A Journey into Marumori’s Silk Farming Culture and Silk Heritage Discover Unique Seasonal Creations and Local Connections Woven by Silk

Experience the traditional sericulture (silk farming) culture of Marumori Town through various hands-on activities that change seasonally. Activities include: April–October (silk farming site tours and silkworm care), and November–March (weaving experience). Year-round craft options include traditional thread making (using zagu-riki reeling machine), cocoon crafts, and the unique Silk Washi Papermaking. An optional mulberry-based food experience is also available (May–October).

Details

Plan Price

The participation fees are as follows:

*Please note that the total payment will be the fee for either Course A or Course B, plus the fee for one Silk Experience (

List of Experiences	Price
A. [April–October] Silk Farm Site Tour (Hands-on Silk farming activities available when silkworms are being raised)	¥3,200
B. [November–March] Weaving Experience (Saki-ori)	¥1,300
Optional Experience [May–October only]　 Mulberry Cuisine	¥2,100
★Silk Experiences – Please choose from the options below:
①Silk Reeling from Cocoons (using traditional “zagu-riki” reeling machine) – 1-hour course:	¥1,600
②Silk Reeling from Cocoons (using traditional “zagu-riki” reeling machine) – 2-hour course, with silk thread on wooden frame to take home:	¥3,200
③Hand-Spinning from Cocoon Floss (soft, cotton-like silk) – Includes braiding (kumihimo) activity:	¥3,200
④Cocoon Crafts	¥1,300
⑤Silk Washi Papermaking	¥1,900
⑥Mulberry Dyeing [May–October only]	¥5,300

What’s Included

Silkworm-related facility tour fee
Silk Experience Fee
Material costs
Handling Fee
*For plans with optional activities, meal costs will be charged separately.
*You may take home the items you create during the experience.

Not Included

Transportation costs
Personal expenses (e.g., beverages)

Set Dates

April 1st 2025 – March 31st 2026 (activities vary by season):
April–October: Silk farming site tour (with hands-on silkworm care experience when in season) + Silk craft experience

November–March: Weaving experience + Silk craft experience

*For the silk craft experience, please choose from:
thread making, cocoon crafts, silk washi papermaking, or mulberry-dyeing. For details, please refer to the “Suggested Selling Price & Course Contents” section.

*Optional Plan (May–October): Mulberry-based food experience is also available.
*This program will be offered in future years as well.

Excluded Date: Please note that availability may be limited depending on reservations, so please inquire in advance.

Time Length: Approximately 3 hours
*Including optional experience: Approximately 4 hours

Meeting Place&Time

[Meeting Place]
April – October
Meguro Farm (5 Naka-shimo, Hippo, Marumori Town, Igu-gun, Miyagi, Japan 981-2201)

November – March
Sano Jiori Preservation Hall (3 Sano-Nishikami, Ouchi, Marumori Town, Igu-gun, Miyagi, Japan 981-2501)

[Meeting Time]
Please arrive 10 minutes before requested start time

Map: April – October: 5 Naka-shimo, Hippo, Marumori Town, Igu-gun, Miyagi, Japan 981-2201 (Meguro Farm); November – March: 3 Sano-Nishikami, Ouchi, Marumori Town, Igu-gun, Miyagi, Japan 981-2501 (Sano Jiori Preservation Hall)

Min. # of Participation: 2 people

Max. # of Participants: 10 people

Supoported Languages: Japanese
*Please arrange for an interpreter if participants do not speak Japanese.

Plan Details: Experience Japan’s traditional sericulture (silkworm farming) in Marumori Town, Miyagi Prefecture, once renowned for a prosperous silk industry. Through exchanges with local farmers and artisans, you can enjoy a variety of hands-on activities related to silkworms and silk.
In spring, tour silk farms; in summer and autumn, visit active silkworm farms; and in winter, try weaving. Throughout the year, you can also take part in silk-related workshops such as traditional thread making. One of the highlights is the unique Silk Washi Papermaking, where you create handmade washi paper infused with silk—a rare experience available only in Marumori.
For those who wish, mulberry-based food experiences are also available, offering the chance to savor local flavors of Marumori, where mulberry has long been essential for silk farming.
Discover Japan’s silkworm culture in Marumori, one of the few places where the tradition is still carefully preserved today.

