Tours & Activities
Local Culture Experience
Komagane Silk Museum: Traditional Craft and Sericulture
Learn About Japanese Silk Product and Try Traditional Crafts for Yourself at Komagane Silk Museum
The Ina Valley was once one of the top silk producers in Japan. The warm and sunny weather of the Ina Valley lends itself well to growing kuwa-no-ki (mulberry trees), which feed silkworms. In the Edo Period, farming households would often produce their own silk on the second floor of their country homes. This was very lucrative. The Meiji Restoration ushered in a new wave of industry, and silk production had its own revolution. The Ina Valley’s small producers merged to make a large company called Ryusuisha (龍水社). They were there for the peak and then the eventual decline of Japanese silk production creating beautiful silk items.
Now the Komagane Silk Museum remembers the past with a fascinating museum all about Japanese silk production and silk worms. What’s more, it keeps the skills and knowledge of Japanese silk alive with real natural silkworm production, workshops, and classes on silk reeling, natural dyeing, and more. The facility is also equipped with a delicious, healthy buffet restaurant, and the opportunity to try on a silk kimono with the help of a master.
You can book a workshop for yourself directly with Komagane Silk Museum (please note that workshops and materials are all in Japanese only), or book a silk museum tour with us which includes a translator.
Indigo Dyeing
Photo provided by Komagane Silk Museum/（写真）駒ヶ根シルクミュージアム提供
Options include coasters, drawstring bags, and handkerchiefs. You can design your own patterns on the fabric using traditional techniques known as katazome or shibori.
Price: 1000 yen
Time Required: 1 hour +
Group Size: Maximum of 10 people at one time
Itokuri（Silk Reeling）
Using old traditional tools, you can reel real silk and in doing so create patterns to make a decorative item for the house. You can upgrade your item to become a light and stand at a little extra cost.
Price: 1800-3000 yen
Time Required: 1 hour
Group Size: Maximum of 4 people at one time
Weaving
Photo provided by Komagane Silk Museum/（写真）駒ヶ根シルクミュージアム提供
Try weaving a coaster or a placemat using traditional weaving machines and a traditional Japanese technique known as hataori.
Price: Placemat – 900 yen, Coaster – 500 yen
Time Required: 30-50 minutes
Group Size: Maximum of 8 people at one time
Wear a local style silk Kimono
Photo provided by Komagane Silk Museum/（写真）駒ヶ根シルクミュージアム提供
The Ina Valley has its own style of local kimono. There are many items and layers involved in a kimono. You can try on this luxurious outfit with a master of kimono dressing, take photos, and experience how it feels to wear a real kimono. Feel free to leave the facility wearing the kimono to take photos in other beautiful locations. Just be sure to return it by 16:30.
Please be warned that in summer the weather is too hot and humid to wear a kimono. This experience is limited to autumn, winter, and spring.
Price: 2500 yen
Time Required: Around 30 - 40 minutes to dress in the kimono
Reception Hours: 10:00-13:00
Return by: 16:30
Days: In general weekends only, weekdays may be available but require inquiry well in advance
Group size: Maximum of 3 people at one time
There are other workshops available including making adorable characters out of silkworm cocoons, flower arrangement, and more. Please contact us if one of these or another activity interests you.
Experience facility information
Booking
Booking in advance
Contact
Komagane Silk Museum
Komagane Silk Museum
482 Higashi-ina, Komagane City, Nagano Prefecture
+81 265 82 8381
Komagane Silk Museum
482 Higashi-ina, Komagane City, Nagano Prefecture
+81 265 82 8381