[Gunma Prefecture ]Walking distance from Tomioka Silk Mill! 3 delicious restaurants loved by the workers
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2025-04-04
Gunma Prefecture's World Heritage Sites "Tomioka Silk Mill ".
This time, we will focus on the "craftswomen" who worked there.
Here are some of the local gourmet restaurants they loved.
All of the stores are within walking distance from Tomioka Silk Mill, so please visit them.
First, we will explain what kind of people the artisans were.
This time, we will focus on the "craftswomen" who worked there.
Here are some of the local gourmet restaurants they loved.
All of the stores are within walking distance from Tomioka Silk Mill, so please visit them.
First, we will explain what kind of people the artisans were.
Author of this article
Table of Contents
- 1.2.
- 2-1.2-2.3.
- 3-1.3-2.3-3.4.
- 4-1.4-2.
Women who worked at the Tomioka Silk Mill "What is a millwright "
The long-lasting Edo period is coming to an end, and the era is the Meiji period.
The Tomioka Silk Mill "was born in a rapidly modernizing world. "
When the Tomioka Silk Mill was founded in 1872 (Meiji 5), raw silk production and related sericulture were the flower of the industry.
However, before the Tomioka Silk Mill, yarn was made using a primitive machine called a zaguri, and production speed was slow.
Therefore, a system capable of mass production was long awaited.
The Tomioka Silk Mill was built to overcome this problem.
As Japan's first state-run factory, it was also the first to introduce state-of-the-art yarn manipulating machines and other technological capabilities of the time.
There, engaged in raw silk production were the main actors of this issue, "craftsmen ".
The silk mills themselves were numerous throughout Japan, but they did not have the harsh lifestyle seen in the book "Ah Nomugi Toge "by Shigemi Yamamoto.
The working environment included about 8 hours of work per day, study in leisure time, and subsidized food.
This may be due in part to the fact that the women who worked at the Tomioka Silk Mill were all young ladies from the samurai and noble families. (However, there is a story that after the management of the mill was transferred to the private sector in 1893 (Meiji 26), the mill gradually became black.)
The technical skills of the women who worked at the Tomioka Silk Mill were solid, and records show that even after they retired from the mill, they taught their skills in various parts of Japan.
These women were the very people who supported Japan's raw silk industry.
Now, it is time to introduce the local gourmet restaurants that the girls frequented.
A restaurant with a nostalgic atmosphere "Express Shokudo "
The blue tile exterior of the express diner is retro and has a very nice atmosphere.
It is roughly a 3-4 minute walk from Jyoshu-Tomioka Station.
The company was founded in 1933 and had a store in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture.
The location was moved to Tomioka City in 1948.
Since the Tomioka Silk Mill ceased operation in 1987 (Showa 62), this store has been a favorite of the workers for 39 years.
The red bricks inside the store are reminiscent of the exterior inside the Tomioka Silk Mill.
The old-fashioned tables and chairs create a nostalgic atmosphere.
The craftsmen and women may have sat on these chairs to eat their food.
The colossal form of the omelette rice is a favorite menu item at the express diner.
The eggs are not mixed all the way through, but are speckled with yellow and white, which gives the dish a nostalgic feel.
In recent years, omelettes have become popular, but this restaurant's "Western-style diner" atmosphere is irresistible.
This dish is the perfect combination of a firm yet fluffy egg and sweet ketchup-flavored rice.
There is also a menu item called "Omu Fried Rice ", which is pilaf-flavored rice wrapped in an egg, which is also recommended.
"Yakiniku Donburi with Good Tare Sauce "
The food at the express diner is made with a focus on local production for local consumption.
The yakiniku donburi (grilled meat bowl) made with Shimonita pork is one of the most popular dishes on the menu.
The sauce, which has been made by hand for more than 40 years, is truly "delicious.
It is sweet and spicy, and it is firmly attached to the meat, leading to a delicious taste.
However, the whole dish is not too salty, but really just the right balance.
The sauce is the perfect accompaniment to the pork, and you can eat as much as you want.
The main dish, Shimonita pork, is tender and full of umami.
The meat is hearty, but it is cut into small pieces, making it easy to eat.
Crisp cabbage is placed under the meat, giving it a crisp flavor.
The tsukemono and miso soup are also included in the tsukemono, making it a very satisfying meal.
"Sauce katsudon at Tenjiman "
Gourmet specialties of Gunma Prefecture.
Each restaurant has its own special sauce flavor, but Express Shokudo is a "crispy sweet and spicy" type.
It is not too sweet or too salty, and the balance is very good, complementing the crispy pork cutlets.
No cabbage on top of rice, as is typical of Jyoshu sauced pork cutlets.
The express diner has a reputation for having really good rice and sauce no matter what you eat.
It makes sense that the artisans loved it for a long time.
"Store Information "
Name of the restaurant: Ekkyo Eatery
Address: 1431 Tomioka, Tomioka-shi, Gunma 370-2316
Access: Near Jyoshu-Tomioka Station
Phone number: 0274-62-0569
Business hours: 11:00-18:00 (varies)
Fixed Rest Day: Earth Day
Budget: ~¥1,000
Old-fashioned ramen shop "Iseya "
This is a long-established ramen restaurant established in 1934.
In addition to ramen noodles that emphasize the traditional flavor, the dango (rice ball) and inari sushi are also very popular.
"Dumplings in a ramen restaurant? "It may seem a little surprising.
