Kiryu
Kiryu (桐生; [1]) is a city in Gunma prefecture in the Kanto region of Japan.
Understand
Kiryu lies about about 90 km northwest of Tokyo (as the crow flies), and just across the Tochigi prefectural boundary from Ashikaga. During Edo times, Kiryu was known for its fine silks, an eastern match for Kyoto in western Japan. The lord of Kiryu supplied over 2,400 silk banners for the troops of Tokugawa Ieyasu in the battle of Sekigahara in 1600, and thereafter continued to pay the same tribute to the victorious Tokugawa Shogunate every year. It later became an important center for textile manufacturing during Japan's industrial revolution, and now is one of the major manufacturing centers for pachinko machines. The Kiryu School of Textiles, founded in 1915, has now grown into Gunma University's Faculty of Engineering [2], one of the largest in the country.
In 2005, Kiryu doubled its size by incorporating a largely rural region across the upper Watarase River valley. But the most scenic gorges and valleys of the upper Watarase fall within the bounds of Midori, a separate jurisdiction, while the headwaters and the infamous Ashio copper mine fall within the bounds of Nikko city. Nevertheless, Kiryu remains the jumping-off point for trips to Mt. Akagi and to the Watarase River valley.
Get in
By train
Kiryu lies about halfway between Oyama and Takasaki on the JR Ryomo line, about 1 hour by local train from either end. About 30 trains per day pass through in each direction, and the fare runs about ¥1000 each way.
The Tobu Isesaki line express train Ryomo, which requires seat reservations, stops at Tobu Shin-Kiryu station on its run between Asakusa and Akagi. It runs hourly, costs about ¥2400, and takes about 90 mins in either direction. The short local Tobu Kiryu line stops at Shin-Kiryu on its run between Ota City and Akagi.
The Watarase Keikoku (Valley) railway starts at JR Kiryu station and intersects the Tobu Kiryu line at Aioi before heading up through the scenic mountains and gorges to the headwaters of the Watarase River valley. There are 18 trains a day each way between Kiryu station and Omama in Midori City, but only 11 that cover the full distance to Ashio and Matou, which are now administered by Nikko. The first train leaves Kiryu at 6:39 and the last train leaves Matou at 7:51 pm. The full-distance fare is about ¥1050 each way.
For travelers already in Maebashi, the tiny Jomo Dentetsu line runs between Chuo Maebashi and Nishi Kiryu station (near JR Kiryu station).
By bus
The Keisei Bus Salvia [3] line runs directly between Narita airport and Kiryu 4 times each way daily for ¥4300 one way. The trip takes about 3 hours, depending on Tokyo traffic. Four buses leave JR Kiryu station South Exit between 4:20 am and noon, and four buses leave Narita for Kiryu between 3:15 and 7:50 pm.
A Limousine Bus Route [4] also runs directly between Haneda airport and Kiryu 4 times each way daily for ¥3300 one way. The trip takes between 2 and 3 hours, depending on Tokyo traffic. Four buses leave JR Kiryu station South Exit at 3:00, 4:00, 5:50, and 8:00 am, and four buses leave Haneda airport for Kiryu at 4:25, 6:55, 8:25, and 9:55 pm.
The overnight Sendai Liner [5] leaves JR Kiryu station South Exit nightly at 11:50 pm, arriving at Sendai station at 6:00 am. It leaves Sendai station nightly at 11:00 pm, arriving in Kiryu at 5:10 am. Adult fare one-way ¥5800; round-trip ¥9800.
Get around
See
Do
Buy
Eat
- Jamuna Indian Restaurant, Suehiro-cho 8-24, Watacho Bldg 1F (go out the North Exit of JR Kiryu station, turn right on the main road, pass between Denny's on the left and KFC on the right, then look for the next small sidestreet corner on the right), tel. 0277-46-1817. Open Tu-Su (closed M) 11:00 am to 10:00 pm. Each curry sidedish ¥750, drinks ¥630-780, biryani rice with salad and lassi ¥1050-1250, party menus ¥2000-5000.
Drink
Sleep
Get out