[Gunma, Tomioka] A hidden gem perfect for a day trip! Enjoy Japanese history and local experiences!

Spot 1: Tomioka Suwa Shrine (Approximately a 5-minute walk from Tomioka Station)

First, there is Tomioka Suwa Shrine, located about a 5-minute walk from Tomioka Station. This shrine is located on the way to the Tomioka Silk Mill and is compact and easy to tour, with the carvings on the shrine building being very intricately crafted.

The blessings of Tomioka Suwa Shrine include "prayer for prosperous business and victory."

When I visited, there were many chrysanthemum flowers lined up in front of the worship hall, and the scenery, with its harmonious colors amidst the shrine's solemn atmosphere, gave it an even more Japanese feel.

Tomioka Suwa Shrine

1130 Tomioka , Tomioka City, Gunma Prefecture Prefecture, 370-2316

*There are no specific opening hours, and it is recommended that you visit the shrine until 4:00 p.m.

TEL 0274-62-1112

Free parking available

Spot 2: Tomioka Silk Mill (about a 15-minute walk from the station)

The Tomioka Silk Mill is a must-see when visiting Tomioka City . The brick building opposite the main entrance (the East Cocoon Storage Facility) is very impressive.

Tomioka Silk Mill was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2014. Its historical value is highly valued for the following three achievements:

・Introduction and spread of modern technology

・The impact of mass production of high-quality raw silk on the world

・Impact on Japanese society and the working environment

Throughout the grounds, there are buildings that evoke the atmosphere of Japan at that time, giving you a nostalgic feeling.

I'm sure it must be deeply moving for the local people and those involved with the Tomioka Silk Mill that its existence and significance have become widely recognized since it was registered as a World Heritage Site and many tourists have started visiting.

I myself am from Tomioka, but when I was little I didn't yet understand the significance of its existence.

However, ever since I became aware of things, I have been able to learn a lot by looking into the history of the Tomioka Silk Mill, which made a major contribution to the modernization of Japan.

Things like how things are created, social structures, and history are all accumulations of what we have now.

The Tomioka Silk Mill is a World Heritage Site that makes you realize how important it is to know history in this way.

Be sure to visit the Tomioka Silk Mill, which was the foundation of Japan's modernization.

Tomioka Silk Mill

Address: 1-1 Gunma Prefecture, Tomioka Tomioka City, Gunma Prefecture

Admission fee: Adults: 1,000 yen, High school and university students: 250 yen, Elementary and junior high school students: 100 yen

Admission times: 9:00-17:00 (last admission at 16:30)

TEL 0274-67-0075

Tomioka Silk Mill's official website

If you are coming by car, please use nearby municipal parking lots (free or paid).

There is a guide app available in multiple languages. For more information, please see the link below.

Find out more about guided tours here

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.

Spot 3: Okaju Meat Specialty Shop (10-minute walk from Tomioka Station)

This restaurant is famous for its fried offal, a delicious B-grade gourmet dish.

It has been featured in the media many times in the past, and many people have visited it.

This famous fried offal is said to be especially delicious when it's freshly fried!

It's crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, and the aroma of Worcestershire sauce and fried food is so delicious it'll bring a smile to your face.

What's more, the cost performance is surprisingly good at 150 yen for 3 bottles.

Although the product name is "fried hormone meat," it is made by deep-frying sliced ​​chikuwa fish cakes coated in breadcrumbs and does not contain any meat hormones, so even those who cannot eat meat can enjoy it with peace of mind. Okashige only fries the food after receiving an order, so you can enjoy it freshly fried.

We also recommend the traditional croquettes.

This delicious croquette has a creamy texture and the gentle sweetness of the potatoes fills your mouth. It's also very reasonably priced at 80 yen per piece.

Many of Okaju's products are inexpensive, and the reason for this is that they want local children and students to feel comfortable dropping by and come back to the store, so I got the feeling that this is a store that has been deeply rooted in the local community for a long time.

The shop seems to be run mainly by the husband and his sister, and we were treated with a pleasant attitude that was evident in their kind nature.

Allergy information is also listed in multiple languages ​​for tourists visiting Japan, so please refer to it.

This is a delicious Tomioka gourmet dish that you can easily enjoy, so I highly recommend you try it at least once.

Meat Specialty Store Okaju

1051-3 Tomioka , Tomioka City, Gunma Prefecture , 370-2316

Business hours: 10:00-18:30 (closed on Wednesdays)

TEL 0274-62-0278

*If you are coming by car, please use the nearby municipal parking lot.

Spot 4: Hanami Senbei

This is a long-established rice cracker shop located diagonally across from Okaju, a meat specialty store.

Hanami Senbei is located near the Tomioka Silk Mill, and we decided to visit after hearing that the factory girl who worked at the silk mill at the time would often buy senbei here as souvenirs when they returned to their hometowns.

The main product, "Hanami Okaki," comes in four varieties, including three types made with nori seaweed, granulated sugar, and kelp, as well as a new product made with silk, a specialty of Tomioka City.

They are made using 100% domestically produced rice and each one is baked by hand.

Each rice cracker has its own unique character, and the crispy texture is very satisfying. The aroma that only rice crackers that are carefully baked by hand can give off is also appetizing. I enjoyed every single one!

These cherry blossom viewing rice crackers are also available as hometown tax donation items, and many customers purchase them as souvenirs or gifts both in stores and online.

The shop seems to be run by a father and son, and we were able to take a commemorative photo of the owner, who told us a lot of stories.

How about buying some cherry blossom rice crackers as a souvenir when you visit Tomioka City ?

Hanami Senbei

1060 Tomioka , Tomioka City, Gunma Prefecture Prefecture, 370-2316

Business hours: 9:30-18:00 (closed on Sundays)

TEL 0274-62-0508

Parking: 1 car

Conclusion

The above is an introduction to the spots you can stop by while sightseeing at the Tomioka Silk Mill, a World Heritage Site in Tomioka City .

In addition to the spots introduced this time, there are many other shops around the Tomioka Silk Mill, with a wide range of places to stop by, so be sure to check them out!

Tomioka City is a city filled with nostalgic charm that will excite and evoke feelings of nostalgia, especially for those who love Japanese history, the retro atmosphere unique to Japanese culture, and those who love local areas.

If you come to Japan from overseas, we hope you will enjoy sightseeing in Tomioka City and fall in love with Japan even more!