“Yurin-so Villa,” the former secondary residence of the Ohara family in Kurashiki’s Bikan Historical Area.
It is usually closed to the public, but it is open for special evening visits from August 19 to 28, 2022.
The chance to see the evening and nighttime views of Kurashiki’s Bikan Historical Area from the second floor of Yurin-so Villa is quite rare.
We hope you’ll visit this event along with the “Heartland Kurashiki” illumination event.
Here’s an introduction to “Ichigo Ikkei,” the special evening opening of Yurin-so Villa.
The information presented was current when this article was published in August 2022. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About Yurin-so Villa
Yurin-so Villa is the former secondary residence of the Ohara family, who had a major influence on Kurashiki’s economy and culture.
In 1928, Ohara Magosaburo, the seventh head of the Ohara family, built it for his frail wife.
Highlights include:
- Roof tiles made with a special glaze
- Architecture blending Japanese and Western styles by Yakushiji Kazue and Ito Chuta
- A garden by Ogawa Jihei, a pioneer of modern Japanese gardens
It became the property of the Ohara Museum of Art in 1935 and has since been used as a guesthouse.
The residence has welcomed many distinguished guests, including Emperor Showa.
Special opening of Yurin-so Villa
Yurin-so Villa is usually closed to the public.
From 1997 to 2019, its interior was opened for several days each spring and autumn as a special exhibition venue hosted by the Ohara Museum of Art.
However, special openings were suspended from spring 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This special opening, “Ichigo Ikkei,” is the first in about three years, since autumn 2019.
It will be open in the evenings to coincide with the “Heartland Kurashiki” illumination event, held throughout Kurashiki City’s Bikan Historical Area.
Overview of the special evening opening of Yurin-so Villa, “Ichigo Ikkei”
The dates, times, and prices for the special evening opening of Yurin-so Villa, “Ichigo Ikkei,” are as follows:
| Dates | August 19 (Friday)–28 (Sunday), 2022 |
|---|---|
| Hours | 6:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m. (last admission: 7:45 p.m.) |
| Admission | ¥2,000 on the day (tax included; welcome drink included) |
| Capacity | 50 people per day |
To prevent the spread of infection, a daily visitor limit has been set, and you may have to wait at reception when the villa is crowded.
With fewer visitors, you can take your time enjoying the building.
The three main highlights of the special opening are:
- Evening views from the second floor of Yurin-so Villa
- Welcome drinks
- Music played on SP records
Let’s take a closer look.
Evening views from the second floor of Yurin-so Villa
Yurin-so Villa faces the Kurashiki River.
Its second floor has large windows overlooking Kurashiki’s Bikan Historical Area.
It is a special view that, in the past, only members of the Ohara family could see.
Until now, visitors could only enjoy daytime views of Kurashiki’s Bikan Historical Area during the spring and autumn special openings.
However, the evening view from Yurin-so Villa has rarely been open to the public.
Apparently, it has been opened to the public only a few times in the past; otherwise, it has hosted only a very small number of private events.
The special evening opening of Yurin-so Villa, “Ichigo Ikkei,” is a rare chance to drop in and see the evening view from Yurin-so Villa.
The article’s visit took place the day before the event period, before “Heartland Kurashiki” began.
During the event, visitors will likely be able to see an evening view of Kurashiki’s Bikan Historical Area illuminated even more brightly.
The garden is illuminated with LED candles so visitors can also enjoy the work of Ogawa Jihei, considered one of the finest gardeners of the Meiji and Taisho periods.
Welcome drinks
For this event, Itokichi, which operates a wine stand and wine shop in Kurashiki’s shopping district and Soja City, is providing welcome drinks.
Choose one of the following two drinks:
- Organic white wine
- Okayama-grown grape juice from domaine tetta
Pick up your drink in Yurin-so Villa’s kitchen, then relax in the Western-style room and enjoy it while looking out at the garden and the illuminated Ohara Museum of Art.
The writer chose the grape juice from domaine tetta.
domaine tetta is a winery in Tetta-cho, Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture, with limestone soil.
