People have been fascinated by silk for thousands of years, especially in Japan, where the material has historically been popular in the production of kimonos. Some of the first products transferred through Yokohama Port were silk, so it stands to reason that Yokohama should have a silk museum.
The Yokohama Silk Museum is housed over two floors. The first floor features zones titled Encounters with Silk Zone, Learning Zone, Production of Silk Zone, and History of Silk (Worldwide) Zone. Here, you can learn how silkworms produce the fibre that is eventually transformed into the shiny material loved worldwide. A gift shop on this floor offers a variety of silk-related products for purchase.
The second floor is entirely devoted to the history of silk in Japan, displaying various garments reproduced to represent the use of silk at different points in history. Also on display is a collection of modern kimonos, along with an exhibit demonstrating how they are woven and dyed.
The Yokohama Silk Museum is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except on Mondays (excluding national holidays and from December 28 to January 4). Admission ranges from 500 yen for adults to 100 yen for young children.
The museum is just a three-minute walk from Exit 3 of Nihon-Odori Station on the Minato Mirai Subway Line.
Official site:
http://www.silkmuseum.or.jp/index-e.html