Course Details

Upon arrival, please complete check-in and join a short orientation (including confirmation of the day’s schedule).
As the contents of the program vary by season, please inquire at the time of reservation for details.

■Example Seasonal Schedules
April–October: Silk Farming Site Tour + Silk Experience
• Silk Farming Site Tour: Guided by an experienced former silkworm farmer, visit the site where silkworms are raised. Learn about the history of Silk farming and traditional tools while engaging with local farmers.
*When silkworms are actively being raised, hands-on Silk farming experiences may also be available.
• Silk Experiences: Options include thread making, cocoon crafts, silk washi papermaking, and mulberry-dyeing (available May–October).
• Optional Experience (May–October): Mulberry Cuisine – enjoy dishes made with mulberry, an essential plant for Silk farming.

November–March: Weaving Experience + Silk Experience
• Weaving Experience: Learn traditional weaving techniques from the Ouchi　Sano Jiori Preservation Society while working on a traditional loom.
• Silk Experiences: Options include thread making, cocoon crafts, silk washi papermaking, and mulberry-dyeing (available May–October).
• Cat Monument Visit (optional): Upon request, you may visit one of the region’s unique “Cat Monuments,” built to honor cats that protected silkworms and cocoons from mice. Known locally as “Neko-gami-sama” (Cat Deities), there are over 80 such monuments in Marumori—the largest number in Japan.

■Examples of Silk Experiences
①②③ Thread Making (Approx. 1–2 hours)
Use traditional tools to reel silk directly from cocoons or spin silk fibers (“cocoon floss”) into thread, creating your own hand-crafted silk souvenir.

④ Cocoon Crafts (Approx. 1 hour)
Using local cocoons, make charming items such as straps or ornaments inspired by “Neko-gami-sama,” the guardian cats of Silk farming.
⑤ Silk Washi Papermaking (Approx. 30 minutes)
Unlike standard papermaking, this experience uses precious Marumori silk to create a truly special washi paper.
⑥ Mulberry-Dyeing (May–October, Approx. 2 hours)
Create beautiful patterns by binding silk cloth with rubber bands and dyeing it in mulberry-leaf dye. Enjoy the unique natural colors produced by mulberry.
*As the dyeing process involves simmering the fabric in dye liquid for about 1 hour, the schedule may be adjusted accordingly. Combined with other Silk farming activities, this course typically takes about 3 hours in total.

■Optional Experience (May–October): Mulberry Cuisine (Approx. 1 hour)
Enjoy traditional dishes made with mulberry—essential to Silk farming—such as mulberry simmered dishes, mulberry tempura, and other specialties that showcase the local food culture of Marumori.

Necessary When making a reservation

1. Desired tour date and time

2. Name of Representative

3. Number of Participants

4. Contact Information of On-site Accompanying Person (must be reachable on the day)

5. Your preferred experience
*If you wish to include the optional mulberry cuisine, please inform us of any food allergies.

Other(Notes)

•On the day of the experience, please be sure to follow all instructions given by the staff.

•The content of the experience can be adjusted flexibly according to the time available.

•A maximum of 5 participants can use the loom at one time. For groups of 6 or more, participants will take turns as soon as the first group finishes.

Cancellation Policy: 1 day before the tour start date: 50%
Day of tour: 100%

Closing Date: 14 days before date of Tour

Operating Company: SILKWa
Tel: +81-90-5833-8164
Email: info@silkwa.jp

Inquiries: Miyagi Prefecture Tourism Federation
14th floor of the Miyagi Prefectural Government Building, 3-8-1, Hon-cho, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi, Japan 〒980-8570
Tel: +81-22-221-1864　Fax: +81-22-211-2829
Email: dmo@miyagi-kankou.or.jp
Business Days: Monday to Friday
Business Hours: 8:30 am – 5:15 pm (JST)