The grape juice has a rich, full-bodied fruit flavor.
People who chose either drink could be heard saying, “Delicious.”
Music played on SP records
In the Western-style room on the first floor, SP records once owned by the Ohara family are played on a portable record player designed for picnics.
SP records are 78-rpm gramophone records that circulated from the late 1800s, when records first appeared, through the late 1950s.
Ohara Soichiro, the eldest son who succeeded Ohara Magosaburo, founder of the Ohara Museum of Art, and went on to make great strides as a businessman, was a great music lover.
He did more than simply own a large number of records.
He donated 10 million yen to Kurashiki City to build a facility where residents could enjoy records widely, the Music Library, and donated about 2,000 classical 78 rpm records.
▼For more details, see the article below.
The venue had the following explanation:
The atmosphere evokes the time when Yurin-so Villa served as a guesthouse. The Ohara Museum of Art began holding concerts at the museum in 1950, its 20th anniversary, under the direction of Ohara Soichiro, son of Ohara Magosaburo. For Soichiro, this fusion of art and music was one of life’s greatest pleasures. Here we introduce some of the favorite pieces from the SP records collected by the music-loving Soichiro, including familiar tunes.
The sound of SP records resonates through an architectural space from the early Showa period.
Their warm, gentle sound evokes nostalgia, like watching an old movie.
The writer had rarely had the chance to listen to records before, but found them so appealing that they wanted to listen to records in everyday life and buy some!
Visitors could feel the atmosphere of the early Showa period through both sight and sound, and some remarked, “It’s like traveling back in time.”
Other highlights
Photography is permitted inside the villa.
However, large items such as tripods are not allowed.
Some of the works on display are still under copyright.
For works with a copyright notice, please keep any photos you take for personal enjoyment only.
The boldly brushed hanging scrolls are wonderful, with their sense of movement and use of color!
Be sure to see them for yourself.
Also, since the building has no air conditioning, fans are available to borrow.
The elegant, high-quality fans really added to the retro atmosphere!
Comments from Ohara Museum of Art Staff
We spoke with Keita Ishii of the Ohara Museum of Art about the highlights of Yurin-so Villa Special Night Opening: “One Scene, One Moment.”
What would you most like visitors to enjoy during the summer public opening?
Ishii (surname only)
The chance to enter Yurin-so Villa, which is usually closed to the public, and the nighttime view from Yurin-so Villa.
Very few people have had the chance to see the evening scenery from the second floor of Yurin-so Villa.
I hope visitors of all ages, from children to older adults, and from local residents to tourists, will enjoy a drink and experience a sense of nostalgia.
It sounds like visitors can imagine and enjoy the atmosphere of the Ohara family home in the past.
Ishii
We also have panels of historical photographs on display, so I hope visitors will look at the photos as well as the scenery and reflect on how things used to be.
Visit Yurin-so Villa at Night
Yurin-so Villa is a building that can only be visited for a limited time.
It has the elegance of a guesthouse, yet perhaps because it was also built with the wish for “a peaceful home where my beloved wife could recuperate,” it has a gentle atmosphere, too.
Take this opportunity to enjoy Kurashiki’s precious evening scenery.
You are sure to discover the charms of Kurashiki that can only be experienced at night.
Articles about Yurin-so Villa
Nighttime Special Opening: Yurin-so Villa “One Scene, One Moment” Information
| Name | Nighttime Special Opening: Yurin-so Villa “One Scene, One Moment” |
|---|---|
| Location | 1-3-18 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-422-0005 |
| Parking | None |
| Opening hours | August 19–28, 2022 6:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m. (last admission: 7:45 p.m.) |
| Closed | No regular closing days during this period |
| Admission (tax included) | Same-day ticket: ¥2,000 (consumption tax included) *Cash only |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Those who purchase advance tickets by August 15 may enter on the date specified |
| Smoking | Strictly non-smoking |
| Restrooms | No restrooms |
| Website | Nighttime Special Opening: Yurin-so Villa “One Scene, One Moment” |
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