20251216a Takayama, Japan

20251216a: It’s incredible how much we managed to fit into one day—it felt as though it just kept unfolding as we continued exploring this amazing town, visiting sites with histories stretching back hundreds of years. Next on our list was Takayama Jinya, which once served as the administrative headquarters of Hida Province when it was under the direct control of the Tokugawa Shogunate from 1692 to 1868.

Ash and Dad walking the streets in Takayama, a chance photo these days with his oldest son.

A street food stall specialising in mitarashi dango, a local specialty and a traditional Japanese rice dumplings skewered on a stick and covered with a sweet soy sauce glaze.

Takayama Jinya, the only complex of its kind in Japan where the main buildings from the Edo period still remain intact today. The site is now a nationally designated historic landmark and a museum open to the public, showcasing offices, conference rooms, and residential spaces.

Now let’s step inside and check this place out, but first we must all remove our boots, just as well we have thick socks on to keep our feet warm as there are no slippers supplied.

This is the place where the meals for the provincial governor/magistrate and his family were prepared.

A traditional Japanese wood-burning cooking stove, or kamado.

OMG, check out my crazy daughter, she had me in fits of laughter.

One of the gardens inside the complex.

In Japan, trees are often tied up or wrapped during winter to protect them from heavy snow and pests. This practice, known as teien no fuyu-jitaku (garden winter preparation), is both practical and visually appealing, combining clever engineering with a strong sense of seasonal style.

Sharyn play acts in one of the many rooms, and I have no clue what she’s doing.🤷‍♀️

A traditional Japanese sword, identified as a katana named "Noshu Kanehiro"

The fam exploring the inside of Takayama Jinya, take note of the feet, no shoes allowed.

Officials interrogated suspects by seating them on a plank and weighing down their knees with stones. The drawing shows ishidaki, an Edo-period (1603–1868) Japanese interrogation method used in government offices known as jinya, including Takayama Jinya.

Another drawing depicting a  Japanese restraint or interrogation, likely associated with the law enforcement and judicial functions of an Edo period government office.

Oshirasu was the area where prisoners sat and were sometimes subjected to severe punishment. Methods used during that era could be harsh, yet modern Japan is known for being a peaceful and respectful nation these days

The sign says to please touch the tree and feel the warmth, well neither Sharyn or I could feel any warmth.

Straw rice sacks, known as nengu-mahyo, which were used to store the annual rice tax paid by local villages.

Hanamochi are traditional Japanese decorations made by attaching small rice cakes to branches. They’re often used around New Year, especially in regions where flowers don’t bloom in winter.

Stone-weighted long barrel roofing is a traditional Japanese building method where stones are placed on wooden shingles to hold them down and keep the roof secure

So the boys have had enough of exploring old buildings so it’s time to move on and get the hell out of here.

I look across the street and spotted a rooftop Bar, maybe nice in the summer months but a bit chilly this time of the year.

The boys pose beside this statue, which represents an Edo-period official in traditional clothing and holding a symbol of authority and who enforced law and order. The kimono and hairstyle are typical of the Edo era (1603–1868). The object in his hand is likely a jitte (a short metal truncheon) or an inrō—both symbols of rank and authority rather than weapons. His upright, composed stance emphasises governance and order, not battle. Statues like this don’t usually represent an individual person, but instead symbolise the role of officials who governed on behalf of the Tokugawa shogunate—overseeing taxation, justice, and administration.

Hamish and Owen play acting: Armed with souvenir Japanese swords, the boys transformed a quiet street into their own samurai showdown. Serious faces, dramatic poses, and plenty of sound effects followed, until laughter broke the spell and the warriors retired—honour intact and ready for snacks.

The End of Another Blog