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.
Villagers enjoy skiing in the winter and camping and fishing in the summer.
In September 1984 a big earthquake damaged many buildings in the village, including those at the school, and a lot of people were displaced from their homes. Traffic was cut off for a month, and villagers' daily lives were disrupted. Although many difficulties were encountered along the way, a new school building was finally completed about 10 years ago. It's spacious and strong, allowing it to serve as a shelter for local residents in the event of an emergency. The floors, walls, and ceilings use abundant lumber, and there is a pleasant smell of wood when walking through the halls or entering a classroom.