Kiryu

Built for the Kiryu Textile Workers Union in the heyday of the textile industry in Kiryu, the building now serves as a place to exhibit Kiryu textiles and has a shop selling locally made textiles.

Aizawa Tadahiro was the first to discover artefacts demonstrating the presence of human settlements in Japan during the paleolithic era. Many artefacts from the Iwajuku Site are on exhibit.

Built on a traditional Japanese landscape, the museum contains a large collection of living insects, along with an array of butterflies among whom visitors can walk all year round in the heated observatory. Other buildings on the grounds offer opportunities to experience various aspects of traditional Japanese culture.

Museum houses exhibits and materials related to the history of Kurohone, local lifestyle & customs. Also, visitors can also learn about the first Japanese exporters of silk yarn, Hoshino Chotaro & Arai Ryoichiro whose factories were located in Kurohone.

It was founded as Kanayoshi Textiles by Kanaya Yoshijiro during the Meiji Era. The large sawtooth roof mill was completed in Dec 1919 and included 8 sawtooth sections. The scratch-tile, 2-storey office building was constructed during the early Showa Era. The compound has a sawtooth roof mill, employee dormitory, family residence, warehouse, & family shrine. After closing in 2007, the mill was converted to a bakery in 2008. The north end is a multi-functional space. In 2008 it was the venue for the “Sawtooth Roof Expo.” In 2009 & 2010, with the support of JR East, the office and residence underwent restoration.

Yano Hisaemon came to Kiryu in 1717 from the Omi district of Japan. His heir established Yano Mercantile at this location in 1749. In addition to selling sake, miso & soy sauce, the shop also produced vinegar. During the Meiji Era, the shop, constructed in 1916, also sold household goods. The interior has been remodeled as a store & coffee shop.

This Mansard roof station was constructed in 1928 when Jomo Railways began service. The building is a fine example of early Showa Era modern style. The interior has maintained its original ambiance.

This building was the home of the Saito family which owned and operated Saito Textile Company (CEO Saito Kahei). The buildings were constructed at the first crossroads running east from Tenmangu Shrine, the starting point of Kiryu Shin Machi. The site consists of a storehouse constructed in 1878, and a residence for which a completion ceremony took place in 1923. The buildings reflect the prosperity of the textile industry in Kiryu at the time. The site was acquired in 2012 by the current owner, Kiryu Saisei Corp. which restored the buildings and completed construction of a garage for electric vehicles, Community Bus e-Com8 "Mayu." Since 2013, the site has served as a base for Kiryu city's industrial tourism.

A Prefectural Cultural Treasure. Tenmangu is a classic example of Early Modern Period (mid 16th to 18th centuries) "gongen" construction designed for the enshrinement of a Shinto deity. Gables over the Inner Sanctuary and Hall of Offerings are resplendently finished in elaborate detail. Tenmangu is representative of the most highly developed architectural techniques of its era and as such has been designated a Prefecture Treasure.

In 1901, the god enshrined at Nishinomiya Shrine in Hyogo Prefecture was apportioned and brought to Kiryu. In 1905 a shrine was constructed in honor of the god. Nishinomiya is the only shrine in the entire Kanto area dedicated to the four gods Ebisu Okami, Amaterasu Okami, Susano'o no Mikoto and Okuninushi no Kami. Every year on November 19th and 20th the well-known Ebisuko Festival is held at Nishinomiya.

Kiryu is striving to preserve its cultural heritage by resurrecting old traditions that once served to create Kiryu's unique local color. One of these traditions is "Karakuri Ningyo" or mechanical dolls which were an integral part of Kiryu's festivals in days gone by. Kiryu is the only city in the country which has revived this great tradition, making mechanical doll performances a valuable contribution to cultural preservation.

More than 400 years have passed since Ono Sonkichi laid out the plans for Kiryu Shin Machi and established the long avenue which has become the commercial center of Kiryu, Honcho Street. The first two districts, 1 and 2 chome, have many buildings whose classical architecture reveal the nostalgic past. A stroll along Honcho Street, beginning at Tenmangu Shrine will give you a wonderful idea of the textile history which still dominates Kiryu's character and ambiance. If you turn off Honcho onto one of the alleyways leading east or west, you are bound to encounter some of the many still remaining sawtoothed roof factories chracteristic of textile mills.

