Residence of Yahei Tajima, the father of modern sericulture and silkworm rearing methods—a sericulture building emphasizing ventilation.
This is the former residence of Yahei Tajima, who achieved great success with his seiryo-iku sericulture method. Yahei believed that natural ventilation was important for rearing silkworms, and built this farm in 1863. The roof of the combined farm/residence features a structure called yagura equipped with ventilation windows. Through Yahei's book, A New Theory of Sericulture, his method spread throughout Japan and this farm became the prototype for modern sericulture farms. Yahei was also involved in exporting silkworm eggs and earned large profits. A microscope room for examining silkworm diseases remains in the house. The farm is currently a private residence, so visitors are not allowed beyond the garden.
Approximately five minutes from the former residence is the Tajima Yahei Sericulture Farm Information Center with explanatory videos and materials on exhibit as well as pamphlets for visitors. A walking course including the Tajima Yahei Sericulture Farm and other sericulture-related sites has been set up with the center as the starting point.