Fourth High School Memorial Museum of Cultural Exchange, Ishikawa
A museum in Ishikawa — exhibits full of discovery.
Overview
The Fourth High School Memorial Museum of Cultural Exchange is a cultural facility in Hirosaka, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa. It is set in an imposing red-brick building reused from the former Fourth Higher School, and it also houses the Ishikawa Modern Literature Museum. Opened on April 26, 2008, this National Important Cultural Property preserves Meiji-era modern architecture and has become an essential stop on a walking tour of Kanazawa.
Highlights
- ●An Important Cultural Property reusing the red-brick Fourth Higher School
- ●Meiji-era modern architecture designed by Yamaguchi Hanroku and Kuru Masamichi
- ●Literary displays of the adjoining Ishikawa Modern Literature Museum
- ●A prime location within the cultural zone of Kenrokuen and Hirosaka
History
The building was originally raised as the brick schoolhouse of the former Fourth Higher School, designed by Yamaguchi Hanroku and Kuru Masamichi. For its historical and architectural value it is designated a National Important Cultural Property. It was refurbished and opened as the Museum of Cultural Exchange on April 26, 2008, presenting displays that convey the memory of the old higher school; the Ishikawa Modern Literature Museum, set within, introduces literature connected to the region.
Access
The museum stands in Hirosaka, Kanazawa City, within the cultural zone that gathers Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle Park and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art. Buses from Kanazawa Station are convenient, and you can also walk between the surrounding sights. Opening hours and closed days may change, so it is reassuring to check official information before visiting.
Best season
Spring and autumn, when the red brick shows off against fresh greenery or autumn colors, are ideal for combining a visit with a stroll around adjacent Kenrokuen and Hirosaka. As an indoor facility, it can be toured in any weather, making it a good stop between Kanazawa sights.
Map
36.5625, 136.6558 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Take a bus from Kanazawa Station toward Hirosaka and Kenrokuen
- 2Admire the red-brick schoolhouse of the Memorial Museum from outside
- 3Tour the higher-school displays and the Ishikawa Modern Literature Museum inside
- 4Continue on to neighboring Kenrokuen and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
Did you know?
💡 The designers Yamaguchi Hanroku and Kuru Masamichi are known as architects who worked on many government school buildings of the Meiji era. The red-brick exterior is itself a highlight, while inside, the Ishikawa Modern Literature Museum lets you touch on the region's literary history, so you can enjoy architecture and literature at once.
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