Toyosato-cho, Shiga

Toyosato, Shiga (豊郷町; Toyosato-chō)
Toyosato Primary School designed by William Vories. More Toyosato photos here.
Google Map of Toyosato here.
Location	Shiga Prefecture, Kinki region, Honshu island, JAPAN
Population	7,212 (?? foreigners) (2022-10-31)
Area	7.78 km²
Town Centers	Toyosato Station
Major Sights	Itoh Chube'e Memorial House, Toyosato Primary School
Major Gateways	Toyosato Station
Train Stations	Ohmi Railways Toyosato Station
Claim to Fame	Toyosato Primary School
Products
Neighbors	Hikone, Aisho-cho, Kora-cho
Old Name(s)
Keywords	Itoh-chu, Marubeni
Historical Persons	Itoh Chube'e
Links	Toyosato Articles | Toyosato Photos
Toyosato Tourist Information
Location	Same as Town Hall
Phone	0749-35-8114
Tourist Links	Website
Int'l Association
Volunteer Guides	Webpage
Toyosato Town Hall 豊郷町役場
Address	〒529-1169滋賀県犬上郡豊郷町石畑375番地 Ishibatake 375, Toyosato-cho, Inukami-gun, Shiga-ken 529-1169 JAPAN
Phone/Fax	0749-35-8113
Official Site	Japanese | English
Symbols	Flower:	Azalea ツツジ
	Tree:	Ubame oak ウバメガシ
	Bird:	--
	Others:
	Logo:
Sister Towns	--

This page is 75% complete. Last updated Nov. 11, 2022

by Philbert Ono

Shiga's Anime Mecca

Toyosato (豊郷町; -chō) is a town in eastern Shiga Prefecture, Japan.

Famous for:

• Former Toyosato Elementary School designed by Vories and used in the anime "K-ON!"
• Birthplace of Itoh Chube'e, Omi merchant who founded ITOCHU Corporation, one of Japan's largest trading companies.
• One birthplace of the Goshu Ondo folk dance and songs native to Shiga.

With only 7.78 square km, Toyosato is Shiga's smallest town in area. It may be best known for the old Toyosato Primary School designed by William Merrell Vories in 1937. The town renovated the old building and opened it to the public in May 2009. A few of the rooms are in use as offices, pubic library, and children's play room. A few of the old classrooms have also been restored to their original state.

Anime fans have also begun visiting this old Toyosato Elementary School since it served as the model for the fictional high school in a late-night anime program called "K-ON!" (けいおん！) which started to air in April 2010. The town is trying to capitalize on this newfound fame by setting up a K-ON cafe and selling commemorative postage stamps with pictures of the school.

Toyosato also is the birthplace of Itoh Chube'e, an Omi shonin merchant and founder of ITOCHU Corporation, one of Japan's largest trading companies. His house is open to the public. Toyosato is also one place where the Goshu Ondo dance and song originated.

Toyosato (along with Yokaichi) is also one of the birthplaces of Goshu Ondo, Shiga's most famous folk song and dance. The person who created the Goshu Ondo was Nishizawa Torakichi (西沢寅吉) in Yokaichi (Higashi-Omi) in the latter 19th century. He also collaborated with another Yokaichi resident, Okumura Kuzaemon (奥村久衛左門). Torakichi was a master of composing and reciting prayer songs (祭文語り) that had centuries-old roots in propagational prayers composed by mountain ascetic priests. Elements of those old prayer songs remain in the Goshu Ondo. Torakichi modified it to integrate narrative singing which became a form of entertainment for the masses (before they had TV, movies, etc.).

Fujino Shirobe’e (二代目藤野四郎兵衛), a prosperous Omi merchant in Toyosato, rebuilt a neighborhood Buddhist temple called Senjuji temple (千樹寺) after it was destroyed in a fire. Shirobe’e wanted a new prayer song to dedicate the new temple in July 1846. Shirobe’e invited the renown Torakichi to Toyosato to compose a new prayer song. The song was performed and danced to at Senjuji temple. The villagers liked the song and danced to it at the temple. They used folding fans and umbrellas as props for the dance as they did for previous prayer songs. The new-style song came to be called “Goshu Ondo.”

Senjuji temple still stands near Toyosato Station. It has a stone monument for the Goshu Ondo. A park in Yokaichi also has a Goshu Ondo stone monument. I noticed a slight disagreement regarding the exact origin of the Goshu Ondo (Yokaichi vs. Toyosato), but it’s safe to say that it originated in both Yokaichi and Toyosato.

There are now many different Goshu Ondo songs. The lyrics include prayers (for good harvests, etc.) and drama-filled storytelling. They also have the same returning chorus (kakegoe) starting with “Sorya” or “Kora” (in Toyosato) as follows:

Sorya yoito yoiya maka dokkoisa no se!

ソリャ ヨイト ヨイヤ マカ ドッコイサーノッセ!

