World Heritage Site, Arafune Wind Cave
Arafune Wind Cave, a World Heritage Site located in the farthest reaches of Western Japan, is a cultural heritage site, but it also took advantage of its natural environment to dramatically develop the silk industry.
It made use of the natural wind to realize the storage of silkworm seeds as a natural refrigerator, thus realizing the year-round production of silk.
Mt. Arafune
To get to the Arafune Wind Cave, located in the farthest reaches of Western Joshu in Gunma Prefecture, take a local bus from Shimonita, the last stop on the Joshin Electric Railway, and drive along Route 254 while admiring the scenic mountains of Joshu.
It takes 30 minutes to the last stop, Ichinogaya. It’s a 4km walk one way to the World Heritage site, Arafune Wind Cave, where you can get a glimpse of mountain life.
On the way back, you will return along the same route and enjoy a day trip to the hot spring Arafune-no-Yu.
Shimonita Station [Shimonita Bus “Ichinokaya” Line]
(About 30 minutes)
Ichinokaya [Shimonita Bus “Ichinokaya” Line]
(About 90 minutes)
Arafune Wind Cave
(about 70 minutes)
(About 70 minutes)
Arafune-no-Yu [Shimonita Bus “Ichinokaya” Line]
（approx. 70 min.
(About 30 minutes)
Shimoniida Station [Shimonita Bus “Ichinokaya” Line]
Shimonita Station [Shimonita Bus “Ichinokaya” Line] (about 30 min.)
Information
Shimonita Bus Timetable (Japanese Language ONLY)
Please note that the above schedule and public transportation times are approximate.
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