Otaki Elementary and Middle School

Where we're located, our history, and the kind of facilities we have

The Otaki School is located in Nagano Prefecture at the foot of a large mountain. There's a pleasant smell of wood in the building, recently rebuilt using abundant lumber, and around it are fields of vegetables. There's only one class per grade, so the 129 students all know each like brothers and sisters.

Go to "About Us"

The school festival, field day, and other big days students look forward to

Because logging is a major industry in the area, students learn to use wood to make instruments like the violin. They can also take electives like cooking local delicacies. For several decades, students have been trekking to neighboring Mt. Ontake every year to clean up the litter left behind by climbers.

Go to "Special Events"

Take this virtual tour to see what it's like to spend a day with us

Classes at Otaki Elementary School begin at 8:55 a.m., but once a week pupils come much earlier to weed the schoolyard or shovel snow around the school. The Middle School starts 10 minutes earlier and ends 20 minutes later. Besides classes, the students are assigned to raise animals or grow vegetables.

Go to "Step Inside"

The things we do differently from other schools

The village of Otaki has a unique exchange program under which city kids attend the school for a year. They get to experience life in the countryside and learn to look after themselves. They also enjoy fishing, camping, and skiing and like program so much that some stay for a second or third year.

Go to "Distinctive Features"