See the video embedded below or here: https://photoguide.jp/pix/displayimage.php?album=1018&pid=53773#top_display_media

Sights

Toyosato Primary School gate	Toyosato Primary School	Itoh Chube'e Memorial House
Itoh Chube'e Memorial House	Itoh Chube'e Monument	Toyosato Station

• Toyosato Elementary School 豊郷小学校 - Toyosato gained national attention when this old primary school building designed by William Merrell Vories was going to be torn down by the mayor in opposition to activists who wanted to preserve the building. The old building still remains while a new school has been built. The town did an excellent job in renovating the old building and opened the old school to visitors in May 2009. A few of the original 1930s-style classrooms have been restored and opened for public viewing. The school auditorium and former school library (now a gallery and event space) are also open for public viewing. There are also exhibition rooms, local Board of Education offices, public library, and tourist info counter. If you like Vories or architecture, visiting this school is highly recommended. Admission free. Within walking distance from Toyosato Station. Map

• Itoh Chube'e Memorial House 伊藤忠兵衛記念館 - Itoh Chube'e (1842-1903) was the founder of Itochu Corporation (C. Itoh) and Marubeni, two of Japan's largest trading companies, in 1858. This house displays his former residence and some of his possessions. It is on the Nakasendo Road. A short walk from Toyosato Station, the house is open to the public on Tue., Thu., and Sat. Free admission. Website Map

• Kurenai-en Park くれない園 - Small park with a monument dedicated to Itoh Chube'e. Built in 1935 and near the Itoh Chube'e Memorial House. Another monument dedicated to his brother Chobe'e (Chobei) is on the former site of Chobei's home, now a parking lot. Map

• Senjuji temple 千樹寺 - One of the places purported to be where the Goshu Ondo 江州音頭, Shiga's bon dance originated. Fujino Shirobe’e (二代目藤野四郎兵衛), a prosperous Omi merchant in Toyosato, rebuilt Senjuji temple after it was destroyed in a fire. Shirobe’e wanted a new prayer song to dedicate the new temple in July 1846. Shirobe’e invited the renown Torakichi to Toyosato to compose a new prayer song. The song was performed and danced to at Senjuji temple. The villagers liked the song and danced to it at the temple. They used folding fans and umbrellas as props for the dance as they did for previous prayer songs. The new-style song came to be called “Goshu Ondo.” Senjuji temple has a stone monument for the Goshu Ondo. Map

• Yutaka Kaikan 豊会館 - Local history museum in the former home of Fujino Kibe'e (Kibei) 藤野喜兵衛 who was an Omi merchant peddling dry goods all the way to Hokkaido where he expanded to fishing and became very successful. Open 9 am to 4 pm, closed Fri. Small admission charged. Map

Event Calendar

• Aug. - Goshu Ondo bon dance at Senjuji temple (千樹寺).

Travel Tips

• Most sights are within walking distance from the train station.
• It is a very rural town, with no souvenir shops and hardly any restaurants.
• Current weather warnings/advisories for Toyosato here (Japan Meteorological Agency).

Getting There

By Train

Toyosato has only one train station, Toyosato Station on the Ohmi Railways Line.

Train Lines & Stations

• Ohmi Railways Main Line (Honsen): Toyosato Station

Travel Time

• From Tokyo Station to Toyosato Station: JR Tokaido Shinkansen to Maibara Station (2.5 hours), then transfer to Ohmi Railways for Toyosato Station (27 min.).
• From Maibara Station to Toyosato Station: 27 min. via Ohmi Railways
• From Hikone Station to Toyosato Station: 16 min. via Ohmi Railways
• From Yokaichi Station to Toyosato Station: 15 min. via Ohmi Railways

Nearest Airports

• Kansai International Airport
• Central Japan International Airport (Centrair)
• Osaka International Airport

Getting Around

If you need a taxi, call for one at the train station.

Maps

Click on upper right icon to enlarge.

Photos

Hare and tortoise	Toyosato Elementary School classroom

More photos at Toyosato Photos. More Shiga photos here.

Side Trips

Other sights in neighboring cities/towns within easy reach from Toyosato.

• Hikone

History

• 1858 - At age 15, Itoh Chube'e (Chubei) founds Itoh Chube'e Shoten, now ITOCHU Corporation, dealing with textiles.
• 1898 - Toyosato Station opens.
• 1937 - Toyosato Primary School's classroom building and auditorium, designed by William Merrell Vories, are completed. Cost is donated by a director of Itoh Chubee Shoten, forerunner of Itoh-chu Corp.
• 1971 - Toyosato-mura village becomes Toyosato-cho town.
• 1999 - Toyosato mayor Ohno Wasaburo 大野和三郎 becomes mayor and announces his plan to demolish Toyosato Primary School and build a new school, citing the old building's earthquake vulnerability.
• 2002 - Citizens against the demolition of Toyosato Primary School succeed in obtaining a court order to stop the demolition. The mayor still proceeded to destroy part of the school, but soon faced protesters who camped out inside the school buildings. The mayor relented and the old school was saved.
• 2003 - A recall election for mayor was held, and Ohno Wasaburo is reelected. A new school is built while the old building is preserved.
• 2009 - The old Toyosato Primary School designed by William Vories is renovated and opened to the public in May.
• 2010 - Late-night anime program "K-ON!" (けいおん！) starts to air in April.

Additional Reading

• Origin of Goshu Ondo in Toyosato - August 30, 2013
• Old Toyosato Elementary School burglarized - November 22, 2010
• Old Toyosato Elementary School reborn - May 30, 2009

More Toyosato News here.

Miscellaneous

Trivia

• The local Toyosato Hospital was established in 1925 with funds donated by Itoh Chobe'e (七代目伊藤長兵衛), Chube'e's older brother and co-founder of Marubeni Corporation.

Famous People

Itoh Chube'e 伊藤忠兵衛 (1842-1903)

Omi shonin merchant and founder of Itochu Corporation (C. Itoh) and Marubeni, two of Japan's largest trading companies, in 1858. At age 15, he started out peddling his linen goods on foot from Shiga, traveling west to Wakayama and Osaka. He soon set up shop in Osaka. He even had a shop in San Francisco, California. His second son Seiichi, also born in Toyosato, set up the C. Itoh company in 1918 and started importing textiles from England where he had studied abroad.

Related Articles

• Shiga Prefecture
• Shiga Prefecture Sights
• Shiga Prefecture Transportation
• Shiga Prefecture Municipalities

External Links

• Toyosato Town Hall