As you stroll through the Bikan Historical Area, buildings with green tiles and orange walls appear in the white-walled town.
This is the former villa of the Ohara family, a business family, called Yurin-so Villa.
Although the building is usually not open to the public, it is specifically open at night.
I visited the special night opening of Yurin-so Villa, "Ichigo Ikkei," where you can enjoy the scenery from a special space.
What is Yurin-so Villa
Yurin-so Villa was constructed in 1928 (Showa 3).
Ohara Museum of Art was established by the seventh head of the Ohara family, Ohara Magosaburo, who built it for his ailing wife.
It is a large mansion built at the cost of five main buildings of the Ohara Museum of Art.
An interesting feature is that it incorporates three styles: Japanese, Western, and Chinese.
Although it was planned as a villa for the Ohara family, it also functions as a "guesthouse" to welcome dignitaries such as the Imperial Family and other noble families.
Therefore, the living room (recreation room) on the first floor has ample space to accommodate a large number of people and features a high ceiling.
For more details about the Yurin-so Villa building, please read the previous articles.
Overview of the special opening "Ichigo Ikkei" at Yurin-so Villa in spring
Yurin-so Villa is usually not open to the public, but it is open twice a year during special exhibitions in spring and autumn.
To enter the building, you should visit during this precious open period.
In August 2022, a special night opening was held for the first time in conjunction with the event "Heartland Kurashiki," which took place in the Bikan Historical Area.
In response to the feedback from that time, the night special opening "Ichigo Ikkei" was held as a collaborative event with Kurashiki Spring Night Lights.
| Content of the special opening "Ichigo Ikkei" at Yurin-so Villa | |
|---|---|
| Event Dates | March 4 (Saturday), 5 (Sunday), 11 (Saturday), 12 (Sunday), 2023 - 4 days |
| Event Hours | 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM (last entry: 7:30 PM) |
| Admission Fee | 2,500 yen for same-day tickets (including tax and welcome drink) |
| Admission Limit | Entry may be temporarily restricted if the number of visitors reaches about 50 |
| Other | Cash payment only on the day, no reservations |
For "Ichigo Ikkei," photography inside the villa is allowed, but the following actions are prohibited.
- Bringing in or using tripods
- Photographing exhibited works that are under copyright protection for purposes other than personal and non-commercial use
- Posting the above works on social media
In other words, you can take photos with a handheld camera as long as they are not of the works, and you can post them on social media.
There are three key points for the event.
Let me introduce each one.
View from inside Yurin-so Villa
Just entering a building that is usually not open to the public gives a sense of specialness, and the view from there is a privilege for those who enter.
From inside the villa, I could see the Ohara Museum of Art diagonally across.
In the courtyard, there was also an LED candle lighting.
▼ Courtyard on the Ohara Museum side
The view from the second floor is also exceptional.
In the Bikan Historical Area, where there are few tall buildings, being able to overlook the town along the Kurashiki River from above is quite limited.
This is a precious view that can only be seen by entering Yurin-so Villa.
Welcome drink
Each visitor receives one welcome drink.
It is provided by Kurashiki Sake Shop Tokichi.
They handle natural wines at their wine shop in Soja City and at their shop and bar in Kurashiki City.
The alcoholic option is organic white wine, and the non-alcoholic options include organic grape juice and hot jasmine tea.
Drinks are served in a dining room with a Chinese-style design.
▼Decorations of the windows that evoke a sense of China
Through the gap at the receiving window, the kiln and a charming cupboard were peeking through.
I ordered organic grape juice.
On the day of the interview, it was grape juice from domaine tetta in Niimi City.
It was a glass with a slight cloudiness and thickness, and a fragrant aroma.
I enjoyed it while gazing at the Ohara Museum of Art.
Elegant music from SP records
There were scenes that evoked the atmosphere of the time when Yurin-so Villa served as a guesthouse.
In the Western-style room, music from SP records donated by the Ohara family was playing.
SP records are 78 RPM records that were circulated from around the 1880s to the 1950s for phonographs.
They are manufactured by engraving music onto plastic discs.
To play the music, one had to turn a handle to apply rotation.
The device used is said to be a portable record player for picnics.
Schumann's "Dichterliebe" was performed.
The sound is quite different from the clear sound of today, with a slightly muffled quality.
Occasionally, there was noise, which made me feel the history.
While listening to the round, soft, and pleasant singing voice, I enjoyed my drink and the view from the room.
Enjoying Kurashiki Spring Night Lights
From the second floor of Yurin-so Villa, I caught a glimpse of the Japanese umbrella lights lined up along the river.
After enjoying Yurin-so Villa, I also recommend viewing the Kurashiki Spring Night Lights.
It is an event that colors the spring nights, which have slightly warmed from the cold.
The highlight, the Japanese umbrella lights, are displayed right in front of Yurin-so Villa.
It is a scenery that can only be seen once a year in spring.
In Conclusion
Yurin-so Villa is only open for a limited period each year.
Especially the general opening at night, including this time, is a very rare opportunity, as it has only happened twice.
I had visited Yurin-so Villa during the day before, but this was my first time at night.
Listening to SP records in a historic building gives a feeling of time slipping back to the past.
Watching people chatting with drinks in hand, it was easy to imagine that it was once used as a guesthouse.
It was a special event that could only be experienced at Yurin-so Villa, enjoyable through all five senses.
Articles about Yurin-so Villa
Data for the Special Opening of Yurin-so: "Ichigo Ikkei"
| Name | Special Opening of Yurin-so: "Ichigo Ikkei" |
|---|---|
| Date | March 4 (Sat), 5 (Sun), 11 (Sat), 12 (Sun), 2023 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM (Last entry: 7:30 PM) |
| Location | 1-3-18 Chuo, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | On-the-day ticket: 2,500 yen (including tax) *Cash payment only |
| Website | Special Opening of Yurin-so: "Ichigo Ikkei" |
