Tomioka Silk Mill

Tomioka Silk Mill in Gunma Prefecture is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Japan's first modern silk-reeling factory, built in 1872 as part of the Meiji government's industrialization drive. The mill's French-designed brick buildings are remarkably well-preserved and tell the story of how Japan rapidly developed its silk industry to become the world's largest silk exporter. The site remains a vivid illustration of Japan's astonishing transformation from a feudal society to a modern industrial nation.