Hagi Meirin Gakusha

Hagi Meirin Gakusha stands on the historic site of the Domain School Meirinkan, originally established in 1719 by Yoshimoto Mori, the fifth lord of the Hagi domain, to educate the children of samurai vassals. The school was relocated to its current location in the Emukai district near Hagi Castle in 1849 as part of domain reforms. During the late Edo period, this institution became instrumental in shaping Japan's future leaders, with renowned educator Yoshida Shoin teaching here and students including Shinsaku Takasugi and Kogoro Katsura (Takayoshi Kido) going on to become key figures in the Meiji Restoration that ended feudal rule and modernized Japan.

The present building served as Meirin Elementary School from 1935 to 2014 and represents Japan's largest wooden schoolhouse. After the elementary school relocated due to aging infrastructure, the main building was renovated and reopened in March 2017 as a registered tangible cultural property and tourist facility. The site encompasses multiple buildings across the original Meirinkan grounds, including the Yubikan martial arts dojo and the Suiren Ike pond from the original domain school era. The complex is part of the UNESCO World Heritage designation "Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution" inscribed in 2015.

Visitors enter the two-story main building free of charge to explore nine distinct spaces showcasing Hagi's educational heritage. The 90-meter-long corridor connects restored rooms including the principal's office, a recreated classroom with original desks, and an attic observation room revealing the building's architectural framework. The ground floor houses a tourist information center, Cafe Restaurant Hagi Goyomi serving local Hagi seafood and Kenran beef, and a gift shop featuring regional specialties.

Building 2 requires a separate admission fee and contains the World Heritage Visitor Center, which traces Japan's rapid industrialization, and the Bakumatsu Museum displaying approximately 620 valuable artifacts from over 6,000 items related to late Edo period science and technology, including firearms, surveying instruments, and medical equipment. Volunteer guides are available to provide detailed explanations of the exhibits and facility history.

The facility is located at the Hagi Meirin Center bus stop, directly served by the "Super Express Hagi-Go" tourist bus from JR Shin-Yamaguchi Station, which takes just over 60 minutes and costs 1,600 yen one way. Regular JR buses also connect Yamaguchi Station with Hagi Bus Center (6-minute walk from the facility) approximately every 1-2 hours for 1,800 yen, covered by Japan Rail Pass and regional JR passes. From nearby Higashi-Hagi Station, the facility is accessible by local buses or a short walk through the historic castle town district. Admission to the main building is free, while Building 2 costs 300 yen for adults, 200 yen for high school students, and 100 yen for elementary and middle school students. The facility closes on the first Tuesday and Wednesday of February.