Shizutani Rongo-juku, December 2026 | Reading Confucius in a National Treasure Hall, in the Same City as Our Hinase Stay
Shizutani School, founded in the Edo period as a school open to commoners, holds a monthly session for reading the Analects of Confucius aloud in its National Treasure lecture hall. The December session is on Sunday the 20th.
What is it?
Shizutani School was founded in the 17th century by Ikeda Mitsumasa, lord of the Okayama domain, as a place where ordinary people — not only samurai — could study. Its lecture hall, roofed with dark Bizen-ware tiles, is designated a National Treasure, and its polished wooden floor still holds a deep calm.
The "Shizutani Rongo-juku" is a session where participants read passages of the Analects of Confucius (Rongo in Japanese) aloud in that hall and reflect on their meaning. In fiscal 2026 it is held on the third Sunday of each month. Sitting where students once sat and reciting the same words is a quiet way to experience the roots of learning in Japan. The session is conducted in Japanese.
Date and venue
- Date: Sunday, December 20, 2026
- Time: 13:30–14:30 (according to the Okayama Prefecture tourism website)
- Venue: Lecture hall, Special Historic Site Former Shizutani School (Bizen City, Okayama)
- For fees and reservations, please check the official information. Participants sit on the wooden floor, and wearing socks is requested.
Getting there from our stay
- Shizutani School is in Bizen City, the same city as our Hinase stay. Public transport is limited, so a car is the easiest option.
- By train, take the JR Ako Line toward Bizen-Katakami and continue by local bus. Please check timetables in advance.
Tips for the day
- Before or after the session, walk the grounds — the Confucian shrine and the long stone wall are highlights. After the autumn leaves are gone, winter at Shizutani is quiet and the architecture stands out.
- On the way back, stop in Imbe, the home of Bizen ware pottery, where kilns and galleries line the streets — the same earth used for the school's roof tiles.
- Winter is oyster season in Hinase. Try local seafood at the markets and restaurants near the port.
Official information
- Shizutani Rongo-juku (Okayama Kanko Web, Japanese)
- Special Historic Site Former Shizutani School (Japanese)
After an afternoon of learning, unwind at our Hinase stay — a quiet harbor town evening is a fine way to end the day.