Aspiring to the Way, Enjoying the Arts—The Mito Domain School, Kodokan, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture

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Devoted to the Way, Enchanted by the Arts—Mito Han School Kodokan, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture

Address: 1-6-29 San-no-maru, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Access: Approximately a 10-minute walk from JR Mito Station
Admission: Adults 420 yen, Elementary and Junior High School Students 210 yen

Kodokan was a school for the former Mito Domain. It was one of the key measures implemented by the ninth lord, Tokugawa Nariakira, to implement the domain's political reforms. It officially opened in 1857.

As a domain school, Kodokan covered approximately 10.5 hectares, making it the largest school in Japan. Samurai and their children studied at Kodokan from the age of 15 until the age of 40. With no graduation system, Kodokan was a form of lifelong education.

The Kodokan emphasizes both academics and martial arts, offering a wide range of courses, encompassing academic fields such as Confucianism, etiquette, history, astronomy, mathematics, cartography, waka poetry, and music, as well as martial arts such as swordsmanship, spearmanship, judo, military affairs, firearms, equestrianism, and swimming. Besides offering both literary and martial arts training, the Kodokan also houses a medical school for training physicians, which not only teaches medicine but also provides vaccines and pharmaceuticals.

Compared to the luxurious Kobun-tei at Kairakuen, the Kodokan is quite simple, giving the impression of a place dedicated to serious study. Exhibits include historical textbooks from various disciplines, including geometry and mathematics (shake).

Because Tokugawa Saiaki was a great lover of plum trees, Kodokan and the surrounding Kodokan Park are home to numerous varieties. When I visited, the blooming season had passed, leaving the area lush and green. Visiting in bloom would have been truly stunning.

Post by AndreaJulio | Sep 27, 2025