Takayama Jin'ya

Takayama Jin'ya is a historic administrative building in Takayama city, Gifu Prefecture, constructed entirely from timber and comprising several interconnected wings. The compound contains office rooms with low tables, large storehouses for rice and grain, and a central courtyard with gravel and greenery.

The shogunate took direct control of this territory in 1692 after the Kanamori clan left the region. The building served as the seat of the magistracy until 1868 and is now the only surviving Jin'ya in Japan.

The term Jin'ya refers to an Edo-period administrative office, and visitors today walk through rooms fitted with original timber floors and paper screens. Reception halls show different grades of matting that once reflected the status of arriving guests.

The compound lies roughly 15 minutes on foot from Takayama Station and opens daily from 8:45 AM to 5:00 PM during warmer months. Bring sturdy socks because visitors remove shoes and can explore multiple levels connected by wooden steps.

Throughout the rooms sit 152 nail covers shaped like rabbits, which local interpretation says remind officials to listen carefully to citizens. These small metal caps protected timber beams from moisture while also serving as decoration.