-Era Schoolhouse Masterpiece

Standing proudly within the grounds of Shikindai Junior High School in Kanazawa, the Former Ishikawa Prefecture Second Junior High School Main Building is one of Japan's finest surviving examples of Meiji-era Western-style school architecture. Completed in 1899 during a period of rapid modernization, this elegant wooden structure has been lovingly preserved for over 125 years. Known affectionately by locals as the "Sansentō" or "Three Spires" schoolhouse for its trio of distinctive pointed towers, the building was designated a nationally Important Cultural Property in 2017. Today, it serves as the Kanazawa Lifestyle Museum, inviting visitors to explore both the architectural beauty of the building itself and the rich cultural heritage of everyday life in Kanazawa.

Historical Background

The Ishikawa Prefecture Second Junior High School was established in April 1899 as part of the Meiji government's nationwide initiative to modernize Japan's educational system following the revision of the Junior High School Ordinance. Initially, classes were held in the former Prefectural Industrial Museum within Kenrokuen Garden, but by September of that year, the new main building was completed and ready for students.

The school quickly developed a reputation for fostering a free-spirited and individualistic academic culture, with a lively rivalry against the First Junior High School (Ichi-chū) located in the Honda-machi district. Students competed vigorously in both academics and athletics. The school also produced the Third and Fourth Junior High Schools in Nanao and Komatsu respectively, which shared similar floor plans and interior layouts—though only the Second Junior High School received the distinctive spired towers.

Following Japan's postwar educational reforms, the old-system junior high school was abolished in March 1948. The building was subsequently used by Shikindai Junior High School until 1970. In 1978, it was repurposed as a public museum—initially called the Kanazawa Folk Cultural Property Exhibition Hall, and renamed the Kanazawa Lifestyle Museum in 2007. The successor school, Nishikigaoka High School, was established in 1963, with its name derived from the lyrics of the Second Junior High School's alma mater.

Why It Was Designated an Important Cultural Property

The building received its designation as a nationally Important Cultural Property on November 28, 2017, in recognition of several key factors. It is a rare early example of a junior high school building constructed under the revised Junior High School Ordinance of the mid-Meiji period. The structure closely follows the design guidelines of the era while incorporating creative decorative elements that set it apart from contemporaneous school buildings.

A pivotal discovery in 2014 further enhanced its historical significance: three original architectural drawings from the time of construction were found. Bearing the signature "Designed by K. Yamaguchi" along with the seal of "Yamaguchi," these plans confirmed that the architect was Kōkichi Yamaguchi, a technical engineer recorded in the Ishikawa Prefecture employee directory of the period. These drawings were subsequently added to the Important Cultural Property designation in recognition of their indispensable role in clarifying the building's provenance and original design intent.

The building is valued as an important document of the development of modern school architecture in Japan, demonstrating how Western architectural techniques and aesthetics were adapted to Japanese educational needs during the Meiji period.

Architectural Highlights

The Former Second Junior High School Main Building is a two-story wooden structure with a total building area of 603.40 square meters. Its floor plan forms an H-shape, with a main central block flanked by two wing sections. A carriage porch at the front entrance provides a stately arrival point.

The exterior is thoroughly Western in character. The walls feature clapboard siding around the windows and vertical boarding along the lower sections. Rows of sash windows—the up-and-down sliding type characteristic of colonial-style architecture—line both floors, flooding the interior with natural light. The roof is covered primarily with Japanese-style san-gawara (interlocking) tiles, while the two flanking turrets are clad in copper sheeting.

The building's most iconic feature is its trio of pointed roof elements: the triangular pediment crowning the central entrance and the two slender copper-clad spires rising from the inner corners of the wing sections. Together, these form the beloved "Three Spires" silhouette that has been a Kanazawa landmark for over a century. Additional decorative elements include dormer windows arranged in regular intervals along the roofline and pediment ornaments at key junctures, all reflecting the architect's distinctive creative vision.

Inside, the building follows a single-corridor plan, with classrooms arranged along the south side of the main block to maximize sunlight. Visitors can still observe the original wooden floors, lamp hooks on the ceilings, and the cornice bands (dō-jabara) that encircle the exterior—all characteristic features of Meiji-era Western-style construction.

The Kanazawa Lifestyle Museum

Since 1978, the building has served as a museum dedicated to the everyday life and culture of Kanazawa's residents. The museum's exhibits are organized around two main themes: prewar life and postwar life.

Visitors can explore recreated townhouse interiors (machiya) complete with traditional tatami rooms and alcoves painted in the crimson style typical of Kanazawa's teahouse architecture. The collection includes a wide array of historical household items, from traditional cooking utensils and festival implements to early Shōwa-era electrical appliances, offering a vivid window into how daily life evolved over the decades.

The museum also highlights Kanazawa's traditional crafts and industries, displaying production tools used in lacquerware, gold leaf manufacturing, and Kutani pottery. Seasonal exhibitions rotate approximately five times per year, often incorporating the concept of "reminiscence therapy"—using nostalgic objects to stimulate memory and cognitive function, particularly for elderly visitors.

Visitor Information

The museum is located within the grounds of Shikindai Junior High School at 3-31 Tobiumemachi, Kanazawa. The entrance is through the school's main gate, and the building stands directly ahead upon entering.

Admission is 310 yen for adults, 210 yen for seniors aged 65 and over, and free for high school students and younger. The museum is open from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, with last admission at 4:30 PM. It is closed on Mondays (or the following weekday if Monday is a national holiday), during exhibition changeover periods, and from December 29 to January 3.

The building is conveniently located a short walk from Kenrokuen Garden's Kodatsuno Exit, making it an easy addition to a Kenrokuen visit. By bus, take the Hokuriku Railway bus to the Ishibiki-chō stop, from which the museum is a one-minute walk. From Kanazawa Station's Kenrokuen Exit, the bus ride takes approximately 15 minutes. A small free parking lot with five spaces is also available on site.

Nearby Attractions

The museum's location in the Hondanomori Park area places it within easy reach of several of Kanazawa's most celebrated cultural destinations. Kenrokuen Garden, one of Japan's three most beautiful landscape gardens, is just a five-minute walk from the Kodatsuno Exit. The Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art and the National Crafts Museum (formerly the Tokyo National Museum of Modern Art Crafts Gallery) are also nearby, showcasing fine art and traditional Japanese craftsmanship respectively.

The D.T. Suzuki Museum, dedicated to the renowned Zen Buddhist philosopher, offers a contemplative architectural experience designed by Yoshio Taniguchi. For those interested in Kanazawa's samurai heritage, the Nagamachi Bukeyashiki samurai district is accessible by bus. The 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, one of Japan's most visited modern art museums, is also within walking distance, making this neighborhood one of the richest cultural corridors in all of Japan.