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By Liz Stone, guest blogger
KOJIMA JP Like a well-worn pair of jeans, the paint on Kojima’s “Jeans Street” is a faded shade of blue, complete with red-and-white selvedge lines edging the sidewalks.
Kojima is a denim-lover’s paradise. Known as the birthplace of Japanese denim, it’s located in the seaside city of Kurashiki and was the first production area in the country for Japanese denim.
Upon entering “Jeans Street”, you can’t miss Big John, the first brand to manufacture fully Japanese jeans in the 1970s. Today, their shop boasts an extensive collection of Japanese selvedge denim.
Another must-see is the famous Momotaro store, home to a vintage weaving loom. The loom hails from Kyoto’s Nishijin district, with modifications for weaving denim. Outside, their namesake “peach boy” welcomes visitors.
In between Big John and Momotaro, shops line the street selling everything from selvedge and bespoke denim to second-hand and fashion-forward pieces.
After some shopping, we found ourselves in need of sustenance. The drinks at Cafe Japan Blue Garden hit the spot—refreshing, and uniquely made with indigo! The cafe also sells indigo-inspired items, like these bundled-up blue darumas.
A few recommendations
Visit Kojima on a weekend when all the shops are open.
Make time for lunch, as this area along the Seto Inland Sea is known for its fresh seafood. We enjoyed the chirashi bowl and seafood pasta at Cantina Tomi.
Finally, don’t miss a drive over the Great Seto Bridge, which connects Okayama and Kagawa. The sweeping views of the sea and islands are unforgettable.
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ABOUT US: Okan Arts, a petite family business, is co-owned by mother-daughter duo Patricia Belyea and Victoria Stone. Patricia and Victoria sell Japanese textiles online, host creative quilting experiences, and lead quilting & textile tours to Japan.
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