A day trip from Tokyo| A walking tour of Gunma's retro town of Tomioka Silk Mill, a World Heritage Site

Travel time: Approximately 3-4 hours (walking)

Recommended courses:

① Visit to Tomioka Silk Mill(60 minutes) → ② Lunch at Takada Shokudo (60 minutes) → ③ Stroll along Ginza and its alleys (60 minutes)

• Table of Contents
• First, stand at the entrance to time. Tomioka Silk Mill.
• Why does this town have such a Showa feel?
• Takada Shokudo - "That curry" that soothed the hearts of factory girl
• Ginza Street - The street where factory girl laughed together
• Exploring the alleys: narrow prefectural roads and cute streetlights
• Summary: Feeling the "present" amidst nostalgia

First, stand at the entrance to time. Tomioka Silk Mill.

About a 15-minute walk from Tomioka Station, the moment the huge red brick building comes into view, the atmosphere suddenly changes.

This is Tomioka Silk Mill, Japan's first full-scale mechanized silk-reeling factory, built in 1872.

It was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2014 as a place that supported Japan's modernization and silk industry.

Young women known as "kojo" (factory girls) gathered from all over the country to work, live, and create the future here.

As I walk through the quiet premises, I can no longer hear the sounds of machinery or sense of people, but for some reason, time seems to have a different depth to it here.

And from the moment you leave this entrance, the entire town of Tomioka slowly transitions into the Showa .

Tomioka Thread Mill

1-1 Tomioka, Tomioka City, Gunma Prefecture 370-2316

Founded in 1872 (Meiji 5), Tomioka Silk Mill is a model government-run factory that supported Japan's modernization. Buildings from the time of the mill's founding, such as the red brick East and West Cocoon Warehouses and the Silk Reeling Plant, still remain, allowing visitors to experience the history of manufacturing firsthand. In 2014, the mill was registered as a World Heritage Site, and it has become a popular tourist spot where visitors can learn about the progress of Japan's Industrial Revolution while strolling through the town.

Why does this town have such a Showa feel?

As I got off at Tomioka Station and headed towards the silk mill, I was overcome with a strange feeling.

The appearance of the buildings, the shop signs, the atmosphere of the streets - everything is "just as it was in the old days."

What is Showa?

This was a period of great change in Japan, lasting from 1926 to 1989.

It was also an era when people's lives, the bustle of shopping streets, handwritten signs, and friendly townscapes remained vividly present.

Since the Tomioka Silk Mill ceased operations in 1987, the town has avoided major development.

That is why the scenery the factory girl saw remains the same today.

We can walk the same streets they walked.

That is what makes the town of Tomioka so special.

Tomioka Silk Mill Website

Takada Shokudo - "That curry" that soothed the hearts of factory girl

Takada Shokudo has an unassuming sign on a corner of Ginza Street.

Founded in 1953, it has been loved by locals for over 70 years.

This was also an important place to eat for the factory girl at the silk mill.

The reason why it was loved by factory girl

At that time, the factory girl worked hard in unfamiliar territory.

For these women, Takada Shokudo's curry is a "comforting taste."

It was cheap, filling, and warming—a dish that satisfied both my heart and my stomach.

Prices at the time of the interview. When the owner was a child, ramen was 50 yen and curry was 400 yen, which were very reasonable prices.

The third-generation owner of the restaurant spoke fondly of those days.

"I delivered to the factory girl on my motorbike, even on rainy or snowy days. I think the most popular delivery was katsudon, because it's delicious even when cold."

Such words convey just how closely this store has been integrated into people's lives.

I ordered the classic "curry rice" (750 yen).

It looks simple, but when you put a spoon in it, you'll be surprised by the deep flavor of the ingredients and the sauce that have been simmered for a long time.

Ingredients: Largely cut pork and meltingly soft onions

Roux: A mellow and rich flavor. Easy to eat even when you're tired.

Rice: generously portioned, enough to satisfy the stomach of a working person

It's not flashy, but it's an " everyday treat ."

Apparently the color of the curry changes depending on how it is fried, and the recipe has remained the same since it was first made.

By the time you finish eating, your heart will be Oku.

Souvenirs: Ready-to-eat "Curry loved by the Tomioka Silk Mill factory girl " (2 bags for 800 yen) is also available.

The cute packaging is the same size as a brick from the silk mill, allowing you to enjoy the afterglow of your trip at home.

Takada Shokudo

22 Tomioka , Tomioka City, Gunma Prefecture Prefecture, 370-2316

Business hours: 11:30 - until sold out

Irregular holidays Please check the store calendar

Payment method: Cash

Ginza Street - The street where factory girl laughed together

5 minutes walk from Tomioka Silk Mill .

Ginza Street , which still retains a strong nostalgic Japanese Showa feel, was once a place of relaxation for factory girl.

In the 1950s, there was a movie theater on this street, and it was said to be bustling with people on weekends, just like Takeshita Street in Tokyo, which is still famous for being crowded today.

I wonder if the factory girl, after work, were looking up at the screen with their colleagues, laughing and crying.

Looking up at the old signs and wooden buildings that still remain, you can almost hear the lively voices of those days.

The retro signs of the pachinko parlors remain, and the whole town looks like a "good old album."

Exploring the alleys: narrow prefectural roads and cute streetlights

A short walk from Takada Shokudo, there is a small square called "Otomi-chan Square."

Passing alongside it is a very narrow prefectural road that is only 1.65m wide.

Although there are buildings on both sides and the road is only wide enough for one person to pass through, it is a legitimate prefectural road.

Anyone walking through it for the first time will be amazed, as it feels like walking through a secret passage.

Cute street lights

The city of Tomioka is lined with streetlights with different designs depending on the location.

Some are old-fashioned round ones, while others have designs of little birds perched on them.

Even the round shapes are subtly different, and they show a different expression with every step.

In the evening, each street lamp emits a gentle light, enveloping the entire street in a nostalgic atmosphere.

Gas lamps at Hikari Park

Hikari Park, near the station, has recently installed gas lamps.

As dusk falls, the orange light slowly comes on, gently illuminating the quiet park.

This may be a light that did not exist in the time of the factory girl.

However, it is a place where you can feel a "new nostalgia" that symbolizes the current Tomioka.

Summary: Feeling the "present" amidst nostalgia

Walking through the town of Tomioka, you can feel the "warmth of the people" that has continued through the ages.

The smiles of the factory girl, the bonds between coworkers, and the unchanging taste of Takada Shokudo's curry.

The retro atmosphere of this town is not just old, but is proof that "someone's life" still thrives.

We hope you too will feel the warmth of the Showa in this place where the past and present gently blend together.