Registered tangible cultural properties. Founded on March 15, 1916 as the Kiryu School of Weaving and Dyeing Technology, in the following year it became the Kiryu Technical High School. After many years, in 1944, the name was changed again to the Kiryu School of Technology. Finally, in 1949, it became the Faculty of Engineering of Gunma University and has continued in this capacity to the present. When the school was established, local technical specialists were called upon to form the faculty. Since then, however, its scope has expanded greatly. There are now many foreign students who contribute to the international atmosphere of this institution of higher learning. Memorial Hall has received much attention as an excellent example of modernism combined with classicism which was so typical of the Taisho Period in which it was built. This building is now used for lectures, exhibitions, and on occasion, concerts. It has been declared a prefectural cultural asset and is loved by Kiryu natives for its nostalgic ambiance.

The roof of the structure resembles the shape of a cocoon, recalling Kiryu's long history of silk manufacturing. Closed on Tuesday.

Designated a Prefectural Important Cultural Asset on November 15, 1972. There are three engravings on a boulder near the foot of the Fudo Bridge over Kaburaki River in the Seki district. This boulder was formed by the accumulation of ash from lava flows from eruptions on Mt. Akagi. The boulder is 128 cm in height, 60 cm in width and 80 cm in depth. The Amida Buddha in the center stands for eternal life; the Kannon Bodhisattva on the right stands for the spirit of salvation; and the Seshi Bodhisattva on the left stands for the spirit of asceticism. These carvings are believed to date from the Kamakura Era. The rock has been designated an Important Cultural Asset by the prefecture.

The Suidoyama Kinenkan (Memorial Hall) was constructed in 1932 as the Kiryu Water Supply Office. The office reported to the Motojuku Purification Plant regarding standing water volume and level, contributing to the smooth operation of the water purification plant. During the 6th Expansion Project for upgrading electrical and water meter equipment, conducted between March and November, 1972, an electromagnetic current meter was installed. Because of this installation, the Suidoyama Water Supply Office was closed, concluding 40 years of service. Since that time, Kiryu City has continued to grow and prosper. The Water Supply Office underwent renovation during 1985 and 1986 and upon completion, was renamed the Suidoyama Kinenkan (Suido Mountain Memorial Hall). The Kinenkan is now used to welcome visitors to the city and to receive important guests. Its rooms are available for exhibitions and meetings. Closed on Monday, Tuesday, Dec. 29 to Jan. 3.

The festival is the largest event of the year in Kiryu. During the 3-day long event, more than 500,000 people from Gunma Prefecture and other parts of Japan visit the city. The major focus is Yagibushi folk dancing which takes place at various locations on the streets of downtown Kiryu. Traditional musicians sit on bandstands, around which festival-goers dance through the evening. The traditionally decorated streets are lined with stalls featuring various traditional festival foods and games, souvenirs, etc.

An autumn festival focusing on the sale of "kumada" and "otakara" or good luck charms for merchants. Streets and the area around the shrine are lined with stalls selling these talismans along with festival food and souvenirs. It bustles with people and the sound of shopkeepers hawking their wares.

Various events are held at locations throughout the city during a one-week period. Events include fashion shows, textiles, art, & local history and culture. The Classic Car Festival, held since 2006, brings together distinctive automobiles from Japan and overseas. Held on the campus of Gunma University School of Science & Technology.

Located next to Kiryugaoka Zoo. Attractions in the amusement park are geared toward younger children. Famous site for viewing cherry blossoms in spring.

Antique dealers from all over the Kanto area converge on this site. Everything from kimono to antique ceramics and furniture is on sale.

Open air market selling textiles and miscellaneous goods & handicrafts. During the Edo Era, a type of silk called “saya” became popular. As a result, the silk market that was established on the compound of Tenmangu Shrine was named the “Saya-ichi” or Saya market. Later, in 1883, a shopping street was established for the sale of local products and became known as “kaiba” or “shopping place, ” or the “uptown market,” as opposed to the “downtown market” which was situated near the present day Don Quijote discount store. These shopping areas sold textiles and goods used in daily life.

