Former Mutsuzawa School Building

Introduction

Standing prominently in the north exit plaza of JR Kofu Station, the Former Mutsuzawa School Building (旧睦沢学校校舎) is one of Japan's finest surviving examples of early Meiji-era giyōfū (pseudo-Western) architecture. Originally constructed in 1875 as a primary school in the village of Mutsuzawa (present-day Kai City, Yamanashi Prefecture), this elegant two-story wooden structure was designated a national Important Cultural Property in 1967. Today, it serves as the Fujimura Memorial Hall (甲府市藤村記念館), a free community exchange and guidance facility that welcomes visitors with its striking blend of Japanese craftsmanship and Western-inspired design.

Historical Background

The story of the Former Mutsuzawa School Building begins with the sweeping modernization reforms of early Meiji Japan. In 1873, Fujimura Shirō (藤村紫朗), a former samurai from the Kumamoto domain, was appointed as the Governor (県令) of Yamanashi Prefecture. Fujimura was a passionate advocate of Western-style modernization and actively promoted the construction of pseudo-Western buildings throughout the prefecture, a style that came to be known locally as "Fujimura-style architecture" (藤村式建築).

Mutsuzawa School was founded in October 1872, and preparations for the new school building began in December 1874. Construction started in March 1875 and was completed in December of the same year, with the grand opening ceremony held in June 1876. The building project was a remarkable community effort: the village acquired land from the grounds of Funagata Shrine, timber was sourced from confiscated forests, every local carpenter was mobilized, and each household contributed one month of voluntary labor.

The construction was supervised by Matsuki Terushige (松木輝殷), a master builder from the Shimoyama carpenter tradition — a prestigious lineage of craftsmen who had built Kōfu Castle and Kai Zenkō-ji Temple. Matsuki went on to construct at least ten such school buildings across Yamanashi, though the Mutsuzawa School is the most celebrated among those that survive.

The building served as a school until 1957, then as a community hall until 1961. Facing demolition due to deterioration, it was rescued by a preservation committee and relocated to the grounds of Takeda Shrine in 1966. The following year, it was designated as a national Important Cultural Property. In 2010, it was relocated once more to the Kofu Station North Exit Plaza, where it was restored and reopened as a community guidance facility.

Reasons for Cultural Property Designation

The Former Mutsuzawa School Building was designated as an Important Cultural Property on June 15, 1967, in recognition of its outstanding significance as a representative work of Fujimura-style pseudo-Western architecture from the early Meiji period. The building exemplifies the remarkable fusion of Western architectural motifs with traditional Japanese building techniques that characterized Japan's modernization era.

During this period, Yamanashi Prefecture saw the construction of 36 such Fujimura-style buildings, but very few survive today. The Mutsuzawa School Building stands out for the quality of its craftsmanship, the sophistication of its Western-inspired decorative elements, and the extent to which it preserves its original character. British diplomat Sir Ernest Satow, visiting Kofu in 1877, noted with astonishment that the number of Western-style buildings in the city was the highest he had seen relative to its size anywhere in Japan.

Architectural and Cultural Highlights

The building is a two-story wooden structure with a building area of 189.2 square meters, crowned by a distinctive central tower (塔屋) and roofed with traditional Japanese pantiles (桟瓦葺). The plan is nearly square, measuring approximately 13.6 meters on each side.

The exterior showcases a masterful blend of Western and Japanese elements. The white plastered walls (漆喰塗) are accented with black plaster detailing that mimics Western stonework at the building corners, around the arch-shaped window frames, and along the base of the walls. The entrance features a carriage porch on the ground floor and an open veranda on the second floor, decorated with distinctive curved wooden panels between the columns. Windows are fitted with double-leaf glass doors and louvered shutters, while an elaborate molded cornice runs along the roofline.

Inside, a central staircase leads to the upper floor, with rooms arranged symmetrically on either side. Both floors contain two smaller rooms flanking the entrance and one large room at the rear — the original classroom layout. The ceiling of the porch and veranda features an elegant diamond-pattern lattice design (菱板透打ち).

The surrounding plaza is beautifully landscaped with a rose garden featuring 96 varieties and 242 bushes, tended by a dedicated volunteer group called "La Rose no Kai." Peak bloom occurs in early May and late October, adding seasonal color to this remarkable heritage site.

Visitor Information

The Fujimura Memorial Hall is conveniently located directly at the north exit of JR Kofu Station, making it one of the most accessible Important Cultural Properties in Japan — just a one-minute walk from the station. Admission is free. The hall is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and is closed on Mondays (or the following Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday) and during the year-end/New Year period.

Inside, visitors can view exhibits on the history and culture of Kofu, including Meiji-era educational artifacts and materials related to Fujimura Shirō. The facility also displays a face-decorated deep pot-shaped clay vessel (人面装飾付深鉢形土器) from the Ushiro archaeological site, part of the Japan Heritage "Jōmon World of the Starry Central Highlands."

Stamp collectors will be pleased to know that the hall houses the official stamp for Yōgaisan Castle, number 116 in the Continued 100 Fine Castles of Japan series. By car, the facility is approximately 30 minutes from the Kofu-Minami Interchange on the Chuo Expressway.

Surrounding Attractions

The Kofu Station North Exit area offers several other attractions within easy walking distance. The Yamate Gomon (山手御門), a reconstructed gate of Kofu Castle dating to around 1700, stands in the adjacent Historical Park and can be explored free of charge. Nearby, the Kōshū Yume Kojiro (甲州夢小路) is a charming shopping street that recreates the atmosphere of old Kofu, with artisan shops, cafés, and local craft stores.

Across the station to the south, Maizuru Castle Park (舞鶴城公園) preserves the impressive stone walls and turrets of Kofu Castle, offering panoramic views of the Kofu Basin and the surrounding mountains. The Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art, famous for its collection of works by Jean-François Millet, is a short bus ride away.

For those interested in the Fujimura-style architectural heritage, several other surviving examples can be visited in the region, including the Former Oagata School (旧尾県学校) in Tsuru City and the Tsugane School (津金学校) in Hokuto City, creating a fascinating architectural pilgrimage through Yamanashi Prefecture.