Jepara, thirty-five kilometers northwest of Kudus, of ninty kilometers from Semarang on the northern coast of Jawa Tengah, is famous for its wood carving. It is also famous as the birth place of Raden Ajeng Kartini, a pioneer of the emancipation movement for women.
The regency of Jepara occupies an area of 950 square kilometers and is inhabited by more than 700,000 people, most of who are farmers. Jepara is also known for its plait work, Troso textile, ceramics and Monel handicrafts.