Take the Joshin Railway from Takasaki to Joshu-Tomioka Station (35 mins, 810 yen). From the station, it's a 10–15 minute walk to the silk mill. You can also buy a 2200 yen round-trip ticket that includes entry to the mill. A local loop bus runs every 40–60 minutes between the station, parking area, and silk mill (100 yen per ride).
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Tomioka Silk Mill
1 of 4 in Tomioka
Tomioka Silk Mill (富岡製糸場, Tomioka Seishijō) is Japan’s first modern silk factory, founded in 1872 with French expertise to transform silkworm cocoons into raw silk. It played a key role in Japan’s industrial revolution and helped make Japanese silk a global trade item. Its efforts to modernize the textile industry led to decades of economic growth, and even influenced companies like Toyota and Nissan, which started in textile-related technology.
The site features well-preserved brick buildings including the reeling mill, east and west warehouses, and the former residence of the French director, Paul Brunat. The large complex was built in Tomioka due to its rich natural resources, cool climate, and good transport access to Yokohama. Visitors can enter several buildings, explore old silk machines, and enjoy free multilingual audio tours. Guided tours in Japanese are available for a small fee.
Hours and Fees
Tomioka Silk Mill
- Opening hours
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9:00 to 17:00 (last admission 16:30)
- Closed
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No closing days
- Entrance fee
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1000 yen
Getting there
Google MapsResources
Japanese
Tomioka Silk Mill
Official website
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