A Historic Western-Style School Building
The museum occupies a wooden Western-style schoolhouse originally built in 1896 as the western building of Nakano Jinjo Elementary School. The building retains many characteristics of the Western-influenced architecture that became popular in Japan during the middle of the Meiji period.
In 1984, the schoolhouse was carefully relocated and restored within Ichinoki Park. Its historical and architectural value was recognized the following year, when it was designated as a Nakano City Tangible Cultural Property.
The white exterior and regularly arranged windows create a charming appearance. Looking at the building, visitors can imagine the generations of children who once studied here. The schoolhouse itself is an important reminder of the development of modern education in the Nakano area.
Classrooms Preserving Memories of School Life
Inside the restored schoolhouse, exhibition spaces make use of the building’s original atmosphere. The museum includes rooms displaying folk materials and educational documents, as well as a preserved classroom that retains the appearance of the school before it was relocated.
The blackboard, desks, high ceiling, and spacious classroom create an atmosphere reminiscent of schools from the Meiji through early Showa periods. Rather than functioning simply as an exhibition, the classroom serves as a place where visitors can experience a tangible connection with the past.
Since the museum facilities were developed in 1997, the historic school environment has been combined with exhibitions of art and local culture.
The Copperplate and Lithograph Collection
One of the museum’s main attractions is the collection of copperplate and lithographic prints donated by Isao Akagawa. The collection includes works by prominent Japanese artists, including Hirayama Ikuo and Morita Kohei.
Fine lines, subtle gradations, and the beauty of the printing process give these works qualities that differ from those of paintings. Visitors can explore the distinctive character of printmaking while appreciating the diverse artistic expressions of the individual artists.
Works by Sculptor Kazuo Kikuchi
The museum also displays works by Kazuo Kikuchi, a sculptor with connections to Nakano City. His sculptures combine strength with a sense of warmth, providing a striking contrast to the two-dimensional print works.
Two bronze sculptures created by Kikuchi stand in the garden in front of the former schoolhouse. Surrounded by the historic architecture and greenery, the sculptures contribute to the atmosphere of the museum as a place where art and nature exist together.
Memories Preserved in the School Grounds
The garden in front of the former Nakano Elementary School building features a monument commemorating the school song of Nakano Junior High School, along with equipment that plays its melody. Hearing the school song while looking at the old schoolhouse offers a moving reminder of the people who once spent their school days here.
Another stone monument commemorates the relocation and restoration of the school building. Its inscription describes how the school, built against the backdrop of Mount Kosha, educated generations of children in the snowy northern Shinshu region and contributed to the development of the local community.
The Art of Printmaking
What Is Printmaking?
Printmaking is an artistic technique in which an image is transferred onto paper or another material using a specially prepared printing plate, rather than being drawn directly onto the final surface. Depending on how the plate is made and how the ink is transferred, printmaking is broadly divided into four categories: relief printing, intaglio printing, planographic printing, and stencil printing.
The Beauty of Lithography
Lithography is a type of planographic printing that takes advantage of the natural repulsion between oil and water. The basic principle was discovered by Alois Senefelder in the late 18th century, and artists such as Toulouse-Lautrec produced numerous highly artistic lithographs during the 19th century.
One of the major attractions of lithography is its ability to reproduce the texture of crayons and brushstrokes on paper. It also allows artists to create richly colored prints using multiple colors. While traditional lithography used stone printing surfaces, aluminum plates are now commonly used instead.
The World of Copperplate Printing
Copperplate printing is an intaglio technique in which lines or other marks are engraved or etched into a copper plate. Ink is then pressed into the recessed areas before the image is transferred to paper.
There are several techniques, including engraving, etching, and aquatint, each capable of producing delicate lines, rich tonal effects, and remarkable depth. In Japan, the artist Shiba Kokan experimented with etching in the late 18th century, helping introduce Western printmaking techniques during the development of modern Japanese art.
Ichinoki Park: Flowers, Nature, and Culture
A Popular Urban Park in Nakano
The museum is located within Ichinoki Park, one of Nakano City’s best-known urban parks. Established in 1984, the park was created as a place of relaxation for local residents and has since become a popular destination for visitors from both inside and outside the city.
A Rose Garden Filled with Seasonal Flowers
Ichinoki Park is widely known as the Rose Park because of its spectacular rose garden. The development of the garden began after 172 varieties and 179 rose plants cultivated by the late Kikuo Kuroiwa were donated to the park.
Today, approximately 850 varieties and 3,500 rose plants bloom throughout the park. Roses are particularly beautiful from spring through early summer, while cherry blossoms, perennial flowers, and other seasonal plants provide color at different times of the year.
Nakano Rose Festival
The Nakano Rose Festival has been held since 1994 and is one of Ichinoki Park’s signature events. It usually takes place from late May to mid-June and features a variety of activities, including musical performances, sales of locally produced goods, and workshops on rose cultivation.
The festival has attracted large crowds over the years, with attendance exceeding 90,000 visitors in 2009. It has become one of the major seasonal events associated with Nakano’s rose garden.
Facilities for Visitors of All Ages
The park offers playground equipment, spacious lawns, a multipurpose field, an outdoor stage, and an English-style garden. These facilities make it an enjoyable destination for both adults and children throughout the year.
Combining a visit to the park with the museum and its other cultural facilities allows travelers to experience nature, art, and local history in a single destination.
Visiting the Shinshu Nakano Copperplate and Lithograph Museum
Opening Hours
March to November: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
December to February: 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Admission and Closing Days
Admission: Free
Closed: December 29 to January 3
Access
The museum is approximately 15 minutes by car from the Shinshu-Nakano Interchange on the Joshinetsu Expressway.
It is also conveniently accessible by public transportation, located about a 5-minute walk from Nakano-Matsukawa Station on the Nagano Dentetsu Railway.
Experience Art and History in a Historic Schoolhouse
The Shinshu Nakano Copperplate and Lithograph Museum offers a unique opportunity to experience printmaking and local culture inside a historic Meiji-era schoolhouse. The preserved classrooms, copperplate and lithographic works, sculptures, and monuments together tell the story of Nakano’s artistic and educational heritage.
A visit to the museum is especially rewarding when combined with a stroll through Ichinoki Park, where roses and other seasonal flowers create a beautiful setting throughout the year. For travelers exploring northern Nagano, it is a peaceful cultural destination where art, history, architecture, and nature come together.