As you make your way around the Bikan Historical Area, a building with green roof tiles and orange walls appears among the white-walled streets.
It is “Yurin-so Villa,” the former second residence of the business magnate Ohara family.
The building is usually closed to the public, but it is opened specially at night.
I went to “Ichigo Ikkei,” a special spring-evening opening of Yurin-so Villa, where visitors can enjoy the scenery from a special space.
The information provided was current when this article was published in March 2023. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About Yurin-so Villa
Yurin-so Villa was built in 1928.
Ohara Museum of Art was founded by Ohara Magosaburo, the seventh head of the Ohara family, who built the villa for his frail wife.
It is a grand residence built at a cost equivalent to that of five main buildings of the Ohara Museum of Art.
One fascinating feature is that the building incorporates three styles: Japanese, Western, and Chinese.
Although planned as a second residence for the Ohara family, it also served as a “guest house” for welcoming distinguished guests, including members of the Imperial Family and other royal households.
For this reason, the living room (recreation room) on the first floor is spacious enough to accommodate a large number of people and has a high ceiling.
I have covered the Yurin-so Villa building in detail before, so please read that article.
Overview of the special spring-evening opening of Yurin-so Villa, “Ichigo Ikkei”
Although Yurin-so Villa is usually closed to the public, it opens twice a year during special spring and autumn exhibitions.
Visit during one of these rare public openings to enter the building.
In August 2022, it was opened specially at night for the first time in conjunction with the event “Heartland Kurashiki,” held throughout the Bikan Historical Area.
Following the response to that event, “Ichigo Ikkei,” a special nighttime opening, was held as a collaborative event with Kurashiki Shunsho Akari.
| Details of the special spring-evening opening of Yurin-so Villa, “Ichigo Ikkei” | |
|---|---|
| Dates | Four days: March 4 (Sat), 5 (Sun), 11 (Sat), and 12 (Sun), 2023 |
| Hours | 5:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m. (last admission: 7:30 p.m.) |
| Admission | Same-day ticket: ¥2,500 (tax included; welcome drink included) |
| Visitor capacity | Admission may be temporarily restricted if the number of visitors inside reaches approximately 50 or more |
| Other | Cash payment only on the day; no reservations |
Photography inside the villa is permitted only for Ichigo Ikkei, but the following are prohibited:
- Bringing in or using tripods
- Photographing exhibited works still under copyright protection for any purpose other than personal, non-commercial use
- Posting the above works on social media
In other words, you can take handheld-camera photos of anything other than the artworks, and post them on social media.
There are three highlights of the event.
Here is an introduction to each.
Views from inside Yurin-so Villa
Simply entering a building that is usually closed to the public feels special, and the views from inside are another privilege for visitors.
From inside the villa, I could see the Ohara Museum of Art diagonally across the street.
The courtyard was also illuminated with LED candles.
▼ Courtyard on the Ohara Museum of Art side
The view from the second floor is also exceptional.
In the Bikan Historical Area, where there are few tall buildings, there are very few places where you can look down on the streets along the Kurashiki River from above.
It is a precious view that you can only see by entering Yurin-so Villa.
Welcome drinks
Each visitor receives one welcome drink.
The drinks are provided by Kurashiki Sake Shop Itokichi.
They sell natural wine at a wine shop in Soja City and at a shop and bar in Kurashiki City.
The alcoholic option was organic white wine; non-alcoholic options included organic grape juice and hot jasmine tea.
Drinks are served in the dining room, which is designed in the Chinese style.
▼ Window decorations that evoke China
Through a gap in the serving hatch, we could glimpse the kiln and a charming cupboard for dishes.
The writer ordered organic grape juice.
On the day of the interview, the grape juice was from domaine tetta in Niimi City.
It was a cloudy, slightly thick drink with a fragrant aroma.
I savored it while gazing at the Ohara Museum of Art.
Elegant music from SP records
There was also a scene that evoked the atmosphere of the time when Yurin-so Villa served as a guesthouse.
In the Western-style room, music played from SP records donated by the Ohara family.
SP records are 78-rpm gramophone records that were in circulation from around the 1880s to around the 1950s.
They are made by engraving music onto plastic discs.
To play the music, the handle was turned to get the record spinning.
Apparently, the record player in use is a portable model designed for picnics.
Schumann’s Dichterliebe was played.
The sound was completely different from today’s clear audio, with a slightly muffled quality.
The occasional crackling noise also gave a sense of history.
We enjoyed our drinks and the view from the room, listening to the singer’s rounded, gentle, soothing voice.
Enjoy it with Kurashiki Shunsho Akari
From the second floor of Yurin-so Villa, we caught a glimpse of the Japanese umbrella lights lined up along the river.
After enjoying Yurin-so Villa, we also recommend taking in Kurashiki Shunsho Akari.
This event brightens a spring night, when the chill of the evening has begun to ease.
The main attraction, the Japanese umbrella lights, is displayed right in front of Yurin-so Villa.
It is a scene that can only be seen once a year, in spring.
From the Writer
Yurin-so Villa is open to the public for only a limited period each year.
In particular, this was only the second time it had been open to the public at night, making it a very rare opportunity.
I had visited Yurin-so Villa during the day before, but this was my first time at night.
Listening to SP records in this historic building made me feel as if I had traveled back in time.
Watching people chat over drinks, it was easy to imagine that the villa had once been used to welcome guests.
It was a special event that could only be experienced by entering Yurin-so Villa, and enjoyed with all five senses.
Articles about Yurin-so Villa
Spring Evening at Yurin-so Villa: Special Opening “Ichigo Ichikei” Information
| Name | Spring Evening at Yurin-so Villa: Special Opening “Ichigo Ichikei” |
|---|---|
| Dates | March 4 (Sat), 5 (Sun), 11 (Sat), and 12 (Sun), 2023 5:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m. (last admission: 7:30 p.m.) |
| Location | 1-3-18 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Admission (tax included) | Same-day ticket: ¥2,500 (tax included) ※Cash only |
| Website | Spring Evening at Yurin-so Villa: Special Opening “Ichigo Ichikei” |
What would you like to know about Kurashiki?
Enter a word to search articles on this site
