Japan Adventure

After a 2-1/2 hour drive from Iwakuni along the Sanyo tollway (past Hiroshima), we arrived at the Shizutani School in Okayama Prefecture. It is said to be the oldest free public school in the world, and dates back to 1666, when Ikeda Mitsumasa, the feudal lord of the Bizen area made an inspection tour throughout the country. He decided this area, nestled in the trees of a quiet and peaceful valley, provided a perfect site for a public school based on the principles of Confucius. Most schools only provided education for the promising aristocratic children, but this school was unusual, in that it was open to the public, and designed to support itself.












An interesting phone booth with an elaborate roof.



There were many people visiting this famous site on this very hot, late summer Sunday afternoon.