The former villa of the Ohara family, "Yurin-so" (有隣荘), located in the Bikan Historical Area of Kurashiki.
It is usually not open to the public, but it will be specially opened at night from August 19 to 28, 2022.
It is a rare opportunity to see the evening and night views of the Bikan Historical Area from the second floor of Yurin-so.
This is an event you should visit in conjunction with the light-up event "Heartland Kurashiki."
Let me introduce the special night opening of Yurin-so, "Ichigo Ikkei" (一期一景).
What is Yurin-so
Yurin-so is the former villa of the Ohara family, which had a significant impact on the economy and culture of Kurashiki.
In 1928, the seventh head of the Ohara family, Ohara Magosaburo, built it for his sickly wife.
The following are the highlights:
- Roof tiles made with special glaze
- Architecture that blends Japanese and Western styles by Yakushiji Kazue and Ito Chuta
- Garden designed by the pioneer of modern Japanese gardens, Ogawa Jihei
Since 1935, it has been owned by the Ohara Museum of Art and has been used as a guesthouse.
This residence has welcomed many distinguished guests, including Emperor Showa.
Special Opening of Yurin-so
Yurin-so is usually not open to the public.
From 1997 to 2019, the interior of Yurin-so was opened for a few days in spring and autumn as a special exhibition venue organized by the Ohara Museum of Art.
However, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, special openings were suspended from spring 2020.
This special opening "Ichigo Ikkei" is the first special opening in about three years since autumn 2019.
It will be open at night in conjunction with the light-up event "Heartland Kurashiki," which takes place in the Bikan Historical Area.
Overview of the Night Special Opening of Yurin-so "Ichigo Ikkei"
The date and price for the night special opening of Yurin-so "Ichigo Ikkei" are as follows:
| Event Dates | August 19 (Friday) to 28 (Sunday), 2022 |
|---|---|
| Opening Hours | 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM (Last entry: 7:45 PM) |
| Admission Fee | 2,000 yen for same-day tickets (including tax and welcome drink) |
| Capacity | 50 people per day |
To prevent the spread of infection, there is a limit on the number of people admitted each day, and there may be a wait at the reception during busy times inside the villa.
Because of the small number of visitors, you can enjoy the building at a leisurely pace.
The main highlights of the special opening are as follows:
- Evening view from the second floor of Yurin-so
- Welcome drink
- Music on SP records
Let me introduce these in a bit more detail.
Evening View from the Second Floor of Yurin-so
Yurin-so faces the Kurashiki River.
On the second floor, there are large windows that overlook the Bikan Historical Area.
This is a special view that only the Ohara family used to see.
Until now, the view of the Bikan Historical Area could only be seen during the daytime on special openings in spring and autumn.
However, the "evening view" from Yurin-so has hardly been opened to the public.
In fact, it seems that there have only been a few occasions when it was opened to the public, and otherwise, it has only been accepted for a very limited number of closed events.
The night special opening of Yurin-so "Ichigo Ikkei" is a rare opportunity to casually visit and see the evening view from Yurin-so.
The interview was conducted the day before the event period, before the "Heartland Kurashiki" was held.
During the actual event period, you will likely see the evening view of the Bikan Historical Area, which is more beautifully lit up.
The garden, designed by Ogawa Jihei, who is said to be the best gardener of the Meiji and Taisho periods, is illuminated by LED candles for you to enjoy.
Welcome Drink
At this event, "Itokichi," which operates a wine stand/wine shop in the Kurashiki shopping district and Soja City, will provide the welcome drink.
Please choose one drink from the following two options:
- Organic white wine
- Grape juice from Okayama Prefecture by domaine tetta
You can pick up your drink in the kitchen of Yurin-so and enjoy it in the Western-style room while looking at the garden and the illuminated Ohara Museum of Art.
I had the grape juice from domaine tetta.
Domaine tetta is a winery located in Tetta-cho, Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture, with limestone soil.