In fact, when Iseya was founded, it was a store that mainly sold dango.
Dango (rice dumplings), inari and onigiri (rice balls) are sometimes sold out as early as noon.
Try to look in as early in the day as possible."ramen "
Iseya's specialty menu item is this.
The broth made from carefully selected ingredients, all of which are domestically produced, has a very nice flavor that blends well with the soy sauce.
It is not very abrasive and is rather ashy.
It is a "traditional ramen" that you can eat every day and never get tired of it.
The ingredients are really simple: chashu pork, green onions, pickled bamboo shoots, nori, and naruto.
It's so nostalgic and nice to see Naruto on it.
Some people may think "a little short "in terms of modern trends, but the value of this flavor will always be the same.
We are grateful to be able to experience the taste of those days almost exactly as it was, not to mention the hard work involved in carefully preserving the production methods used when the company was founded.
We hope you will try the ramen loved by the workers.
"dango "
It is another gourmet specialty of Iseya.
The sauce is mitarashi.
It has a rich, sweet and savory flavor that everyone loves.
For those who eat ramen in the restaurant, how about as a dessert?
They are also great to take out and give as souvenirs.
It is easy to hold on a skewer, making it a good choice for those who want to eat their way around.
"Onigiri, Inarizushi, Norimaki "
Iseya's rice dishes are onigiri or sushi.
It is perfect for those who want something more to eat in addition to ramen.
The rice balls are made from Japanese glutinous rice, which gives them a great texture and makes them very filling.
The size is affordable, about the size of the palm of your hand.
Choose your favorite: "Akahan Onigiri "with just the right amount of saltiness, or "Shoyu-meshi ", a rare soy sauce-flavored rice ball without any ingredients.
Norimaki and inari sushi have a traditional taste.
One bite and you will be enveloped in a nostalgic feeling as if you were eating at home on a field trip or at a celebration.
"Store Information "
Store name: Iseya
Address: 1031 Tomioka, Tomioka-shi, Gunma 370-2316
Access: Near Jyoshu-Tomioka Station
Phone number: 0274-62-0382
Business hours: 9:30-18:30
Closed: Wednesday
Budget: ³,000
Local flavor for three generations "Takada Shokudo (Takada Restaurant) "
A diner that has been operating in Tomioka since the 1950s.
In front of the store, with its clean white walls, is a doll of "Otomi-chan ", a city character.
The kawaii figure of the craftswoman is quite conspicuous, so it is best to use this as a landmark.
It is now closed, but when there was a movie theater in Tomioka City, the workers used to go there on their days off.
After that, they were eating at the Takada Restaurant, which may have been a holiday treat.
Recommended gourmet 1 "Curry that Koujo also loved "
Takada Shokudo's signature dish.
The roux, made from flour and spices, is thick and viscous and goes well with rice.
The ingredients are simple: pork and onions.
The red fukujinzuke (pickles) served as a garnish is very heartwarming.
Its unique spicy and salty flavor sets it apart from other restaurant curries.
This curry has been the same taste since it was created in the 1950s.
Like Iseya introduced earlier, it is nice to be able to enjoy the same flavor loved by the craftsmen and women.
There is also "Katsu Curry "with freshly fried pork cutlets on top.
The restaurant also sells retort pouches of this curry.
It is also a popular souvenir of the Tomioka Silk Mill.
"ramen "
Takada Shokudo's ramen is simple, soy-sauce flavored.
Like Iseya, it is a style of ramen known as "Chinese soba" or "shina soba.
Compared to Iseya's, Takada Shokudo is rather crisp.
It is especially suitable for lunch time, as it is a smooth and easy meal.
If you can eat a lot, I recommend ordering it with curry.
"Store Information "
Name of the restaurant: Takada Shokudo
Address: 22 Tomioka, Tomioka-shi, Gunma 370-2316
Access: Near Jyoshu-Tomioka Station
Phone number: 0274-62-0469
Hours of operation: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
17:00-19:00 (Delivery service only)
Closed: Wednesdays, 3rd Thursdays
Budget: ³,000
Walking in Tomioka in the form of a construction worker "Classical De, city walking "
Although this is not the same as "a store loved by a craftswoman," please allow me to introduce it to you.
Since you are going to the trouble, how about walking around town in hakama, which was also the uniform of the factory girls?
The inside of the Tomioka Silk Mill and the town of Tomioka have a retro feel as if they have remained exactly as they once were.
If you go out there in your hakama, the atmosphere will be perfect.
Hakama rentals for men began in May 2023.
It is recommended for couples, married couples, and friends.
If you are interested in kimono, why not consider it?
"Store Information "
Name: Asaya Drapery Shop
Address: 1058 Tomioka, Tomioka-shi, Gunma 370-2316
Access: Near Jyoshu-Tomioka Station
Phone number: 0274-63-4311
Hours: 10:00 - 14:30 (return by 16:30)
Dressing time: 15-20 minutes
Closed: Wednesday
Budget: ¥5,000 per person
Note: You can bring your own accessories (no loaner items), advance reservation required (please check the website).
summary
We have compiled a list of stores that can be reached on foot from Tomioka Silk Mill and were loved by the workers.
The dishes served at each restaurant, which continue to preserve the traditional methods of cooking, offer a precious taste that connects the era in which the craftsmen and women worked with the present day.
Please enjoy the city while thinking about the streets of the past.
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