Nara City Tourism Association

Jinya is a residence and government office built mainly during the Edo period to govern the territories of the lords of small feudal domains. They are characterized by not having large-scale defensive facilities, such as castles, but rather being specialized for administrative and residential purposes.

It took three years to complete it after Yagyu Munenori, the first lord of the Yagyu Domain, built his family temple, Houtoku-ji, in 1642. Following the abolition of the feudal domain system and the establishment of prefectures at the beginning of the Meiji era (1868), the area became the Yagyu Prefectural Office, but now only the well and stone walls remain.

It has been developed into a historical park and is a well-known cherry blossom spot featuring about 300 Somei-yoshino cherry trees planted in the surrounding area. Every year, the cherry blossoms bloom later than they do in the center of Nara City. During the Yagyu Cherry Blossom Festival, held annually in early April, there are stage events, including thunderous matchlock gun demonstrations, as well as sales of local food, drinks, and specialty products.