Suzaka Jin'ya

Suzaka Jin'ya is an Edo-period administrative complex containing several preserved structures including a bell tower, stone-reinforced ramparts, and a relocated gatehouse. Parts of these buildings sit within a local sake brewery, displaying the typical layout of a regional government office.

The complex was founded between 1615 and 1617 by a member of the Hori family as a regional administration center under the Tokugawa shogunate. It served the Suzaka region as a local government office across several generations.

The complex reflects traditional wooden construction methods and spatial layouts typical of Edo-period administration buildings. Visitors can observe how the structures were organized to serve their governmental functions.

The site is about a 15-minute walk from Suzaka Station on the Nagano Line and is located near a local history museum. The remains are spread across several areas between Okuda Shrine and Suzaka Elementary School.

The bell tower is one of the few surviving original jin'ya structures still standing in Japan. Its location near Suzaka Elementary School allows visitors to see it alongside the fortification remains in a relatively compact area.