About the Arai Family Residence Former Silkworm Rearing House
The Arai Family Residence Former Silkworm Rearing House (新井家住宅旧蚕室, Arai-ke Jūtaku Kyū-sanshitsu) is a mid-Meiji building for raising silkworms, built between 1883 and 1897, in Irumacho, Chofu City, Tokyo, and it was entered on Japan's register of Registered Tangible Cultural Properties on April 25, 2014.
A sanshitsu is a building where silkworms were reared. This one is a two-storey timber building standing right next to the outer storehouse on its east side, with its ridge running east to west. It was put to another use after the Second World War and altered in the mid-Showa period, between 1946 and 1965, which is why its registered name begins with "former".
What the Silkworm Rearing House Tells Us
The Agency for Cultural Affairs presents the Arai Family Residence Former Silkworm Rearing House as a survivor of the modern silk-farming that once went on at the edge of Tokyo. Of the five registered structures on the farmstead, it is the only one that shows how the family earned its living, a side of Meiji farm life that the house and storehouses alone would not reveal.
It was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape, standing beside the outer storehouse on the front-yard side of the farm.
How the Silkworm Rearing House Is Built
The building area is 41 m². The gabled Kirizuma-zukuri roof is covered in sheet metal. Glazed doors run all around the building, set above a lower wall of Shitami-itabari clapboard. With every side able to open and close, light and air were easy to adjust, and since raising silkworms is generally said to depend on careful control of temperature, humidity and ventilation, that ring of glass doors is the clearest sign of what the building was for.
When it was converted after the war, partitions and ceilings were added inside. The roof frame, though, keeps much of its original structure. The glass doors and clapboard outside and the Meiji timbers hidden above the later ceilings are what make the Arai Family Residence Former Silkworm Rearing House worth a look.
What the building was used for after the conversion is not stated in the published sources.
Seeing the Arai Family Residence Former Silkworm Rearing House
The Arai Family Residence Former Silkworm Rearing House stands on private land inside a belt of trees, and no interior opening or photography guidance has been announced (checked October 2026). Because the original roof frame lies above the later ceilings, it may not be visible even if the building is opened. Directions and contact details are on the Arai Family Residence page.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Tokyo
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Arai Family Residence Former Silkworm Rearing House
- [ Tokyo Skytree Asakusa & teamLab Experiences ]
Q&A
- When was the Arai Family Residence Former Silkworm Rearing House built, and when was it registered?
- It dates from the mid-Meiji period (1883 to 1897) and was altered between 1946 and 1965. It was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property on April 25, 2014.
- What is the Arai Family Residence Former Silkworm Rearing House?
- A two-storey timber building for raising silkworms. The Agency for Cultural Affairs values it as a record of modern silk farming on the outskirts of Tokyo.
- Why is the Arai Family Residence Former Silkworm Rearing House called "former"?
- It was converted to another use after the war, when partitions and ceilings were added inside. The roof frame still keeps much of its original structure.
- What does the Arai Family Residence Former Silkworm Rearing House look like?
- A gabled building with a sheet-metal roof, glazed doors on all sides and a clapboard lower wall. It stands east of the outer storehouse, ridge running east to west.
- Can I visit the Arai Family Residence Former Silkworm Rearing House?
- No opening has been announced (checked October 2026). It is on private land, and its visibility from the street is unconfirmed.
Basic Information
| Name | Arai Family Residence Former Silkworm Rearing House (新井家住宅旧蚕室) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1-4 Irumacho, Chofu City, Tokyo |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | 2014 (registered) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | 2-storey timber building, building area 41 m² |
| Owner | The Arai family (blank in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database) |
| Public Access | Not open (no visiting arrangements announced) |
References
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Arai Family Residence Former Silkworm Rearing House
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00009926
- Cultural Heritage Online: Arai Family Residence Former Silkworm Rearing House (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/274993
- Database of National Cultural Properties (Agency for Cultural Affairs): Arai Family Residence Outer Storehouse
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00009925
- Chofu City: List of Designated and Registered Cultural Properties, PDF as of April 1, 2026 (Japanese)
- https://www.city.chofu.lg.jp/documents/2369/bunnkazai08.pdf
Last verified: 2026.10.01
