The Beginnings of Kiryu Shinmachi under Tokugawa Ieyasu
The development of Kiryu Shinmachi began near the end of Japan’s Warring States period, under the direction of Tokugawa Ieyasu. In 1591, Ono Hachiuemon, a subordinate official working under Tokugawa administrator Okubo Nagayasu, took the lead in developing a new town.
The existing castle-town area around Kubo Village had become too small for the growing community. A new settlement was therefore developed on land known as Aratohara.
The new town was carefully planned. A broad main road was laid out through the center, with townhouses built along both sides. The properties were arranged in long, narrow plots extending deep behind the street-facing buildings.
This historic town-planning pattern remains surprisingly well preserved today. Walking through the district provides an opportunity to see how an early modern Japanese town was organized more than four centuries ago.
Kiryu, a City That Flourished Through Silk Weaving
Kiryu has a long history as a center of silk textile production. The city’s importance is reflected in the famous phrase from the traditional Gunma folk card game, “Kiryu is Japan’s textile city.”
During the late Edo period, the introduction of takabata looms from Kyoto enabled local weavers to produce increasingly elaborate and beautifully patterned textiles.
One notable type of fabric was Hishaya, which became highly regarded for its sophisticated designs. Kiryu’s silk market also grew into one of the most important textile markets in the Kanto region.
As the industry expanded, various buildings associated with textile production and commerce appeared throughout the town. Merchant houses, storehouses, row houses, workshops, and factories stood alongside one another, creating the distinctive urban landscape that can still be seen today.
The Distinctive Sawtooth-Roof Textile Factories
One of the most recognizable features of Kiryu’s historic townscape is the sawtooth-roof factory. The roof consists of a repeating series of raised sections that resemble the teeth of a saw, giving the buildings their name.
The unusual roof shape had a practical purpose. North-facing windows allowed stable, indirect natural light to enter the factory, making it easier for workers to carry out the detailed work required in textile production.
The design also promoted good ventilation, making it an efficient solution for textile workshops.
Many sawtooth-roof factories still survive in Kiryu. Their distinctive silhouettes have become one of the city’s most recognizable landscapes and provide visible evidence of the development of its modern textile industry.
A Townscape Filled with Historic Buildings
The preservation district contains buildings dating from the late Edo period through the early Showa period. These include traditional main houses, merchant townhouses, earthen storehouses, textile factories, gates, walls, wells, and small religious structures.
These buildings are important not simply because they are old. Their designs and arrangement are closely connected with the way people lived and worked in Kiryu’s textile industry.
In many properties, homes, workshops, and storage buildings occupied the same plot. This distinctive use of space reflects the close relationship between everyday life and textile production in historic Kiryu.
As you walk through the district, it is possible to imagine the activity of a town once filled with merchants, craftsmen, weavers, and textile workers.
Japan Heritage: “Kakaa Denka – Gunma’s Silk Story”
In 2015, Kiryu Shinmachi was also recognized as part of the Japan Heritage story “Kakaa Denka – Gunma’s Silk Story.”
This cultural heritage program focuses on the history of Gunma’s silk industry and the important contribution made by the women who supported it.
Many women in Kiryu worked as weavers and played a central role in producing high-quality silk textiles. Their skill and dedication helped establish the reputation of Kiryu’s fabrics throughout Japan.
The history of these women and the textile communities they supported remains an important part of Kiryu’s local identity.
Highlights of Kiryu Shinmachi
Kiryu Tenmangu Shrine
Kiryu Tenmangu Shrine is closely connected with the origins of Kiryu Shinmachi and has long been revered as a guardian shrine of the town.
The main sanctuary and worship hall feature elaborate carvings, combining historical architecture with impressive craftsmanship. The shrine provides another perspective on the cultural heritage that developed alongside Kiryu’s textile industry.
Former Soga Textile New Factory
The Former Soga Textile New Factory is a representative example of a sawtooth-roof textile factory constructed using Oya stone, a distinctive stone quarried in the Tochigi area.
Features such as round windows designed to improve ventilation and the factory’s chimney provide clues to the practical design of historic textile production facilities.
Yurinkan
Yurinkan is a group of historic storehouses associated with a brewing business that has continued since the Edo period.
The buildings have been adapted for modern cultural use and now host events such as concerts and exhibitions. The combination of historic warehouses and contemporary cultural activities makes Yurinkan a popular stop within the district.
Former Kakiage Store
The Former Kakiage Store was once a textile merchant’s shop operated by the Kakiage family. The building retains the atmosphere of a traditional merchant house from the Meiji period.
It is also associated with the writer Ango Sakaguchi, who spent his later years here, making the site of particular interest to visitors interested in Japanese literature.
Kiryu Karakuri Puppet Theater Museum
The Kiryu Karakuri Puppet Theater Museum introduces the traditional mechanical puppet performances once presented during festivals at Kiryu Tenmangu Shrine.
The puppets had been lost for many years before being remarkably rediscovered and restored. Their return helped revive an important part of Kiryu’s traditional performing arts heritage.
Walking Through Kiryu’s Historic Streets
The appeal of Kiryu Shinmachi lies not only in individual historic buildings but in the atmosphere of the entire townscape.
The streets have a calm, traditional character, making them well suited to leisurely walks. Visitors can observe old merchant houses and textile-related buildings while discovering small details of everyday life in the historic town.
In recent years, some traditional townhouses have been renovated as cafés, shops, and other visitor-friendly spaces. These additions make it easy to take a break while exploring the district.
There are also several facilities introducing Kiryu’s textile history and traditional craftsmanship, allowing visitors to learn more about the city’s long-standing culture of manufacturing.
A Living Cultural Heritage Passed Down to Future Generations
The Kiryu Shinmachi Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings represents a townscape created and protected by generations of local residents.
The historic street layout and buildings have survived through the efforts of the community and continue to be part of everyday life.
Rather than being simply an open-air museum, the district can be understood as a “living cultural heritage site” where people continue to live and work while preserving the character of the historic town.
For travelers interested in Japanese history, architecture, traditional industries, or local culture, a walk through Kiryu Shinmachi offers a chance to experience a side of Japan that extends beyond famous temples and castles.
Take your time exploring the streets, historic merchant houses, textile factories, and cultural facilities, and discover how Kiryu’s centuries-old textile heritage continues to shape the city today.