The grape juice has a rich and robust fruit flavor.
I heard "delicious" from people who chose either option.
Music on SP Records
In the Western-style room on the first floor, SP records previously owned by the Ohara family will be played on a portable record player for picnics.
SP records are 78 RPM records that were distributed from the late 1800s to the late 1950s, during the early days of records.
Ohara Magosaburo, the founder of the Ohara Museum of Art, had a son, Ohara Soichiro, who succeeded him and made great strides as a businessman and was a big music lover.
He not only owned a large number of records.
He donated 10 million yen to Kurashiki City for the construction of a facility where citizens could enjoy records widely, the "Music Library," and donated about 2,000 classical SP records.
▼ For more details, please see the following article.
There was the following explanation at the venue.
Yurin-so recreates the atmosphere of the time when it served as a guesthouse. Since the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Ohara Museum of Art in 1950, under the leadership of Ohara Soichiro, the son of Ohara Magosaburo, concerts have been held at the museum. This fusion of art and music was one of Soichiro's greatest pleasures. We will introduce some of the songs that Soichiro, a music lover, particularly liked from the SP records he collected, familiar tunes for everyone.
The sound of SP records resonates in the architectural space of the early Showa period.
With a warm and gentle sound, it evokes a sense of nostalgia, as if watching an old movie.
I have hardly had the opportunity to listen to records before, but I found it so attractive that I want to listen to records in my daily life and buy some!
You can feel the atmosphere of the early Showa period with both your eyes and ears, and there were voices saying, "It feels like a time slip."
Other Points
Photography is permitted inside the villa.
However, large equipment such as tripods cannot be brought in.
Additionally, there are works on display that are still under copyright.
For works with copyright notices, please limit your photographs to personal enjoyment only.
The bold brush strokes of the hanging scroll are very wonderful with their dynamism and use of color!
Please come and see for yourself.
Since the building does not have air conditioning, we are offering uchiwa rental.
With high-quality uchiwa, the retro atmosphere is heightened!
Comments from Ohara Museum of Art Staff
I spoke with Keita Ishii from Ohara Museum of Art about the highlights of the Night Special Opening Yurin-so Villa 'Ichigo Ichie'.
What do you want visitors to enjoy the most during the summer public opening?
Ishii (no honorifics)
The opportunity to enter Yurin-so Villa, which is usually not open to the public, and the night view from Yurin-so Villa.
So far, only a few people have been able to see the evening view from the second floor of Yurin-so Villa.
I hope that people of all ages, from children to the elderly, locals to tourists, can enjoy drinks while experiencing a nostalgic atmosphere.
It seems like you can enjoy the atmosphere of the former Ohara family.
Ishii
We also have past photo panels, so I hope that while looking at the scenery, you can also see the photos and reflect on how it used to be.
Visit Yurin-so Villa at Night
Yurin-so Villa is a building that can only be visited for a limited time.
While it has the elegance of a guesthouse, it also conveys a gentle atmosphere, perhaps due to the wish for "a calm residence where my beloved wife can recuperate."
Please take this opportunity to enjoy the precious evening view of Kurashiki.
You are sure to discover the charm of Kurashiki that can only be experienced at night.
Articles about Yurin-so Villa
Data for Night Special Opening of Yurin-so: "Ichigo Ikkei"
| Name | Night Special Opening of Yurin-so: "Ichigo Ikkei" |
|---|---|
| Location | 1-3-18 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 086-422-0005 |
| Parking | None |
| Opening Hours | August 19, 2022 - August 28, 2022 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM (Last entry: 7:45 PM) |
| Closed | No regular holidays during the period |
| Admission Fee (including tax) | Same-day ticket: 2,000 yen (including tax) *Cash payment only |
| Payment Method |
|
| Reservation | Those who purchased advance tickets by August 15 can enter on the specified date |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Restroom | No restrooms |
| Website | Night Special Opening of Yurin-so: "Ichigo Ikkei" |
