Former Tabito No. 2 Elementary Minamiodaira Branch School
The former Iwaki Municipal Tabito No. 2 Elementary Minamiodaira Branch School was opened in 1885. Back then it was named “Kuroda Elementary Minamiodaira Branch School.” There were homes and farmland on the nearby river terraces, and the school also functioned as a place where felled wood was brought from the forests and fields along the Shitoki River.
However, large-scale mountain forest development, directly carried out by the forestry office, ended in Iwaki City’s Tabito region in 1965. This had major impacts; the population fell and the number of children shrank, leading to the school being temporarily closed in 2011 then fully shut down in 2014. (From Iwaki’s Then and Now Vol. 53.)
The atmosphere of the school―an object of pride for the region―seems somehow nostalgic even to people who are not former students. After its closing, local residents have worked hard to maintain the school’s appearance and scenery. Because the school is close to the hypocenter of the Great East Japan Earthquake, it suffered unimaginable damage from the large, magnitude-seven aftershocks that continued for around one month after the disaster.
Iwaki Takahashi improved the building’s seismic resistance while taking care to preserve its appearance. We revived this old-fashioned schoolhouse as a waribashi (disposable chopstick) and pencil factory that is also an industrial tourism facility you can visit and experience.
Factory tours
You can freely tour the inside of the schoolhouse at no charge, and also purchase Iwaki Takahashi products.
A separate fee is charged for guided tours. Fill in the Contact Us form to ask questions or make a reservation.
Activities/facility rental
Former Tabito No. 2 Elementary Minamiodaira Branch School
Hours: 8:00 a.m. ～ 12:00 noon, 1:30 p.m. ～ 5:00 p.m.
Closed: Every other Saturday (please inquire for details) and Sunday
* Please contact us for group visits.
Name branding
Try branding your name on cedar waribashi or hinoki cypress pencils made from raw timber in the school.
- Time required
- 15 minutes
- Price
- 1,000 yen
- Age
- Age six and up
- Reservations
- Reservations required; taken until about three days before the activity
Laser name engraving
Learn how to use a computer and laser cutter to create digital data and engrave your name on pencils.
- Time required
- 15 minutes
- Price
- 1,500 yen
- Age
- Age six and up
- Reservations
- Reservations required; taken until about three days before the activity
Horseback riding
Enjoy riding around the school yard with Horse Club Tabito! The horses are very calm, so this activity is safe even for beginners.
* This activity may not be available during poor weather.
- Horse Club Tabito
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Mobile phone: +81-90-6922-6343 (Hagiwara, Horse Club Tabito)
Hours: June ～ December, 10:00 a.m. ～ 4:00 p.m. (priority given to reservations)
Open: Every Sunday
Facility rental
You can rent out the classrooms and other facilities for training camps, speeches, seminars, workshops, events, exhibitions, meetings, and a wide range of other needs.
- Whole school
- Half day 5,000 yen, whole day 10,000
- Communication Salon only
- Half day 3,000 yen, whole day 5,000
- Classroom only
- Half day 3,000 yen, whole day 5,000
Group visits
You can visit our facility as a class or as part of training for companies and organizations. Please contact us in advance, including what activities you hope to experience.
