Arafune Cold Storage (Arafune Fuketsu)
Open by month
Closed in January. New Year (Dec 29 – Jan 3): closed.
Closed in February.
Closed in March.
Open in April. No seasonal closure recorded.
Open in May. No seasonal closure recorded.
Open in June. No seasonal closure recorded.
Open in July. No seasonal closure recorded.
Open in August. No seasonal closure recorded.
Open in September. No seasonal closure recorded.
Open in October. No seasonal closure recorded.
Open in November. No seasonal closure recorded.
Closed in December. New Year (Dec 29 – Jan 3): closed.
Checked against the official site on 2026-10-15.
Stone-lined pits built around 1905–1914 that used cold air from cracks in the rock to store silkworm eggs, letting farmers raise silkworms several times a year. Air at around 2°C still blows out in summer.
World Heritage (Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Sites)
Nearby
- Kumoba Pond ≈ 35 min by car
- Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza Street ≈ 35 min by car
- Myogi Shrine & Mount Myogi ≈ 35 min by car
- Tatsuoka Castle Goryokaku ≈ 35 min by car
- Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park ≈ 35 min by car
Travel times are rough estimates by car.
- Getting there
- About 30 min by sightseeing taxi from Shimonita Sta. (Joshin Line)
Easier with a tour or car - Fee
- Adults ¥500; free for high school students and younger
- Good to know
- Open Apr 1–Nov 30, 9:30–16:00 (last entry 15:30); closed Dec–Mar. Free shuttle bus from the car park on weekends and holidays. Bears have been seen nearby
- Time needed
- 1 h
Checked against the official Japanese website on 2026-10-15. Report outdated info