Meiji
Shiga · 明治Browse Shiga’s cultural heritage from the Meiji period (1868 – 1912). Filter by type and keyword, with concise stories, maps, and travel tips.
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Shiga Meiji Period
1868 – 1912
Hakuunkan in Omi-Hachiman, Shiga Prefecture, is a masterpiece of pseudo-Western architecture built in 1877 as the Hachiman-Higashi Elementary School, funded almost entirely by donations from prosperous Omi merchants. Registered as a National Tangible Cultural Property, this distinctive building blends Western facades with Japanese karahafu gables and a drum tower. Today it serves as a tourist information center and gateway to exploring the historic lakeside city.