A Symmetrical Modernist School by Vories
The Former Toyosato Elementary School Main Building (旧豊郷小学校校舎) is a reinforced concrete school building of 1937 at Ishihata, Toyosato Town, Inukami District, Shiga Prefecture, which in 2013 was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records two storeys with a partial third, a building area of 1,839 square metres and connecting corridors, renovated in 2009, owned by Toyosato Town and registered as a model of design.
The Toyosato tourism association says it was donated by Furukawa Tetsujiro and designed by William Merrell Vories.
Structure
According to the Agency, it faces west at the centre of the site on the old Nakasendo, with a three-storey tower at the centre and a porch in front.
The Agency's description gives the building area as 1,879 square metres, differing from the 1,839 square metres in its structure field.
What to Look For
The Agency notes that its imposing, symmetrical modernist front is a well-loved local landmark.
The tourism association says it was called a white palace of education and the finest elementary school in the East. Look at the symmetrical front centred on the tower and porch.
Visiting the Former Toyosato Elementary School Main Building
The tourism association says visitors may look round freely, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The whole complex, including the auditorium and library, is described on the group page.
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Q&A
- When was the main building built?
- In 1937; it was renovated in 2009.
- Who designed it?
- William Merrell Vories, according to the tourism association.
- Who donated the school?
- Furukawa Tetsujiro, an Omi merchant and Marubeni director.
- What does it look like?
- A symmetrical modernist front with a central three-storey tower.
- Can I visit?
- Yes, freely, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Toyosato Elementary School Main Building (旧豊郷小学校校舎) |
|---|---|
| Location | 518 Ishihata, Toyosato Town, Inukami District, Shiga Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2013/3/29 (Heisei 25) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Reinforced concrete, two storeys with partial third, building area 1,839 square metres, with corridors |
| Owner | Toyosato Town |
| Public Access | Open freely, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Former Toyosato Elementary School Main Building (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00009506
- Toyosato Tourism Association: Former Toyosato Elementary School (Japanese)
- https://toyosato-kanko.jp/spot/toyosatoelementaryschool/
Last verified: 2026.09.29
