A Town Established Under the Tokugawa Shogunate
The origins of Kiryu Shinmachi date back to the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Under the orders of Tokugawa Ieyasu, a new town was planned under the direction of his administrator Okubo Nagayasu.
The town was gradually developed between 1591 and 1606, with a carefully organized street plan centered on the main road. Lots were arranged in narrow, elongated sections with relatively uniform frontage.
The broad streets and orderly divisions of the town have survived remarkably well. They provide an important example of early modern Japanese urban planning and are one of the defining features of Kiryu Shinmachi today.
Kiryu – The Textile Town of Eastern Japan
Kiryu has been associated with silk weaving for centuries. Its reputation became so strong that it was described as “Nishijin in the west, Kiryu in the east,” comparing it with Kyoto’s famous Nishijin textile district.
A silk market was established during the Genroku period, and during the Genbun era, advanced looms introduced from Kyoto helped local producers manufacture sophisticated fabrics such as hishaya. Kiryu subsequently developed into one of the major textile markets in the Kanto region.
The growth of the textile industry shaped the town’s distinctive architecture. Heavy storehouses, merchant buildings used by textile wholesalers, and numerous sawtooth-roof factories constructed from the Meiji period through the early Showa period remain visible throughout the district.
Sawtooth-Roof Textile Factories – A Symbol of Kiryu
One of the most distinctive sights in Kiryu Shinmachi is the series of sawtooth-roof factories. Their repeated roof sections resemble the teeth of a saw, giving this architectural style its name.
The design has a practical purpose. Windows were placed along the north-facing sides of the roof sections to provide stable natural light throughout the day. This was particularly useful for textile inspection, which required a consistent level of illumination.
Factories were constructed using a variety of materials, including Oya stone and brick. Round ventilation windows and exhaust towers were often incorporated into the buildings, adding distinctive architectural details.
Some of these former industrial buildings have been given new lives as event venues, cafes, and other commercial spaces. Their adaptive reuse allows visitors to experience Kiryu’s industrial heritage in a contemporary setting.
Historic Buildings of Kiryu Shinmachi
Yurinkan – Former Yano Storehouses
Yurinkan consists of 11 traditional storehouses built between the Edo and Taisho periods. The complex was once used for producing and storing products such as sake, miso, and soy sauce.
The brick storehouse is particularly impressive and is one of the largest of its kind in Kiryu. Today, Yurinkan is used as a multipurpose cultural venue for concerts, exhibitions, and other events.
The grounds are also home to the Kiryu Karakuri Puppet Theater Museum, where traditional mechanical puppet performances once presented during Tenmangu Shrine festivals have been recreated, offering a glimpse into the entertainment culture of the past.
Former Kakiage Store – Hana no Nishihara
The Former Kakiage Store is a historic merchant building associated with Kakiage Bunzaemon, one of Kiryu’s prominent textile wholesalers during the Meiji period.
His business expanded beyond Japan, with branches in places such as Yokohama and Shanghai. The building reflects the prosperity created by Kiryu’s textile trade and continues to preserve the atmosphere of its former commercial use while operating today as a flower shop.
Former Soga Textile Factory
The Former Soga Textile Factory is a sawtooth-roof factory constructed in 1922. Its exterior is made of Oya stone, while the interior uses a wooden structure.
Natural light enters through the northwestern sections of the sawtooth roof, providing the consistent illumination required for textile work. Ventilation towers and round windows add further character to the building.
The factory is an important example of Kiryu’s modern industrial heritage and illustrates how architecture was adapted to the practical needs of textile production.
Kiryu Tenmangu Shrine
Kiryu Tenmangu Shrine has watched over Kiryu Shinmachi since the early days of the town. Its Edo-period shrine buildings feature the Gongen-zukuri architectural style and elaborate decorative carvings.
A silk market was once held on the shrine grounds, making the shrine an important center of both commerce and religious life. Markets and events are still held here today, continuing the connection between the shrine and the community.
Gunma University Faculty of Engineering Alumni Memorial Hall
The Gunma University Faculty of Engineering Alumni Memorial Hall is a Western-style wooden building constructed in 1916. Its design incorporates elements of Gothic architecture.
The building features a large open interior supported by hammer-beam construction, as well as brick foundations and other architectural details characteristic of early modern Western-style architecture in Japan.
Former Kinpo Textile Factory Sawtooth-Roof Building
The Former Kinpo Textile Factory is notable as the only brick sawtooth-roof textile factory remaining in Kiryu. Its substantial brick walls were constructed using bricks from Fukaya laid in the traditional English bond pattern.
The historic factory has been given a new role as a bakery cafe, demonstrating how Kiryu’s industrial heritage can be preserved and incorporated into modern life.
Markets, Events, and Living Local Culture
Kiryu Shinmachi continues to make use of its historic streetscape as a setting for markets and community events. One example is Kaiba Saaya-ichi, a modern revival of the traditional Saaya textile market.
Antique markets are also held around Kiryu Tenmangu Shrine. Visitors may encounter antiques, textiles, local food, handicrafts, and other goods while exploring the historic streets.
These events add a lively atmosphere to the district and demonstrate that Kiryu Shinmachi is not simply a preserved historic area, but a neighborhood where commerce and community activities continue today.
Walking Through Kiryu’s Textile Heritage
A walking route of approximately 1.3 kilometers allows visitors to explore many of the district’s highlights, including Yurinkan, former merchant houses, sawtooth-roof factories, and Kiryu Tenmangu Shrine.
Walking through the streets, visitors can admire historic architecture while also discovering renovated shops, cafes, and creative spaces. This combination provides an opportunity to experience Kiryu’s continuing culture of craftsmanship and manufacturing.
Respecting the Historic Neighborhood
Many buildings within the preservation district are still privately owned and some are people’s homes. Visitors are therefore asked to avoid entering private properties without permission.
When taking photographs, it is also important to respect residents and obtain permission when necessary. The historic streetscape has been preserved as part of a living community, and considerate behavior helps ensure that it can continue to be enjoyed by future generations.
A Living Legacy of Kiryu’s Textile Heritage
Kiryu Shinmachi is more than a historic tourist destination. It is a living historic district where approximately 400 years of urban development and the activities of the people who supported Kiryu’s textile industry remain visible today.
The original town layout, traditional storehouses, merchant buildings, and distinctive sawtooth-roof factories form a streetscape closely connected with the city’s identity as a textile-producing center.
For visitors interested in Japanese history, traditional architecture, industrial heritage, textiles, and local craftsmanship, walking through Kiryu Shinmachi offers an opportunity to experience a different side of Japan.
Take a leisurely walk through the historic streets, explore buildings that have been preserved and repurposed, and discover how Kiryu’s manufacturing traditions continue into the present. Kiryu Shinmachi provides a valuable connection between Japan’s past, present, and future.