Memories of Yamashita-ya
In Hida Takayama, there is a house that has stood for over 130 years.
Thick beams, pillars, alcoves, and floorboards that have stood the test of time.
And this house has not only a building,
Two pianos, books left on the bookshelf, etc.
Traces of the people who once lived here remained.
If you examine each of them one by one, two names will emerge.
Yamashita Sasuke. And Yamashita Fuerō.
From the remnants of an old house, to the town of Takayama.
The history of Yamashita-ya gradually continued into the future.
"Yamashita-ya" and Hōōdai
"Yamashita-ya" is not a new name given specifically for this inn.
It is a family name that has been passed down in the Yamashita family for generations.
The name "Sasuke" has been passed down through generations.
Records from the end of the Edo period remaining in Takayama also show that
You can see the name "Yamashita-ya Sasuke" .
Furthermore, the history of the Yamashita family is deeply connected to the Takayama Festival.
According to the documents, when the Phoenix Platform was constructed,
Because Yamashita Sasuke, a member of the group, bore the majority of the expenses,
It is noted that it was once known as "Yamashita-ya's stall."
Sasuke was also in a position to lead the group of float makers for the Hōōdai festival.
The name of a house becomes the name of the festival float.
There was a time when the Yamashita family lived in harmony with the town of Takayama.
Musicians who lived in this house
Fuero Yamashita
1903, Meiji 36.
Yamashita Fuero was born into the Yamashita family.
Fuero pursued a career in music, studying under Kosuke Komatsu, Tamotsu Kinoshita, and Tamezo Narita, among others.
After that, I became involved in music education at Hida Junior High School.
His legacy lives on at the current Hida High School.
He is introduced as a pioneering figure in Western music and school music education in the Hida region.
"Hida High School March" was created in 1936 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of Hida Junior High School.
The lyrics were written by Yuzaki Fukuda, a leading poet from Takayama.
The composer was Yamashita Fuero.
Fuerō not only composed music, but also dedicated himself to music education in Hida.
Later, he played a key role in the founding of the Takayama Citizens' Choir "Hikyo" and served as its first director.
The music that one teacher introduced at school eventually spread beyond the school.
And then it spread to the town of Takayama.
Music left in stone
"Hida Mountain Girl"
The music that Fuerō left behind is not only preserved within Yamashita-ya.
One example is "Hida Yama Musume," composed by Fuerō .
This song has been passed down through generations, and a monument has been erected to commemorate it and pass it on to future generations.
Even today, a monument inscribed with that song remains in front of the train station in Takayama town.
Music, by its very nature, has no physical form.
Once the performance is over, the sound fades away.
However, the music that was passed down from person to person eventually became inscribed in stone.
Inside Yamashita-ya, traces of where Fueiro lived remain.
The town still carries the music left behind by Fuero.
Memories of Fuero remain both inside the house and throughout the town.
Two pianos and books left behind in this house
Two old upright pianos remained at Yamashita-ya.
This instrument is said to have been used by Fuero, according to the Yamashita family.
When we inquired with Yamaha about the number "6095" that remained on one of the units,
It is highly likely to be a serial number.
We received a response stating that it is presumed to have been manufactured during the Meiji or Taisho period.
Even in the remaining serial number records,
"6095" is thought to be a number from the Taisho period.
The railway line to Takayama opened in 1934 (Showa 9).
This piano was made in an earlier era.
When and how did this piano come into the Yamashita family's possession?
The full details of what happened are still unknown.
However, after about a century,
The piano that Fueiro is said to have played still remains in this house.
And along with the piano, what was left behind was Fuero's personal library.
What were they reading, what were they learning, and what were they thinking about?
The books left on the bookshelf,
This provides clues about the person named Fuerō and the history this house has experienced.
At Yamashita-ya, instead of carefully storing these away,
We have kept it as something that people can actually touch and experience.
Touch the piano keys and make a sound.
I picked up a book from the bookshelf and turned the pages.
Those items weren't added later to make the house look like an old traditional Japanese house.
These are things that have truly been left behind in this house.
History that you can not only look at, but also touch.
I will read a book and play the piano, just as someone once did in this house.
That time, too, will become a new memory of Yamashita-ya.
Instead of displaying old things, we preserve what has truly survived.
Yamashita-ya is not a newly built inn with a "traditional Japanese house" style.
This is a house that has lived for over 130 years.
Tokonoma (alcove).
Thick beams and columns.
Floorboards that have stood the test of time.
Old building fixtures.
The sense of age there is present even in things made with modern materials.
It hasn't been processed to look old or anything like that.
This is the real time that this house has etched over more than 130 years.
That's why at Yamashita-ya, we didn't choose to completely change everything.
We will preserve as much as we can.
Scratches, fading, and warping of the wood,
This house carries on a part of the history it has lived through.
On the other hand, I felt there was no need to retain the inconveniences of the old way of life.
Bathrooms, washrooms, toilets, kitchens, and other water-related areas will be equipped with modern fixtures.
Even in a space that evokes a sense of history,
We have made arrangements to ensure that your stay is as comfortable as possible.
Rather than creating something new from the old,
Preserving authenticity while bringing only modern comfort.
That's Yamashita-ya's approach to preserving old houses.
Borrowing 130 years of history for just one night.
Just like people once lived here, read books, and played the piano.
Now, travelers spend a night here.
From the perspective of 130 years, one night is just a fleeting moment.
Yet, even that one night becomes a part of Yamashitaya's history.
Touch the piano. Pick up a book. Walk on the old floorboards. Look up at the beams.
Spend a night within the time left here, not just looking at it.
Don't just tour history—carry on its story, even if just for one night.
And when morning comes, move on to the next time.
The 130 years received from the Yamashita family, onward to the next hundred years.
YAMASHITAYA
Hida Takayama, Japan
