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Kiryu is a city that once prospered due to the development of the textile industry. The area around "Honmachi-dori" in the city center still retains many historical buildings related to textiles, such as warehouses, shops, and factories with sawtooth roofs, creating a nostalgic streetscape that is very popular among travelers.
The old street of Honmachi in Kiryu's city center is lined with numerous historical buildings. Kiryu, with its long history, was established over 400 years ago under the orders of Tokugawa Ieyasu. It is said that the construction was overseen by Ono Hachiroemon, who was directly appointed by Tokugawa Ieyasu's retainer, Okubo Nagayasu. The construction began at the "Kiryu Tenmangu Shrine," and buildings such as silk shops, warehouses, and textile factories were systematically built around the shrine, forming a cityscape with a "monzen-machi" style. As the textile industry developed, the market area of Kiryu gradually expanded into the suburbs. By the Meiji, Taisho, and early Showa periods (1872-1937), Kiryu's silk textile industry had become a mainstay of Japanese industry, making significant contributions to foreign exchange earnings. During that time, the area of Kiryu Shinmachi was bustling with various shops and workshops, including wholesale silk shops, silk stores, kimono shops, and dye houses, all related to textiles. In 2012, Kiryu City was designated as the fifth important traditional building group preservation area in the Kanto region, named the "Kiryu Shinmachi Important Traditional Building Group Preservation Area."
* "Monzen-machi" is a unique urban development concept in Japan, referring to towns built around religious buildings such as temples and shrines.
The exterior of "Yanoen Kissaten Yurin," designated as an important cultural heritage of Kiryu City. The old Soga Textile Factory, with its sawtooth roof, is a symbol of Kiryu's old street.
If you want to stroll through this textile capital full of Japanese charm, you might consider experiencing it in a kimono while walking among the many historical buildings of the old street. Among them, the "Kiryu Orihime Club" is a shop that rents kimonos. For just 3,500 yen, you can rent a kimono, and the staff will assist travelers in putting it on. (Consultation phone: 090-4000-5543).
Walking in a kimono along the historically rich old street feels like traveling back in time.
Additionally, the "Kiryu Textile City Guide Association," operated by the Kiryu Tourism Association, has several experienced guides. These knowledgeable guides provide services tailored to travelers' needs and can accommodate various languages including English, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, and German. Strolling through the nostalgic market will surely allow you to gain a deeper understanding and discover the charm of Kiryu. * Travelers requiring guide services must make a reservation in advance. Please make a reservation through the website of the "Kiryu Textile City Guide Association" below.
Visit the reservation website.
In Japan, there is a saying, "In the west, there is Nishijin; in the east, there is Kiryu," which praises the two famous textile capitals of Nishijin in Kyoto and Kiryu in Gunma. Be sure to take a walk through Kiryu's old street; it will surely leave you with a special and unforgettable memory of your journey.
