Jepara, a small regency on the north coast of Java, deserves attention. While most people only know Jepara as the birthplace of the Indonesian heroine R.A. Kartini, the regency has much more to offer than just being "Kartini's birth city". Jepara Regency has a lot of exciting tourism potential to explore.

In addition to being the birthplace of R.A. Kartini, Jepara is known as an area that exports the best-quality furniture and raw materials. According to Kompas.com, the export figure from Jepara reached US$177.03, with an export volume reaching 53.65 million kg.

However, the attraction of Jepara Regency is not just an area that produces raw materials for export quality furniture but also has a variety of natural, cultural, and historical tourist destinations that bear witness to the value of Indonesia's struggle. So, what are the attractions and tourism potential in Jepara?

Historical tourism

As mentioned above, Jepara is famous as the birth city of R.A. Kartini, so it is not surprising that there is a lot of attractive historical tourism potential to explore on Bumi Kartini. Sobat Parekraf can take a step back by visiting the traces of R.A. Kartini's legacy in Jepara. For example, visit the R.A. Kartini Museum, which contains relics from the past.

Sobat Parekraf can also visit the Pendopo Jepara, Kartini's residence, where she developed the idea of women's emancipation. Another historical tourist attraction in Jepara is the Portuguese Fort in Banyumanis Village. Sultan Agung and the Portuguese built this fort to cooperate against the VOC during the colonial period.

Photo: The beauty of Karimun Jawa Island, one of the most popular destinations in Jepara (Shutterstock/Abudul Hakim Nurmaulana)

Natural tourism

The potential for natural tourism in Jepara is abundant. Sobat Parekraf can find beaches, hills, waterfalls, and mountains in Jepara. One of the most sought-after destinations for tourists is Blebak Beach, Jepara.

Blebak Beach is beautiful because of its clean, soft white sand and the natural scenery surrounding rice fields and mangrove plants. If you want to heal, It is the right choice. It is suitable for relaxing while enjoying the view of an exotic golden-yellow sunset.

Another superior and iconic natural tourist attraction in Jepara Regency is the Karimunjawa Islands. Even though it is quite far from the city, and you need to take a ferry for 3-5 hours, the natural beauty of Karimunjawa has managed to hypnotize many tourists, especially those who are mesmerized by the underwater beauty, which is still very beautiful and well-preserved.

Cultural Tourism

Jepara Regency also has unique cultural tourism potential. Sobat Parekraf can see this uniqueness in the Lomban Kupatan tradition. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology has recognized this tradition, passed down for generations, as a national intangible cultural heritage.

Lomban Kupatan is a tradition performed a week after Eid al-Fitr. This tradition, a symbol of almsgiving to the sea, involves sinking a buffalo's head into the sea, where people will later fight over it. According to belief, this tradition is carried out as a form of gratitude for safety and hope for good fortune.

Culinary Tour

Jepara Regency has many typical food choices that would be a loss to miss. One of them is "lontong krubyuk." Unlike "lontong" preparations in general, this typical Jepara lontong uses beef broth served with shredded boiled chicken, half-cooked bean sprouts, and celery.

In addition to lontong krubyuk, there are still many exciting choices of typical Jepara food to try, such as "horok-horok" (a substitute for rice made from palm flour, usually paired with "pecel" or satay), "kuluban" (vegetables paired with grated coconut), and "adon-adon coro" (a typical Japanese herbal drink made from a mixture of spices).

So, are you interested in a more extended trip to Jepara for a holiday, Sob?

Cover: Kartini Museum, which preserves the history of the Kartini struggle (Shutterstock/Husni)