Oumi Watchmaking School

Based in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, Oumi Watchmaking School is one of Japan’s specialist vocational institutions dedicated to the training of professional watchmakers. Attached to Omi Jingu, the school offers a three-year watchmaking programme focused on the technical skills required to service, repair and restore both contemporary and traditional timepieces. Students study the structure, assembly, regulation and repair of mechanical watches and clocks, while also learning to manufacture essential components such as winding stems and balance staffs. Training extends from modern Swiss watches and chronographs to pocket watches, clocks, quartz movements and antique timepieces, combining traditional hand skills with practical workshop experience. The school has operated within Japan’s vocational education system for decades and has produced graduates who go on to work for watch manufacturers, service centres, specialist repair companies and independent workshops. Through its small cohorts and intensive technical curriculum, Oumi Watchmaking School remains an important institution for professional watchmaking education in Japan.