Takayama-sha

Takayama-sha is an agricultural school in Fujioka featuring a two-story wooden structure with raised roofs and large windows. The building was specifically designed to provide optimal conditions for silkworms through natural air flow and temperature management.

The school was founded in 1884 by Takayama Chōgorō and became a central institution for silk production education. It received national historic site designation in 2009 and is now part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The site demonstrates how traditional Japanese silk farming merged with modern temperature control methods. Visitors can observe how this combination reshaped silk production practices across the nation.

The building is easily accessible and interiors are open to visitors so you can examine the special construction techniques up close. It is best to arrive early in the day to observe the details of the structure and ventilation systems carefully.

The building features three strategically arranged raised roofs that maintained the correct temperature for silkworms through natural processes alone. This roof system was an innovative solution that worked without any modern heating or cooling equipment.

Location: Fujioka

Inception: 1884

Founders: Takayama Chōgorō

Part of: The Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Industrial Heritage

Website: https://city.fujioka.gunma.jp/soshiki/kyoikuiinkai/bunkazaihogo/2/2

GPS coordinates: 36.20333,139.03167

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:46