A “Textile City” Where Tradition Lives On
Kiryu has developed as a center of textile production since ancient times. Its weaving traditions have been passed down for more than 1,300 years, making textiles an essential part of the city’s identity and cultural heritage.
The History of Kiryu’s Textile Industry
A Silk Tradition Dating Back to the Nara Period
Kiryu’s textile history is remarkably old. Records indicate that during the Nara period, the area was already producing a type of silk textile known as ashiginu, which was presented to the imperial court.
Sericulture and weaving subsequently became important industries, supporting both the local economy and cultural development. The legend of Shirataki-hime, associated with Shirataki Shrine, tells of a woman who brought weaving skills to the region and remains an important part of Kiryu’s textile heritage.
Development from the Edo Period to Modern Industry
During the Edo period, Kiryu’s silk industry benefited from the protection of the shogunate and became known throughout Japan for its high-quality textiles.
One famous story tells how Kiryu weavers produced military banners for Tokugawa Ieyasu in a remarkably short period before the Battle of Sekigahara. Whether viewed as historical tradition or local legend, the story symbolizes the speed and technical skill of Kiryu’s textile workers.
During the Tenpo era, Kiryu became one of the early areas in Japan to adopt a proto-industrial manufacturing system. During the Meiji, Taisho, and early Showa periods, the textile industry became a major Japanese export industry and contributed significantly to the country’s acquisition of foreign currency.
Traditional Skills in the Modern Era
Although demand for silk textiles and traditional Japanese clothing has declined in recent decades, Kiryu’s textile expertise has not disappeared. Local manufacturers have adapted their skills to new fields, including high-performance materials made with carbon fiber and textiles used for film costumes.
One example of Kiryu’s international reach is the traditional maru-obi sash produced in Kiryu for the Hollywood film Memoirs of a Geisha, released internationally as Sayuri in some markets.
A Treasure House of Historic Streets and Cultural Properties
Kiryu Shinmachi Important Preservation District
The Kiryu Shinmachi district preserves a remarkable historic streetscape of traditional merchant houses, storehouses, and industrial buildings dating from the Edo period through the early Showa period.
In the areas around Honcho 1-chome and 2-chome, historic land divisions established centuries ago remain visible. Walking through these streets provides a vivid sense of Kiryu’s past and the prosperity created by its textile industry.
Facilities such as the Traditional Buildings Town Exchange Center provide opportunities to learn more about the area’s history and culture.
Industrial Heritage and Registered Cultural Properties
More than 130 nationally registered tangible cultural properties can be found throughout Kiryu. Among them are distinctive sawtooth-roof textile factories and Western-style modern buildings.
These structures preserve the physical legacy of Kiryu’s textile industry and have become important destinations for visitors interested in industrial heritage and the history of Japanese manufacturing.
Kiryu’s Economy and Industry Today
Growth of the Machinery and Metal Industries
The precision skills developed through textile production were later applied to other manufacturing fields. Machinery and metalworking industries grew alongside textiles, including businesses involved in automotive components and amusement-machine equipment.
Today, manufacturing based on machinery and metalworking forms one of Kiryu’s major industrial sectors alongside textiles. Cooperation between industry, academia, and government is also being promoted, with the Faculty of Science and Technology at Gunma University contributing to the development of advanced and next-generation industries.
A Diverse Textile Industry
Kiryu continues to be home to a wide range of textile-related companies. These include manufacturers of traditional Japanese workwear such as samue, dyeing companies known for water-repellent Nagare furoshiki, and manufacturers of fabrics for neckwear.
The ability to combine traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation is one of the defining characteristics of Kiryu’s manufacturing culture.
A City Surrounded by Mountains and Rivers
A Mountainous Landscape at the Edge of the Kanto Plain
Kiryu lies at the northern edge of the Kanto Plain and the southwestern edge of the Ashio Mountains. More than 70 percent of the city’s area is mountainous.
The surrounding mountains, including the extensive landscape around Mount Akagi, provide numerous opportunities for hiking and mountain walks. The Watarase River and Kiryu River flow through the area, creating beautiful waterside scenery that changes with the seasons.
