A Pseudo-Western School of 1877
The Hakuunkan (白雲館) is a former school in the pseudo-Western style of 1877 in Ishincho Moto, Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on September 2, 1998 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a two-storey timber building with a tiled roof and a building area of 306 square metres; registration number 25-0039.
Built as the Hachiman East School
Hakuunkan was built as the Hachiman East School. It stands before the torii on the approach to the Himure Hachimangu shrine, its main block and projecting wings forming a U shape (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
It is a plastered building in the pseudo-Western style, built by a master carpenter of Gamo District in Omi (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Why It Was Registered
The Agency notes that the pairing of the cusped gable over the entrance with the drum tower on the roof resembles the design of the Kaichi School, and registered it as a building that would not be easy to reproduce.
What to Look For
Look for the cusped gable over the entrance, the drum tower on the roof and the U-shaped layout (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Visiting
It is owned by Omihachiman City (Agency for Cultural Affairs). No official information on opening hours was found.
Q&A
- When was Hakuunkan built?
- In 1877 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What was it originally?
- The Hachiman East School.
- What is distinctive about its design?
- The cusped gable over the entrance paired with a drum tower on the roof, recalling the Kaichi School.
- Who built it?
- A master carpenter from Gamo District in Omi.
- When was the Hakuunkan registered?
- On September 2, 1998 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Hakuunkan (白雲館) |
|---|---|
| Location | 9-1 Ishincho Moto, Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 1998/09/02 (Heisei 10) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Timber, 2 storeys, tiled roof, 306 m² |
| Owner | Omihachiman City |
| Public Access | No official information on opening hours |
References
- Hakuunkan (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00000691
Last verified: 2026.10.19