Kondou Jin'ya

Kondō-jin'ya is a minor jin'ya (compound) site in the picturesque settlement of Kondō (in the former Gokashō Township of Kanzaki County). Kondō developed primarily as a mercantile town. The site of the jin'ya is now that of several historic residences which belonged to the Nakae and Tonomura mercant

History

Kondō-jin'ya was a minor jin'ya governing a sub-fief which belonged to Yamato-Kôriyama Domain, constructed in 1693. A governing magistrate, two clerks and two scribes staffed the jin'ya, likely with a small compliment of enforcers.

Field Notes

Kondō-jin'ya is a minor jin'ya (compound) site in the picturesque settlement of Kondō (in the former Gokashō Township of Kanzaki County). Kondō developed primarily as a mercantile town. The site of the jin'ya is now that of several historic residences which belonged to the Nakae and Tonomura mercantile families. At least two residences are open to the public without reservation, the houses of Nakae Jungorō and Tonomura Shigeru, whilst the Tonomura Ubē residence is now an inn.

The jin'ya contained offices, residences, storehouses and prison cells. It was surrounded by a wall and moats, and accessed via a nagayamon, a type of single-storey gatehouse. This nagayamon still exists, having been relocated to a nearby temple, Shōtokuji. There were other gates besides, at least one of which has also been relocated off-site - at Reisenji in a neighbouring town. A shrine to Inari built at the jin'ya survives on-site.

The Tonomura Shigeru residence is the main inheritor of the jin'ya, and still has walls, gates and ensconcing waterways. As a writer, Tonomura Shigeru was the best known member of the family, and so the residence is known as Tonomura Shigeru's mansion, as he was born there, and also took over the family business in bringing cotton to market. The residence consists of a two storey main house with several wings, including a kitchen hall, and a spacious garden. The whole property is walled and a waterway courses in the east. A small structure grants access to this waterway from inside of the residence; sluices can be used to fill the basement portion of the structure to create a pool.

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Gallery

Jin'ya site (Tomono Shigeru Residence)
Jin'ya site today
Relocated nagayamon at Shōtokuji
Relocated gate at Reisenji
Relocated gate at Reisenji

Castle Profile
English Name	Kondou Jin'ya
Japanese Name	金堂陣屋
Founder	Yamato-Kôriyama Domain
Year Founded	1693
Castle Type	Flatland
Castle Condition	No main keep but other buildings
Historical Period	Edo Period
Artifacts	Nagayamon (relocated)
Features	gates, water moats, stone walls, walls
Visitor Information
Access	Gokashō Station on the Ōmi Railway Kotō Line; 30 min walk
Hours	Tonomura Residence open 10:00-16:30 (exc. Mon.)
Time Required	60 mins
Location	Ōmi-Hachiman, Shiga Prefecture
Coordinates	35.15462, 136.17961
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2025
Contributor	ART
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed
Friends of JCastle
Jōkaku Hōrōki
Jōshi Meguri Bibōroku
Oshiro Tabi Nikki

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