Umeda Lake and Kiryu River Dam
Umeda Lake is an artificial lake created by Kiryu River Dam. Surrounded by forests and mountains, it is a popular destination for enjoying nature throughout the year.
Visitors can walk along the lakeshore, enjoy fishing, and admire the autumn foliage. The changing scenery of spring greenery, summer forests, colorful autumn leaves, and quiet winter landscapes gives the lake a different atmosphere in every season.
Transportation and Urban Development
Kiryu developed as an important transportation center following the opening of the Ryomo Railway during the Meiji period.
Today, several railway lines serve the city, including the Jomo Electric Railway, Tobu Kiryu Line, and Watarase Keikoku Railway. These lines connect Kiryu with neighboring cities and make it possible to explore both the urban and natural sides of the region.
The Watarase Keikoku Line is particularly popular with visitors because of its beautiful scenery along the Watarase River and through the surrounding mountains.
Industrial Tourism in a Living “Textile City”
Kiryu remains one of Japan’s important textile-producing areas. More than 200 sawtooth-roof factories are still found throughout the city, with some continuing to operate today.
At facilities such as Mori Hideshima Textile and Goto Textile, visitors may be able to arrange factory tours and hands-on experiences in advance.
The Gunma Textile Industry Technology Center also conducts advanced research into textile technologies, demonstrating how traditional craftsmanship and modern research coexist in Kiryu.
Another popular way to experience the historic city is to explore its streets while wearing a kimono. Traditional clothing fits naturally into Kiryu’s preserved streetscapes and offers visitors a memorable way to experience the city’s cultural atmosphere.
Kiryu Shinmachi – A Historic Townscape Preserved for the Future
Parts of Honcho 1-chome and 2-chome and Tenjincho 1-chome in central Kiryu form the Kiryu Shinmachi Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
Kiryu Shinmachi was developed approximately 400 years ago under the orders of Tokugawa Ieyasu. The town prospered as the textile industry expanded, and its original land divisions remain remarkably well preserved.
Historic merchant houses, storehouses, and sawtooth-roof textile factories dating from the late Edo period through the early Showa period create a distinctive streetscape where visitors can experience the atmosphere of an old Japanese textile town.
The district is also part of the Japan Heritage story “Kakaa Tenka – The Silk Story of Gunma”, recognized by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs. Women played a particularly important role in sericulture, silk reeling, and textile production, helping to drive the prosperity of the region.
As visitors walk through the historic streets, the buildings offer glimpses into the lives of textile workers, merchants, and craftsmen who supported Kiryu’s industrial development.
Highlights of the Traditional Buildings District
Notable attractions include the Kiryu Textile Memorial Hall, which played an important role in the city’s textile industry; Textile Reference Museum “Yukari”, an interactive museum where visitors can learn about traditional textile production; and Yurinkan, a group of historic warehouses associated with Omi merchants.
Other valuable industrial heritage sites include the former Kakiage Store, now known as Hana no Nishihara, a Meiji-period merchant building, and the former Soga Textile Factory, a rare stone-built sawtooth-roof factory.
The nostalgic Ichino-yu public bath was once a place where women working in textile factories could relax after work. Today, visiting a traditional bath in this historic setting provides a unique way to imagine everyday life during Kiryu’s textile boom.
Nature and Relaxation
Kiryu is blessed with abundant natural surroundings as well as historic streets.
Kiryu Nature Observation Forest is an excellent place for walking while observing seasonal plants and wild birds. In Kurohone, Hanamigahara Forest Park covers a large natural area with camping facilities and scenic viewpoints, making it particularly suitable for families and outdoor enthusiasts.
In Niisato, Gunma Insect World is one of the leading insect-focused educational facilities in the Kanto region. Visitors can observe a wide variety of insects in natural environments and explore traditional rural architecture, including houses in the distinctive Akagi style.
