Betty Smith Jeans Museum & Village — Attraction in Kurashiki

Very interesting place to learn about the process of making denim, the history of cotton growing and textiles in Kurashiki, and what eventually led this area to become the leader of jeans making in Japan.

Museum 1 focuses on the worldwide history of denim, origins in the US, and has a lot of vintage items on display to tell about jeans in general.

Museum 2 is about the history of denim in Japan and shows some of the machinery and processes innovated in Japan. There are also examples of early designs and how designs evolved within the market, and also shows a lot of cool vintage advertisements and some of the brands and styles that are unique to Japan.

There is a shop, and workshop next to Museum 1, where you can make a custom pair of jeans. There are multiple options from ready-made to entirely custom-made jeans from beginning to end, which takes a lot longer and reservations are needed if you want to participate in this.

For the young children, there is a small playground and you can get refreshments. If you have pets, there is a dog run so they can relax, too.

A jeans outlet is near the playground so you can pick up a pair of jeans, or other accessories at reasonable price, or bring home some souvenirs for your family...

Free (!) jeans museum. I've never seen anything like it anywhere else in this form. A real find for enthusiasts. The history of jeans is covered in its entirety. From their beginnings in the USA to their more recent history in Japan. There are many exhibits and originals. I can really recommend coming here, even if it's a bit out of town. The staff was also very friendly...

A fantastic experience making your own Japanese denim jeans. You choose the fit and they will hem it to your size. You'll then get to choose the patch, button, and rivets for the jeans. And have the experience of putting them on the oldschool way. Reserve a time online in advance. Definitely recommend for anyone traveling...