Near Kofu Station in Yamanashi stands a striking building with graceful lines and dark gray window shutters. It looks sort of colonial, and was in fact one of the earliest Western Style buildings to be built in Yamanashi. It is named for Shiro Fujimura, the second governor of Yamanashi, who encouraged Yamanashi people to imitate Western styles of architecture - a trend starting in the early Meiji Era. The building served as a school until 1957, then after a few years as a community center, it was moved to the present site near Kofu station to be preserved as a national cultural asset of importance. Admission is free, and there are some interesting objects on display.
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Cathy Cawood @cathy.cawood
I came to Japan in 2003 to teach English. I lived in Shiga prefecture for one year, and it still holds a special place in my heart. I lived in Kyoto for nine years, then moved to Machida, Tokyo in 2014 after meeting my Japanese partner. I love to take photos, and my Japan in Pictures Facebook page has some 40,000 followers. I have been the Regional Partner for Yamanashi Prefecture since 2014. I am enjoying exploring the prefectures around Tokyo (I like to get off the beaten track), and I hope the photos and stories I share will encourage more people to discover this wonderful country.
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