Usual hours and prices, checked 2026-09-15 against the sources under “What this place is”. They can change for holidays and events — confirm before you go. Official site
Our guide
Tomioka Silk Mill, founded by the government in 1872, is Japan's oldest modern model silk-reeling factory. It was set up to bring machine silk reeling from France and spread the technology across Japan, and all its buildings survive in very good condition. It is a National Historic Site, about 100 km northwest of Tokyo in the city of Tomioka.
Guided tours cost a little extra, and they are the way to understand what you are looking at. Last entry is at 16:30, and the mill occasionally closes for maintenance. Jōshū-Tomioka Station on the Jōshin Line is about 700 m away in a straight line. Nukisaki Shrine is about 2.7 km off.
Written by japan-spots.com (2026-09-22) from the sources credited on this page. Distances are straight lines between map positions.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, each under its own licence — see credits
- Tomioka Silk Mill East Cocoon Warehouse05 — Hasec · Public domain · source · resized
- TomiokaSilkMillJyokoMansion — Ippukucho · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
- TomiokaSilkMillDormitory — Ippukucho · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
- TomiokaSilkMillBrunatMansion — Ippukucho · CC BY 3.0 · source · resized
- 上州富岡製糸場 — Utagawa Kuniteru II · Public domain · source · resized
- 富岡製糸場・繰糸場 — yellow bird woodstock from JAPAN · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source · resized
What this place is
Tomioka Silk Mill (富岡製糸場, Tomioka Seishijō) is Japan's oldest modern model silk reeling factory, established in 1872 by the government to introduce modern machine silk reeling from France and spread its technology in Japan. The factory is designated by the government as a National Historic Site and all its buildings are preserved in very good condition. It is located in the city of Tomioka, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, about 100 km northwest of Tokyo. It is also featured as the 'ni' card in Jomo Karuta playing cards.
Visitor information checked: 2026-09-15 · Tomioka Silk Mill: visitor information
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What to expect at this type of place: Museum
Nearby station
Nearby station: Jōshū-Tomioka (Jōshin Line), about 700 m from the spot in a straight line.
Worked out on 2026-09-14 from this place’s map position, using HeartRails Express station data and station names from Wikidata. The distance is a straight line, not a walking route, and says nothing about buses, transfers or timetables — plan the trip on Google Maps.
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