Beautiful white-wall townscape is a feature of Kurashiki city of Okayama Pref. In the highly popular tourist spot, ”Kurashiki Bikan Chiku” (Kurashiki beautiful sight area)”, traditional merchant houses and townhouses have been preserved as prospered as a merchant town, with the traditions of old Edo mood still alive. The fascination of Kurashiki is NOT only such historical cultures. Do you know the fact that Kojima area in Kurashiki city is the “birthplace of Japanese jeans” which had produced jeans for the first time in Japan?
Today, we are introducing”Kurashiki Denim Street”with an assortment of made-in-Kurashiki high-quality jeans and small knick-knacks. It is a highly recommended tourist spot of Kurashiki sightseeing, and you cannot miss unique gourmet which is only available there.
About Kurashiki, the popular tourist spot
Scenary of Kurashiki Bikan Chiku
Kurashiki city is located in the Western area of Okayama Pref. Its famous tourist spot is to be ”Kurashiki Bikan Chiku” (Kurashiki beautiful sight area)”. You can feel the old good cultures in Edo and Meiji period in this area, which is selected as an important preservation district of historic buildings in Japan.
'Namako-kabe wall' (covered with square tiles jointed with raised plaster) of storehouses with white earth and mortar walls, townhouses with lattice windows, building lined up along the Kurashiki River… They are so beautiful to fascinate you. Gathering there are cool cafes and shops, which have been made by renovating the townhouses and warehouses. It is a popular spot where you can enjoy modern trip in the space full of retrospective mood.
The History of Japanese Denim industry
Made-in-Kurashiki denim is well-known as its high quality all over Japan.
Kurashiki is a popular tourist spot with history, and also a mecca of jeans in fact. In the first place, how has the Japanese Denim industry born?
The Kuraiki area had originally been an inner bay with small and large islands lined. New rice fields had started to be developed actively in various areas since the beginning of the Edo period, and the bay in the South part of the prefecture was reclaimed. In addition to little rain and warm climate, new rice fields contains salt to be most suitable for cotton cultivation. Thanks to the favorable condition where they can secure plenty of water which is essential foy dying, textile industry has been gradually developed. The industry has been prosperous until the Meiji era, and school uniforms for all over Japan were produced in Kojima district located in Kurashiki area.
Due to the emergence of synthetic fiber, however, Japanese cotton industry encountered its difficulties in its business. Consequently, people have started to develop jeans for the first time in Japan since 1960’s. Derived from indigo-dye cotton textile, the “Japan’s first jeans industry” with utilizing technologies cultivated through the school uniform production was born in Kojima district. Its excellent technology is highly appreciated also from foreign countries, and finishing and process of famous overseas brands is now done in Kojima.
What is the difference between “Kurashiki Denim” and ”Kojima Denim” made in Okayama?
Denim（imade）
Kojima district is a part of Kurashiki city is well-known as the birthplace of jeans. High-quality Japanese Denim have still been produced around the Kojima district in Okayama pref., and it has many names such as ”Okayama Denim”, ”Kurashiki Denim”, ”Kojima Denim” and so on.
In fact, each name has no established definition and its details are rather fuzzy. ”Okayama Denim” means the Kurashiki・Kojima Denim comprehensively, but in general names are clarified, based on the place of production or brand headquarters. We are going to introduce you about the difference between ”Kojima Denim” born in the jeans birthplace and ”Kurashiki Denim” of the key tourist place, Kurashiki area.
Kojima Denim
”Kojima Denim” means denim textile, products and brand born in Kojima district. The representative long-established brand “BettySmith”and “Big John” are famous.
One feature of Kojima Denim is the jeans made by Japanese traditional crafts called “Ai-zome”(indigo dying) cherished since the Edo period. By repeating indio dying manu times, the color of textile does not easily fade, creating jeans with no discoloration and long life. It is characterized by its beautiful blue color and got the nickname of ”Japan Blue” or ”Kojima Blue”, generating an additional value to their jeans.
You can try Ai-zome experience at “Takagi Senko”, which has worked on hand-dying products for 100 years in Kojima. It is highly recommended to whom like to feel the history and fastidiousness to indigo dying unique in Kojima.
Kurashiki Denim
You may tend to think that Kurashiki is a town of tourists rather of fashion, but it is the birthplace of the company “Kurabo”(Kurashiki Boseki: KURABO INDUSTRIES LTD.), which worked on authentic denim textile for the first time in Japan. In 1970’s, textile was imported from the US to produce jeans. Kurabo has developed Japan’s first denim textile called”KD-8” and contributed to the development of Japanese Denim business.
“Kurashiki Ivy Square” is a commercial complex made by reusing the appearance and wooden materials of Kurabo’s first factory. In the facility with the remaining mood of old spinning factory, you can enjoy ceramic art experience or meals, and accommodation is also available. If you are interested in Japanese Denim, how about visiting here at the timing of “Denim on Live” the exhibition sale event held every year?
The general characteristics of Okayama Denim
Made-in-Okayama denim has about 40 brands ranging from long-established ones to new creators brands. Almost all of them are particular about the production in Okayama pref. Since they use Japanese denim textile, there are many products characteristically of high quality and price. The average of their prices are from 10,000 to 25,000 JPY for one pair of jeans. Some vintage item is sometimes priced a few million yen.
The carefully made jeans are hard to wear out with good keeping, and the best part of them is that the color and material grows accustomed over the years to have good presence.
