White-walled buildings are one of the great attractions of sightseeing in Kurashiki.
“Ohara House Katalyzer (Former Ohara Family Residence)” is a place where you can enjoy the beauty of Kurashiki’s houses and storehouses, as well as a Japanese garden.
The beauty characteristic of Kurashiki is concentrated in the buildings and grounds, which are designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan.
You can take photos anywhere on the grounds, not just of the exterior, making this a must-visit place for photography lovers!
You can see the highlights in about 30 minutes, so there’s no need to worry even if you have limited time for sightseeing.
Here’s an introduction to Ohara House Katalyzer, which opened to the public in April 2018.
The information provided was current when this article was published in April 2023. Please note that it may differ from the current information.
What is Ohara House Katalyzer (Former Ohara Family Residence)?
Ohara House Katalyzer is a cultural facility housed in a traditional Kurashiki townhouse.
The Former Ohara Family Residence is a representative Kurashiki townhouse designated as a National Important Cultural Property.
Members of the Ohara family, who contributed to Kurashiki’s development, lived here from 1795 (the 7th year of the Kansei era) in the late Edo period until quite recently.
As it was a private residence, the interior was not open to the public. However, since April 1, 2018, it has been open to the public as the exhibition and exchange facility Ohara House Katalyzer.
Highlights of Ohara House Katalyzer
Here are the highlights of Ohara House Katalyzer.
A beautiful building constructed in the late Edo period
The Former Ohara Family Residence, which houses Ohara House Katalyzer, is a representative example of Kurashiki townhouse architecture.
The 660-tsubo grounds contain the main house, storehouses, a detached room, and other buildings. Ten structures have been designated National Important Cultural Properties.
The main house, built in the late Edo period, features distinctive details found only in Kurashiki, known as “Kurashiki windows” and “Kurashiki latticework.”
The storehouse walls feature namako-kabe, a style in which tiles are attached to the lower section and the joints are raised with white plaster.
You can see the architecture that comes to mind when you hear “Kurashiki”—buildings that are quintessentially Kurashiki.
A detached room and a lush green garden
The garden can be seen in its entirety from the detached room.
It’s such a beautiful and lovely space!
Despite being in a prime location in the Bikan Historical Area, it’s quiet enough to make you forget the passage of time. You can also sit wherever you like and relax, which is a lovely touch.
In this detached room, you can enjoy a set of matcha and sweets for 800 yen (tax included). Buy a ticket at the book cafe.
There are many maple trees, so apparently the garden turns bright red in autumn.
Across from the Ohara family’s main residence (Ohara House Katalyzer) is Shinkei-en Garden, which was called “Mukai-yashiki” when it was built because it stood opposite the residence. It, too, offers a lovely garden to enjoy.
An installation that makes learning about the Ohara family fun
The Ohara family is a clan that had an immeasurable influence on Kurashiki.
The installation in the doma (earthen-floored area) is a fun way to learn about the Ohara family.
An installation is an artwork that you experience as an entire space.
It’s not simply a display of text and photographs.
One of the installations, “Words Raining Down,” features the words of successive heads of the Ohara family suspended from the ceiling as if they were falling from above.
For example: “If seven or eight out of ten people agree, it’s better not to do it.”
I felt the weight of these words from a businessperson with great foresight.
You may find other words that move you. Words are also projected onto the walls, so be sure to look at those, too.
A relaxing book cafe
The book cafe displays part of the collection of Ohara Soichiro, the eighth head of the Ohara family.
Rows of books on philosophy, business, art, birds, and other subjects line the shelves. Apparently, many of his books aren’t kept in the cafe, so he must have been a very studious person.
Many of the books are valuable and cannot be handled, but I enjoyed simply looking at their spines.
The book cafe serves hot coffee made with its original blend.
The coffee cups were made in Sakazu, Kurashiki City.
The glass of water is an “IGUSA GLASS,” colored by burning igusa grown in Kurashiki into ash and melting it into the glass.
Both items are made by artists who live in Kurashiki.
The coaster is made of Kurashiki Canvas, a high-quality canvas fabric created by twisting together 100% cotton yarn.
You can get a feel for Kurashiki’s craftsmanship.
| Menu | Price (tax included) |
|---|---|
| Original blend coffee (hot) | 500 yen |
| Original blend coffee with sweets | 800 yen |
Ohara House Katalyzer, filled with the charms of Kurashiki
The more I learned about the Ohara family, the more I realized that they were people who greatly advanced Kurashiki’s culture and industry.
Ohara House Katalyzer is filled with the charms of Kurashiki. Why not admire its beautiful architecture and garden and reflect on Kurashiki’s history?
In the second half of the article, we spoke with deputy director Tomohiro Fujitani about the origins of Ohara House Katalyzer and highlights of its exhibits.
Ohara House Katalyzer details
| Name | Ohara House Katalyzer |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-2-1 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-434-6277 |
| Parking | None |
| Opening hours | 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. *Last admission is at 4:30 p.m. *The cafe is open until 4:30 p.m. *Matcha is served from 10:00 a.m. to noon or from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Closed | Mondays Closed during the year-end and New Year holidays *Open when a public holiday or substitute holiday falls on a Monday |
| Admission (tax included) | [General admission] Adults: 500 yen High school students and younger: 400 yen *Group rates are available for groups of 20 or more Preschool children: Free |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Accepted |
| Smoking | Entirely smoke-free |
| Restrooms | Western-style toilets |
| Website | Ohara House Katalyzer |
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