From Pantai Kartini, visitors can take motorboats to Pulau Panjang. The Kura-Kura Ocean Park, located in the Pantai Kartini complex, offers another aquatic attraction: a large aquarium and a touch pool. Jepara thus combines an island crossing with a glimpse of the underwater world.

Marine Life and Wildlife at Pantai Kartini

The large aquarium area at Kura-Kura Ocean Park includes sharks, hawksbill turtles, rays, Giant Trevally (GT), snappers, groupers and pufferfish. In the touch pool with freshwater fish, visitors can mainly touch the tame turtles. The aquarium and touch pool offer different ways to encounter the aquatic world.

History, Museums and Woodcraft

Benteng VOC, also known as Benteng Kompeni, is located in Dusun Ujung Batu, Kelurahan Ujung Batu, Kecamatan Jepara. The fort stands on a hill on the shore of the Java Sea. Its location directly connects the structure with the coastal landscape, so a visit can be seen in a different context from the wildlife at Kura-Kura Ocean Park.

The R.A. Kartini Museum has four exhibition rooms: one on R.A. Kartini, one on old Jepara, one on Dar Oes Salam, and one on handicrafts. The subjects range from Kartini and local history to handicrafts. Nearby is Desa Mulyoharjo, a center for wood sculpture and woodcarving. This adds a distinct perspective on Jepara’s craft tradition to a museum visit.

Within the Wider Jepara Destination

The wider Jepara destination also includes the Kepulauan Karimunjawa. The archipelago lies around 90 kilometers north of Jepara, comprises 27 islands in the Java Sea, and is in Kabupaten Jepara; part of its area belongs to Karimunjawa National Park. The crossing takes an average of about three to four hours on the Siginjai ferry, the Express Bahari speedboat, or a Pelni ship. The duration depends on the type of vessel and weather conditions; check current departure times when planning a specific trip.

Activities in the Kepulauan Karimunjawa include snorkeling, diving, easy trekking, and wildlife watching. Mangrove forests, coastal forests, and small islands characterize the landscape. By comparison, the boat trip to Pulau Panjang is much shorter: from the tourist jetties at Pantai Kartini or Pantai Bandengan, it takes 10 minutes by excursion boat. The different travel times help distinguish a trip near Jepara from a multi-hour island crossing.

The beaches in the wider Jepara destination also offer a range of experiences. Pantai Bandengan has white sand and clear water; activities there include banana boat rides, ATVs, canoes, and excursion boat trips. Pantai Empu Rancak also has white sand, a gently sloping shore, and calm waves. The beach is suitable as a family destination, although sea conditions can vary seasonally. Various seafood dishes are also available at Pantai Empu Rancak; the selection may vary by season and provider.

Jepara’s wider craft tradition includes Tenun Troso as well as woodcarving. This traditional ikat fabric comes from Desa Troso in Kecamatan Pecangaan, Kabupaten Jepara. It is made on non-mechanical looms and features a variety of patterns. Wood sculpture and ikat weaving thus represent two distinct craft traditions of the wider destination.

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