Open air market for discounted goods and handicrafts

Yagibushi dancing and a firework display are the main attractions of this summer festival.

Catching trout by hand, Yagibushi dancing, & fireworks are the main attractions.

Situated in a woodland area at the foot of the mountains on the west side of Kiryu, the Nature Centre has exhibits and a lecture room. The park features many nature trails, an observation building for bird-watching. A large variety of plants and animals can be viewed throughout the seasons.

One of the largest all-season indoor water parks in the Kanto region. Facilities include a wave pool, a current pool, water slides, jacuzzi and an Olympic size swimming pool.

Buy a one-day pass on the Keikoku Railway that runs up the Watarase River valley, get off at one of the larger stops, hike around a bit, and hop back on the next train. Trains run at less than hourly intervals, so check the schedule at each station before setting out. Stop off at Mizunuma Station to enjoy the refreshing public baths at the only "in-Station" spa in all of Japan! In Autumn, many photographers visit along this railway to take beautiful scenery with colorful autumn leaves.

The annual Daruma Fair will take place on the third Sunday of January at Fumonji Temple. Parking lots available. This fair was started in Kiryu in 1964. The “Daruma” figure is said to bring good fortune, commercial success, household safety and protection from dangers and is sold at the many stalls along the streets in the vicinity of and entrance to the temple.

The Mikagari Ceremony is held every year on February 3 at Kamo Shrine in Hirosawacho. The ceremony dates back to the Edo Period, during the 19th century. This ceremony is said to serve to protect the participants from evil during the coming year. Young men, dressed in white, undergo a purification rite, after which they throw beans, a custom carried out all over Japan as away to ward off evil spirits and welcome in the spring season.

Azuma Park is a serene escape from the busy outside world. Very quiet area. As the seasons come and go, the park takes on different aspects, offering a multitude of flowers and trees for visitors’ enjoyment. Parking lots available. Main flowering plants (tulips: about 12,000 bulbs, irises: about 350 rhizomes, cherry trees: about 500, Azaleas: about 5,000 bushes). There is a tea house in the park. You are able to enjoy tea ceremony there on the third Sunday of every month (fee: ¥500).

Plum grove, lawn open space, play field, tennis court, baseball field, jogging course. Enough parking space.

Umeda Lake (Kiryu River Dam: rainbow trout, bass, lake smelt). Kiryu River (iwana trout, yamame trout). Watarase River (ayu trout, iwana trout). Kurohone River ravine fishing (bait/fly fishing) Iwana trout, Rainbow trout, etc.)

On the 24th of every month, there is a temple festival called Ennichi. Main street is closed to cars for this monthly temple festival, and there are many street stalls. This temple festival is very lively. Not only people from Kiryu but also people from Saitama and Tokyo visit this event every month. Even the normal day, smoke of the incense stick by the visitors does not cease. The devotion is done every day, and joins many people’s faith. Parking lots available.

On the 7th day of the New Year, it is a Japanese custom to eat a gruel made of rice with seven herbs as a protection for good health in the year to come. The seven herbs are: seri or water dropwort; nazuna or shepherd's purse; gogyo or cudweed; hakobera or chickweed; hotokenoza or nipplewort; suzuna or turnip; and suzushiro or daikon. You also can enjoy beautiful trees and flowers during a year.

The Kiryu Tea Ceremony Association conducts tea ceremonies "Tsukigama" on the third Sunday of every month. Everyone is welcome to participate. No prior reservations are required.

Located in the Bakery Cafe RENGA. You can make your own original silk stall by using hand weaving machine. Closed on Tuesday.

The Kiryu Youth Outdoor Activities Center was constructed by Gunma Prefecture. It is located deep in the mountains in Umeda, the northernmost district of Kiryu. The facility includes indoor overnight accommodation for 130 persons, outdoor camping facilities for 100 persons, classrooms, a gymnasium/play hall, a cafeteria, and campfire facilities. Reservations can be made for groups of 3 and over and families. The center is closed on Mondays and during the New Year holidays.