Takayama-sha Sericulture School

What to know

Takayama-sha Sericulture School (高山社跡, Takayama-sha Ato) in Fujioka City near Tomioka was a place where people from across Japan and neighboring countries came to study sericulture—the techniques of raising silkworms to produce raw silk. Recognized for its contribution to the silk industry, the former school is one of three sites, alongside the Tomioka Silk Mill, that earned World Heritage status in 2014.

Takayama Chogoro, a former samurai who entered the silk business after the feudal era ended, established the Takayama-sha Sericulture School in 1884 after perfecting the sericulture technique seion-iku. This method controls temperature and humidity to create ideal conditions for silkworm cocoons, using a two-story building with many windows and a raised roof for ventilation, plus fireplaces. The technique taught at the school set the standard for modern sericulture in Japan.

Visitors enter the school grounds through an impressive gate, where guides lead tours of the property with explanations in Japanese. The former school's two-story main building, built in 1891, was modeled after the Tajima Yahei Sericulture Farm in Isesaki. Open to the public, it features windows and ceilings that can be opened for ventilation. The first floor has fireplaces and a tastefully designed tatami room, while the second floor was used for raising silkworm cocoons.

Several other buildings once stood on the grounds, but many are in poor condition or no longer exist. There are plans to renovate some structures over the coming years and restore the property to its early Meiji Period appearance.

The closest train station is Gunma-Fujioka Station on the JR Hachiko Line (15 minutes, 260 yen one way from Takasaki, one train per hour). From the station, take a highly infrequent local community bus bound for Takayama and get off at Takayama-sha Ato (高山社跡, 35 minutes, 370 yen one way). The bus stops directly in front of the former school. Alternatively, a taxi takes about 20 minutes and costs around 3500 yen one way.

Takayama-sha Sericulture School is about a 20-minute drive from Fujioka IC on the Joshinetsu Expressway. From the Tomioka Silk Mill, it can be reached in about 45 minutes via toll-free roads. There is limited parking in front of the main entrance. A larger parking lot is about 300 meters away, connected by a walking path through a bamboo grove.