A precious historical site that supported the Meiji-era silkworm raising and silk reeling industry! Experience the grandeur of a "fukeana," a type of naturally ventilated cave, also registered as a World Heritage site!
Historic Sites
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Highlights
A precious historical site registered as a World Heritage site
A "fukeana" (naturally ventilated cave) that supported the Meiji-era silkworm raising and silk reeling industry
Approximately 30 minutes by taxi from Shimonita Station on the Joshin Electric Railway. If driving, it's about 30km from the Shimonita Interchange on the Joshin-etsu Expressway. Show route
INFO
Since Arafuna Wind Cave is located in the mountains, please be aware of the following: dress appropriately for the mountain climate; cellular phone reception is virtually nonexistent; and be mindful of potential encounters with bears, snakes, and other wildlife along the trail.
Overview
Arafuna Fukeana, located in Shimonita Town, Gunma Prefecture, is a "fukeana" (naturally ventilated cave) used during the Meiji era to store silkworm eggs (kaiko-shu). Fukeana, known for their cool breezes even in summer, were sometimes used for storing pickles in the Edo period. Temperature control is crucial for preserving silkworm eggs, making fukeana ideal storage locations.
Arafuna Fukeana was constructed by the father-son team of Niwa Seitaro and Niwa Chishu. Seitaro served as village head and prefectural assembly member, while Chishu, a graduate of Takayama-sha Sericulture School, gained knowledge of fukeana in Nagano during his studies. Chishu surveyed the area around his home, focusing on a fukeana 7km from his residence, assessing its suitability for silkworm egg storage.
Arafuna Fukeana consists of three fukeana: the first completed in 1903 (Meiji 36), the second in 1908 (Meiji 41), and the third in 1913 (Taisho 2). Experts such as Honda Iwajiro, director of the Tokyo Sericulture Training Institute, and Machida Kikujirou, president of Takayama-sha, collaborated on the construction of these storage facilities.
Arafuna Fukeana was exceptional in scale. Before the completion of the third fukeana, a 1909 (Meiji 42) survey indicated a storage capacity of 1.1 million silkworm eggs—far surpassing the next largest facility in Gunma Prefecture, Haruna Fukeana, with only 100,000.
Arafuna Fukeana played a pivotal role in enabling multiple annual silkworm harvests, contributing significantly to the development of Japan's modern industry, alongside the Tomioka Silk Mill. In 2014, it was registered as a component of the World Heritage site, "Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Sites," recognizing its historical value globally.
Today, only the fukeana remain, but the surviving structures evoke the former grandeur, offering a palpable sense of history. Visitors should be mindful of their clothing, the near-total lack of cell phone reception, and the possibility of encountering bears or snakes along the path.
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