A Timber School on the Site of the Hagi Domain School
The Meirin Elementary School Main Building (明倫小学校本館) is a timber school building of 1935 in Emukai, Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on December 20, 1996 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency records a two-storey timber building with a tiled roof and a building area of 1,104 square metres; registration number 35-0001.
A Timber School on the Domain School Site
The Meirin Elementary School Main Building is a two-storey timber school designed to match the neighbouring Yubikan, a Historic Site; its ground floor is clad in battened weatherboarding and its upper floor in white plaster (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
According to the Yamaguchi tourism association, it stands on the site of Meirinkan, the school of the Hagi domain that trained its leaders, and the old timber school buildings, the main building among them, have been restored as the Hagi Meirin Gakusha, a centre for visitors to Hagi.
Why It Was Registered
The Agency notes the French roof tiles and the long runs of windows, with hints of the coming modernism, and calls it a fine example of the timber school building that has almost disappeared; it was registered as a model of design.
What to Look For
Look for the contrast of weatherboarding below and white plaster above, the French tiles and the long rows of windows (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Inside are a tourist information centre, a gallery on the domain school and a restored classroom (Yamaguchi tourism association).
Visiting
According to the Yamaguchi tourism association, the Hagi Meirin Gakusha is open daily from 9:00 to 17:00, and entry to the main building is free.
Q&A
- When was the main building built?
- In 1935 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- What is distinctive about it?
- Weatherboarding below, white plaster above, French tiles and long rows of windows.
- How is it used today?
- As part of the Hagi Meirin Gakusha, with tourist information and galleries.
- Can I visit?
- Yes, daily from 9:00 to 17:00; the main building is free.
- When was the Meirin Elementary School Main Building registered?
- On December 20, 1996 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Basic Information
| Name | Meirin Elementary School Main Building (明倫小学校本館) |
|---|---|
| Location | 602 Emukai, Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 1996/12/20 (Heisei 8) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Two-storey timber, tiled roof, 1,104 m² |
| Owner | Hagi City |
| Public Access | Open as the Hagi Meirin Gakusha (9:00 to 17:00 daily; main building free) |
References
- Meirin Elementary School Main Building (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00000098
- Hagi Meirin Gakusha (Yamaguchi Prefecture tourism association, Japanese)
- https://yamaguchi-tourism.jp/spot/detail_17538.html
Last verified: 2026.10.21