What it’s the Kurashiki Denim Street?
Appearance of Kurashiki Denim Street
You can get a product of world-famous Japanese Denim at a spot of about 12-minute walk from Kurashiki station. It is the ”Kurashiki Denim Street” which has opened in 2014. There is a wide line-up of items from jeans made in the home, Kojima, to individual denim knick-knacks. Available there is about 1000 items from Okayama’s denim brands.
The location in a corner of popular tourist spot ”Kurashiki Bikan Chiku” (Kurashiki beautiful sight area) is the best attraction for you. Let’s have a look at this mecca of fashion lurking in the townscape filled with retrospective history.
What you can buy in the Kurashiki Denim Street
Shops line up in a low
Kurashiki Denim Street is an alley with denim brands gathering along. It consists of 5 areas; for Men’s, Ladies’ & Kids, Kick-Knacks, the annex building of “Kyara Kobo” and Take-out corner of foods. The professional “Jeans Sommelier” will serve you courteously when you select items.
Denim of “Wakura” only available in the Denim Street
When going to Kurashiki Denim Street, you must check the “Wakura” denim among various brands there. The limited brand available only in 2 shops of Kurashiki and Karuizawa all over Japan. You can buy their products in the Denim Street.
The brand features the designs motivated by the white-wall townscape, which can be said as a symbol of Bikan Chiku. They also offer some items with white-color stitch, which is not common for jeans, others with white-wall image printed on the inside cloth or jeans with one-point embroidery in pockets. Concealed in them are stylish designs, which reminds us of Kurashiki.
They are selling not only jeans but also skinny pants, skirts, jean jackets and so on. How about finding out your favorite item?
Let’s get jeans goods with motives of characters in “Kyara Kobo”.
“Kyara Kobo” has opened as an annex of Kurashiki Denim Street in 2016. You can buy items suitable for souvenirs, such as goods with motives of Japanese popular characters and denim bags.
Our recommendation is the goods of Kurashiki Denim Street’s original character, ”DENIM BEAR”, a cute bear wearing denim. The original goods only available in Kurashiki Denim Street must be your memory of visiting there. Big plushie of DENIM BEAR welcomes you at the entrance, and you can take a memorial photo with it.
Appearance of “Kyara Kobo”（Photo provided by ：@a_atsu_u）
Recommendation gourmet of Kurashiki Denim Street
You can buy denim, as well as enjoy eating. “Denim-like” gourmet with full of twists cannot be missed when you travel in Kurashiki.
”Denim-man” (steamed bun) with impressive blue outer layer
“Denim-man（350JPY）”
“Denim-man” is a deep-blue steamed bun with the filling of “Kurobuta” pork.
Its vivid blue dough uses gardenia flowers for the color, and reminds us exactly of denim.
”Denim Soft ice cream” of Blueberry & Ramune candy flavor
“Denim Soft ice cream” with cute looks（380JPY）” （Photo provided by：@jun3.jun19)
You can buy blueberry and Ramune flavored soft serve ice cream at shops along the Denim Street, same as Denim-man.
”Denim Pudding” with limited quantity in sales!
“Denim Pudding” is sold by only 40 pieces a day. Denim-man and Denim Soft ice cream are available at shops along the Denim Street, but this pudding is an original product of the pastry shop “Shirakabe Kurashiki-ya”. They sell this pudding as well as blue-colored beer.
Deep blue Denim Pudding shining against Namako Kabe (wall covered with square tiles jointed with raised plaster),（350JPY）” （Photo provided by：@jun3.jun19)
”Kojima Jeans Street” for you who prefer to have a closer contact with the authentic jeans
If you like to select the authentic jeans even if you have to go further, “Kojima Jeans Street” can be recommended, located at about 1 hour train/bus transportation from Kurashiki station. It is a tourist spot of an irresistible attraction for jeans lovers in the jeans birthplace, Kojima district.
About 40 shops of made-in-Kojima jeans stand in a line along about 400m street. Their specialties varies from hand-made by craftsmen, mature atmosphere, unisex style to affordable process. You must be able to jeans totally suitable to you.
Kojima Jeans Street
If you prefer to learn more about the history of jeans.
If you want to explore the world of jeans further, let’s go to “Betty Smith Jeans Museum and Village” in Kojima district. “Betty Smith”, a long-established jeans manufacturer of Kojima” runs this area on the theme of jeans. Adjoining are Japan’s first jeans museum “Jeans Museum”, workshop to experience jeans making and outlet shop to buy genuine products with a good deal.
In the museum, panels and actual products are used to introduce the history and making process of jeans. Valuable items such as a sewing machine of 100 years ago or older are exhibited there.
Shops, gardens and dog-run（Photo provided by：@ochobow)
Access to Kurashiki Denim Street
You can go to Kurashiki Denim Street by a 12-minute walk from the Kurashiki Station. It is very accessible because of transitless trip from Okayama Station to Kurashiki Station vie JR Hakubi Line. The street is the best spot, if you like to visit ”Kurashiki Bikan Chiku” (Kurashiki beautiful sight area)” but do not have enough time to go to Kojima.
Rediscovery of the denim fascination
How do you like it?
”Kurashiki Denim Street”is not so far off from established spots of Kurashiki sightseeing. Why don’t you make additional memories in your Kurashiki trip, by buying Japanese jeans or appreciating unique gourmet?
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