What other travelers are saying about Shoshinsha Model Silkworm Room
This is a facility for experiments and practice aimed at improving the productivity of the sericulture industry, which supported Japan's modernization. While Takayamasha, designated as part of the Tomioka Silk Mill and Silk Industry Heritage Site, is more well-known as a similar facility, Kyoshinsha is also quite impressive. Takayama Chogoro of Takayamasha and Kimura Kuzo of Kyoshinsha were brothers, with the eldest son Chogoro inheriting the Takayama family and Kuzo marrying into the Kimura family. The brothers realized that they could produce fine cocoons in the well-ventilated, warm-air-flowing second-floor silkworm room, and each used their own ingenuity to contribute to improving sericulture.
The wooden model silkworm room does not have a modern appearance, but it has been carefully ventilated and various measures have been put in place to thoroughly control temperature and humidity. It would have been difficult for an ordinary farmer to create such an environment, but it nonetheless serves as a good example.
It is within easy walking distance from Kodama Station on the JR Hachiko Line, and is also close to the Kijioka Castle Ruins and the Hanawa Hokiichi Memorial Museum. Rather than aimlessly waiting for the infrequent trains, you may find that exploring the area broadens your horizons.
We admire the founding spirit of the Meiji era, when silkworms transported silk to Yokohama Port by waterway and rail! The site is spacious and free of charge at the municipal facility in Kodama-cho, now Honjo. We apologize for stepping on and killing the silkworms.
It seems that this was a place where sericulture workers from all over the country came to learn about sericulture. Not only is the exterior beautiful, but there is also much to see, such as the ingenuity of the building's structure and fittings. It is an eco-house that is still relevant today, so I think it is a must-see for anyone involved in architecture.
To give you one example, the ingenuity under the floor is a system you won't see anywhere else, with bricks for storing heat and a way of dividing the space to send heat inside the room, making it a building that is more impressive the more you look at it. You can see it by peering into the foundation on that side, so if you're interested, be sure to take a look!
Apparently the building was reassembled by moving the old building slightly.
It's great that the original building has been turned into an exhibition space.
It's a great place to drop in and have a quick look around. And it's free!
The manager was also very friendly and nice.
It's been a while since I last visited. I'm always amazed at the system for raising silkworms, which involves placing a hearth at the bottom of the silkworm racks to keep them warm. Negishi Hisashi, a local photographer who deeply loved Kodama, passed away last year, and I was touched to see that his photographs were somehow on display. I'm truly grateful to Negishi-san for all his help. I'll visit again.
A Shoshinsha model silkworm room is a traditional Japanese sericulture facility designed for beginners (shoshinsha means beginner in Japanese) to learn about silk production and silkworm farming. These educational facilities can be found in silk-producing regions like Gunma Prefecture, particularly around Tomioka Silk Mill, and offer hands-on experiences for tourists interested in Japan's silk heritage.
Shoshinsha silkworm room experiences typically cost between 1,500-3,000 yen per person for basic tours, with hands-on workshops ranging from 2,500-5,000 yen. Prices vary depending on the facility, duration of the experience, and included activities such as silk reeling demonstrations, mulberry leaf feeding, or silk craft making.
Tourists at Shoshinsha silkworm rooms can participate in feeding silkworms mulberry leaves, observe the silk cocoon spinning process, try traditional silk reeling techniques, learn about sericulture history, and create silk-based crafts. Many facilities also offer guided tours explaining the complete silk production cycle from silkworm eggs to finished silk products.
The best time to visit Shoshinsha silkworm rooms is during silkworm rearing season from April to October, with peak activity in May-June and August-September. Spring visits offer the chance to see young silkworms and fresh mulberry leaves, while summer visits provide opportunities to witness cocoon formation and silk harvesting processes.
Yes, advance booking is highly recommended for Shoshinsha silkworm room experiences, especially during peak tourist seasons and weekends. Many facilities require reservations 2-7 days in advance due to limited capacity and the need to coordinate with silkworm care schedules. Some locations offer English-speaking guides with advance notice.
