We visited the “Tomioka Silk Mill” in Gunma on Sunday. It has been registered as the world heritage list by the 2014 UNESCO World Heritage Committee. The Tomioka Silk Mill was established in 1872 by the Meiji government. Tomioka was best place for silk mill, because it had not only getting cocoons, and water, but also coal as fuel around Tomioka for silk reeling.
It was the largest silk mill at the time in Japan, and continued operating for 115 years. The raw silk mill produced in the Tomioka was first exported to Europe and later to America. Back then, Japan became No.1 country in termas of the production and export of raw silk.
Tomioka Silk Mill stopped operating in 1987, however main original buildings remain in almost good condition. We could see around in factory. Some buildings were available to see inside. These were really interesting. We learned a lot about cocoon, silk-reeling, making process of silk, and history Tomioka silk mill.
