Yarimizu merchants were silk traders who were committed to link domestic raw silk to the world market. They purchased raw silk products at markets in Hachioji and transport them via Silk Road to Yokohama to the rest of the world.
Suwa Shrine is home to a number of cultural assets donated by Yarimizu merchants. Its main building with intricate carvings and sophisticated wooden interlocking designs is one of them. There also remains many stone structures that display names of a prominent merchant, YAGISHITA Yoemon, and other successful merchants. These cultural assets of the Suwa Shrine give a glimpse of the wealth of Yarimizu merchants.