Parks and Leisure Facilities
Kiryu-ga-oka Park is one of the city’s largest comprehensive parks and includes both Kiryu-ga-oka Zoo and an amusement park. Families can easily spend an entire day enjoying the attractions.
In spring, Azuma Park becomes especially colorful with blooming tulips and Japanese iris. Kiryu also has several sports facilities, including Kiryu Sports Park and Kiryu Minami Park, which are popular with local residents.
For a pleasant urban walk, visitors can also explore streets such as Nakadouri, known for its birch trees, and Columbus Street, lined with flowering dogwood.
Historic Shrines and Temples
Kiryu is home to numerous historic shrines and Buddhist temples.
Kiryu Tenmangu Shrine, associated with the establishment of the historic town, is known for the elaborate carvings on its main hall. Shirataki Shrine is closely connected with the legend of Shirataki-hime and is particularly significant as a shrine associated with Kiryu’s textile heritage.
Among the city’s Buddhist temples are Kannon-in and Seiganji, both associated with the Kanto 88 Sacred Sites pilgrimage. Visitors can also explore temples such as Komyoji, Kyushoji, and Shorenji, which are associated with the Kiryu Seven Lucky Gods pilgrimage.
Walking between these historic religious sites provides a peaceful way to experience another side of Kiryu’s cultural heritage.
Hot Springs and Relaxation
Mizunuma Station Onsen Center, also known as “Kappa-buro,” is a hot spring facility directly connected with Mizunuma Station on the Watarase Keikoku Railway. It is a convenient place to relax during a scenic railway journey.
Nashigi Onsen in Kurohone is another peaceful hot spring destination, surrounded by forests and streams where visitors can enjoy a quiet bathing experience away from busy urban areas.
Art and Cultural Facilities
Okawa Museum of Art is a distinctive museum built on a mountainside and is highly regarded for its collection of modern Japanese art.
The museum houses approximately 7,500 works, with a particularly strong collection of modern Japanese Western-style paintings by artists such as Shunsuke Matsumoto and Hideo Noda. Works by international artists including Pablo Picasso, Georges Rouault, and Ben Shahn are also included.
The Gunma University Faculty of Engineering Alumni Memorial Hall is another notable cultural site. This Western-style building from the Taisho period has also been used as a filming location for television dramas and movies.
Kiryu also offers unusual attractions such as MAEHARA20th, which displays classic cars, and a museum dedicated to traditional mechanical puppet theater.
Festivals and Events Throughout the Year
The largest festival in Kiryu is the Kiryu Yagibushi Festival, held for three days beginning on the first Friday of August each year.
During the festival, people gather around large yagura towers and dance to Yagibushi, a traditional form of folk music from the region. The entire city becomes filled with music, dancing, and lively celebrations.
The festival has its roots in the Kiryu Gion Festival, a tradition with more than 360 years of history. Large traditional floats are paraded through the streets, creating one of the major summer events in the Kanto region.
Other annual events include the Kiryu Shinmachi Town Founding Festival in spring, the Azuma Park Tulip Festival, the Kiryu Fashion Week in autumn, and the Kiryu Ebisu Festival.
The Tenmangu Antique and Folk Tools Market and Kiryu Rakuichi, held regularly, are also popular with visitors looking for traditional crafts, antiques, and local culture.
Unique Attractions of Kiryu
Kiryu’s appeal extends far beyond its textile history. The city offers a wide variety of places where visitors can enjoy nature, art, leisure, history, and hands-on learning.
Umeda Lake
Umeda Lake is a clear, scenic lake located upstream on the Kiryu River. It has been selected as one of Japan’s notable forest-bathing and water-source forest destinations.
The surrounding mountains change dramatically with the seasons, from fresh spring greenery to deep summer forests, colorful autumn foliage, and the quiet landscape of winter.
Visitors can enjoy boating on the lake, as well as fishing for rainbow trout and wakasagi smelt. It is an excellent destination for anyone seeking a peaceful escape surrounded by nature.
Okawa Museum of Art
Okawa Museum of Art is an atmospheric museum built into the side of a mountain. Although its exterior appears compact, the interior extends across five levels, with a series of intimate exhibition rooms creating a distinctive journey through the world of art.
