[Okayama ]From shopping to gourmet! Kurashiki Denim Street is interesting!

Kurashiki City, where Kurashiki Denim Street is located, is actually the birthplace of domestically produced denim. The "Kagoshima Denim (Kurashiki Denim, Okayama Denim) "produced here is highly regarded around the world for its high technology and quality in sewing and processing.
But why in the world did the denim industry flourish here in Kurashiki City? The reason has a lot to do with the climate of Kurashiki City.

Kojima, Kurashiki City, famous for Kurashiki denim, was originally one of the islands in the Seto Inland Sea. Later, in the Edo period (1603-1867), organized development of new rice paddies was promoted in various areas to increase national strength.
Kojima was also reclaimed, but because it was originally an island in the sea, the salinity of the new rice fields was too high for rice cultivation to be successful. Cotton production was therefore started as an alternative to rice cultivation.
In addition to a mild climate with little precipitation, the salty rice paddies were ideal for cotton cultivation. Kojima was also blessed with an abundance of water for dyeing, and the textile industry gradually developed in Kojima.
Kurashiki continued to develop its cotton weaving business, including tabi (split-toed socks) and school uniforms, but after World War II, the advent of synthetic fibers made business difficult.
This led to the development of denim. Thus, the first denim in Japan was produced, making the most of the cutting and sewing techniques cultivated in Tabi Shoes and school uniforms.
High-quality domestic denim is still produced in Okayama Prefecture, mainly in the Kojima area, and is attracting worldwide attention as an international brand.

Kojima Denim was born in Kurashiki, which has long been known as a textile town, and has now become an international brand that is attracting worldwide attention.
Kurashiki Denim Street, introduced here, is the place where you can get your hands on such Kojima denim. This facility is located in the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter and opened in 2014.
The street is not lined with multiple stores, but rather a series of shopping spots in the same facility, such as "Men's Building ""Women's & Kids Building ""General Merchandise Building "on a 30-meter street.
We carry more than 1,000 denim brand products from Okayama Prefecture! Moreover, you can buy them at reasonable prices compared to other stores.

When most people think of denim, jeans may come to mind, but Kurashiki Denim Street here is not limited to jeans, but is also full of denim-based accessories, sundries, fashion accessories, and other products that will make you feel excited just by looking at them.
In addition to shopping spots, there are also denim-related eateries and photo spots, making it a facility that can be enjoyed even by those whose purpose is not shopping.

In addition to Kurashiki Denim Street, Kurashiki City also has Kojima Jeans Street, lined with domestic jeans stores.
Although the two spots are often confused, Kurashiki Denim Street and Kojima Jeans Street are actually two completely different things.
In contrast to Kurashiki Denim Street, where shopping spots are concentrated in one building, Kojima Jeans Street is a shopping street with about 40 stores specializing in jeans.
This time we are introducing Kurashiki Denim Street, but Kojima Jeans Street is also full of attractive spots!
In addition to stores selling Kojima denim, there are many spots where you will want to take pictures, such as jeans objet d'art and manholes, so be sure to stop by along with Kurashiki Denim Street.

Kurashiki Denim Street is a long and narrow building that houses three shopping spots: "Men's Building ""Women's & Kids' Building ""General Merchandise Building " Here we introduce the features of each.

Shopping is not the only thing you can enjoy at Kurashiki Denim Street. At the corner of the general merchandise hall, there is a take-out corner selling denim-colored gourmet foods that can only be found here.
Although the appearance may make you cringe, why not try it when you visit Kurashiki Denim Street?
Here are three popular gourmet items from the take-out section.

Kurashiki Denim Street is located in the Bikan Historical Quarter, one of Kurashiki's most popular tourist attractions. 10 minutes on foot from JR Kurashiki Station, it is an easy stopover.
Denim lovers as well as those who are not so particular about fashion will enjoy this spot, so be sure to stop by when you visit Kurashiki.
For denim lovers, we also recommend visiting Kojima Jeans Street, also in Kurashiki City, as a set tour! We hope you will experience the charm of Okayama's world-famous Kojima denim with your own eyes.

"Facility Information "
Address: 1-10-11 Chuo, Kurashiki, Okayama 710-0046
Phone number: 086-435-9135
Hours of operation: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Closed: No holidays