Yokohama Silk Museum, Textile museum in Yamashitachō, Japan
The Yokohama Silk Museum is a textile museum in Yamashitachō dedicated to exhibitions on silk production processes, including spinning, weaving, and dyeing techniques. The collections showcase traditional manufacturing methods and how they were applied to Japanese garments throughout different periods.
The museum opened in 1959 on the former site of Jardine Matheson & Co., a British trading company, marking the centennial of Yokohama Port. This establishment represented a shift from the area's commercial past to one focused on preserving local craft traditions.
The museum displays silk kimonos from the Edo Period alongside contemporary textiles, showing how Japanese clothing evolved over time. You can see how these traditional production methods continue to influence local artisans and craftspeople today.
The museum is located about three minutes on foot from Nihon-Odori Station, making it easily accessible by public transport. Plan to spend enough time exploring the exhibition spaces and observing the displays carefully.
The museum keeps live silkworms as part of a permanent exhibition, allowing visitors to watch the complete production cycle unfold in real time. This offers a rare chance to follow each stage of silk creation directly.
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