Former Sakushin School Main Building
The former Sakushin School building stands on the grounds of Nagano City Shimohigano Elementary School.
This building was constructed in 1883. Comprehensive renovation work began in 2023 and was completed last year, Nagano City held a public viewing event in February.
This is the Former Sakushin School Main Building, now called the Sakushin Memorial Hall too.
The windows on the first floor had been relocated and wainscoting added, but they were restored to a state closer to the building’s original appearance upon completion. Seismic retrofitting was also performed, making it usable as a school facility.
For the building’s renovation, a volunteer-led Sakushin Memorial Hall Renovation Committee was established in 2022. They raised funds primarily from local residents and donated the money to Nagano City.
The entrance roof is disproportionately sturdy compared to the main building. The ridge tiles bear the characters “Sakushin”. The entrance door was glass door before restoration. After consulting Meiji-era photographs, the original wooden door design was recreated.
The interior has been constructed not to replicate its original appearance but to function as usable school facilities. The restrooms are equipped like this, and air conditioning is installed.
This is the entrance door in the closed position. The walls are white and bright.
Sakushin School was established in 1873. It was founded by five villages, including Shimohigano Village at the time. It opened using a temple as a temporary school building, but the following year, the armory from Matsushiro Castle was relocated and used as the school building.
Later, as the number of students increased and space became cramped, this school building was constructed in 1883.
Among Meiji-era school buildings still standing in Nagano Prefecture, those built around the same time include: the former Kakuichi School (Sakaki Town) in 1878, the former Kano School (Tomi City) in 1879, the former Sonosato School (Suzaka City) in 1883, and the former Yamabe School (Matsumoto City) in 1885.
In 1886, the school name changed to Shimohigano Elementary School, and this building served as its schoolhouse. However, in 1956, it was transferred to a factory next to the school, relocated, and put to use there.
Later, in 1974, to commemorate the elementary school’s 100th anniversary, the original main building was relocated and restored, opening as the Sakushin Memorial Hall.
In 1981, it was designated a Tangible Cultural Property of Nagano City.
Among Western-style school buildings from the Meiji period within Nagano City, the former Nagano Prefectural Normal School Teachers’ Residence, designated a Prefectural Treasure, is the oldest. Sakushin School is the next oldest. Although the interior has been altered, the exterior well preserves its original appearance, which was the reason for its designation.
From 1993, it housed an exhibition of materials and served as a museum. However, in recent years, it had reportedly become inaccessible due to deterioration.
One room on the second floor is a Japanese-style room.
It is planned for use by the elementary school’s tea ceremony club and similar groups. It could also be used for community gatherings.
The largest room on the second floor, the multipurpose room, has desks and chairs stored in the adjacent storage room, making it suitable for classes or meetings. The ceiling was intentionally left unfinished here to show the attic’s structural framework.
View of the attic.
Though hard to see in this photo, the long vertical board in the center is a ridge beam plaque installed in 1883. It was discovered for the first time during this renovation. Two plaques were found: one lists the names of the master carpenter and craftsmen, while the other lists the names of the village headman and district council chairperson etc.
Exhibition spaces on the first and second floors display materials and explanatory panels. Some folk materials were donated by local residents when the building was originally established as a museum.
With the renovation now complete, it will serve as both a school facility and a community exchange center.
I hope it continues to be used for many years.
[Reference]
“Sakushin Memorial Hall Renovation Commemorative Pamphlet” (Nagano City / February 2026)