Its collection of approximately 7,500 works is particularly noted for modern Japanese Western-style paintings, including works by Shunsuke Matsumoto and Hideo Noda. The collection also includes international artists such as Picasso, Rouault, and Ben Shahn.
Kiryu-ga-oka Zoo
Kiryu-ga-oka Zoo occupies a hillside close to the city center. Visitors can see popular animals such as lions, giraffes, and red pandas.
One of its attractions is that admission is free, making it an easy and family-friendly place to visit while exploring Kiryu.
Kiryu-ga-oka Amusement Park
Kiryu-ga-oka Amusement Park has a nostalgic, distinctly Japanese retro atmosphere. Attractions include a Ferris wheel, mini railway, and adventure ship, offering simple fun for families and visitors of different ages.
The park’s elevated location also provides pleasant views over the surrounding area, making it a relaxing place to spend a few hours.
Caribbean Beach
Caribbean Beach is one of the largest indoor heated swimming facilities in the Kanto region. With an indoor temperature of around 35°C, it creates a tropical atmosphere throughout the year.
The facility features a wave pool, lazy river, and exciting water slides, allowing visitors to enjoy swimming and water-based activities regardless of the weather.
Gunma Insect World
Gunma Insect World is an interactive educational facility dedicated to the world of insects.
In its greenhouse filled with subtropical plants, colorful butterflies fly throughout the year. Outside, visitors can explore an extensive traditional satoyama landscape and observe insects and other wildlife as the seasons change.
Hands-on programs and educational events are also available, making the facility an engaging destination for both children and adults.
Accommodation in Kiryu
Although Kiryu can be explored as a day trip, staying overnight allows visitors to experience more of the city’s historic atmosphere and surrounding nature.
Accommodation ranges from convenient hotels near the station to traditional hot spring inns and renovated traditional houses within the historic townscape.
Nashigi Onsen Nashigikan
Nashigi Onsen Nashigikan is a traditional hot spring inn located beside a clear stream in the Kurohone area. Surrounded by nature, it offers a peaceful setting where guests can relax in historic hot spring surroundings.
TEMPLE HOTEL KANNONIN
TEMPLE HOTEL KANNONIN offers the unusual opportunity to stay at a Buddhist temple. Guests can experience a different side of Japanese culture through activities such as morning Buddhist services and shakyo, the practice of copying Buddhist sutras by hand.
Toyoko Inn Kiryu Station South Exit
Toyoko Inn Kiryu Station South Exit is a convenient hotel close to the railway station. Its location makes it suitable for both business travelers and tourists exploring Kiryu and the surrounding area.
Kiryu Grand Hotel
Kiryu Grand Hotel is a comfortable hotel with an English-style garden and a calm atmosphere. It is suitable for group stays, special occasions, and sightseeing trips.
Seifuen
Seifuen is a traditional inn located upstream along the Kiryu River. Its seasonal cuisine and quiet natural surroundings provide a relaxing setting for an overnight stay.
Dive INN Kiryu / Yellow INN Kiryu
Dive INN Kiryu and Yellow INN Kiryu make use of renovated traditional houses within the Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.
Staying in one of these properties allows visitors to experience Kiryu’s historic streetscape while getting a closer sense of the city’s traditional lifestyle.
Discover Kiryu – Where History Meets the Future
Kiryu is a city where centuries-old textile traditions coexist with modern manufacturing, nature, art, and vibrant local culture.
Visitors can walk through historic streets, explore former textile factories, discover traditional weaving techniques, visit shrines and temples, relax beside mountain lakes, enjoy hot springs, and experience lively festivals.
The city’s cultural heritage is not simply preserved as something from the past. Traditional skills continue to influence contemporary manufacturing, while historic buildings remain part of the living city.
From its ancient silk traditions to its modern industries, from historic townhouses to mountain forests, Kiryu offers travelers an opportunity to discover a distinctive side of Japan where history, craftsmanship, nature, and creativity continue to meet.