Have you noticed the building with the distinctive green tiled roof among the rows of monochrome houses in the Bikan Historical Area?
This beautiful and impressive building is the former secondary residence of the Ohara family, called Yurin-so Villa.
Usually, you can only see the exterior of Yurin-so Villa, but it opens to the public for special viewings twice a year, once in spring and once in autumn.
We visited during one of these rare special openings to see what the interior is like.
Photography is normally prohibited inside Yurin-so Villa. We were granted special permission to take photographs this time.
The information presented was current when this article was published in October 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, which had a major influence on Kurashiki’s economy and culture.
In 1928, Ohara Magosaburo, the seventh head of the Ohara family, had it built for his frail wife.
It was later used as a guesthouse and, in 1947, reportedly served as the lodging of Emperor Showa.
Today, it is used as a facility of the Ohara Museum of Art.
Usually, only the exterior can be viewed; the interior is not open to the public except during special openings.
When Yurin-so Villa is open to visitors
Usually, you can only see the exterior of Yurin-so Villa. However, since 1997, the interior has been opened to the public once each spring and autumn during special exhibitions organized by the Ohara Museum of Art.
The spring opening is usually around Golden Week, and the autumn opening is in October.
However, due to the spread of COVID-19, the special exhibitions from spring 2020 through spring 2022 were canceled.
The exhibitions resumed with the autumn 2022 special exhibition, “Matisse: Light and Color.” It was the first in three years.
- Autumn 2018: “Natsunosuke Mise: Homage to Gyokudo”
- Spring 2019: “The Green Splendor of the Green Palace—Millet, Cézanne, Makoto Aida, Rothko, and More”
- Autumn 2019: “Monument to Wandering”
- Autumn 2022: “Matisse: Light and Color”
Highlights of Yurin-so Villa
Views of the Bikan Historical Area from the second floor
Yurin-so Villa is located toward one end of the main street in the Bikan Historical Area.
From the second-floor windows, you can look down over the Bikan Historical Area.
The view is simply amazing!
It is a magnificent view from a prime spot that, in the past, only the Ohara family and their guests could enjoy.
I was once again struck by the beauty of the Bikan Historical Area, and felt incredibly rich, as if I had become a major landowner.
Personally, I feel that this view alone is worth the special exhibition admission fee. It is a sight you should definitely see.
You can also see the Ohara Museum of Art.
Green roof tiles
Yurin-so Villa is also known as the “Green Palace” because of its striking green tiled roof.
The tiles were reportedly custom-made for Yurin-so Villa at a kiln in Tanigawa, Senshu, a tile-producing region, after the painter Kojima Torajiro was inspired by places he saw in China, including the Temple of Confucius.
A special glaze was used, making the tiles appear yellow-green from some angles and deep green from others.
Depending on how the glaze was applied, some areas also look orange or whitish. The uneven coloring of the roof tiles is exceptionally beautiful and striking.
It is said that these roof tiles at Yurin-so Villa would cost about 30,000 yen each at today’s prices.
A blend of Japanese and Western architecture
Yurin-so Villa was designed by Yakushiji Kazue.
Yakushiji Kazue also designed the main building of the Ohara Museum of Art and buildings such as the former Kurashiki Honmachi Branch of the Chugoku Bank, a Registered Tangible Cultural Property, now known as Shin-Kojimakan (provisional name).
For the Japanese-style sections, he also received advice from Chuta Ito, who designed Tsukiji Hongwanji Temple and Meiji Jingu Shrine, both in Tokyo.
Kojima Torajiro’s designs were also incorporated throughout the interior and exterior.
For example, the dragon-patterned transom was reportedly designed by Kojima Torajiro in reference to Ohara Magosaburo, who was born in the Year of the Dragon.
The table and chairs on the terrace were also designed by Kojima Torajiro.
A garden by a pioneer of modern Japanese gardens
Yurin-so Villa has two gardens, each with a distinct atmosphere. The first-floor Japanese-style room has wide glass doors, allowing you to enjoy an expansive view of the garden from indoors.
The gardens at Yurin-so Villa were designed by the seventh-generation Ogawa Jihei, a pioneer of modern Japanese gardens.
He was one of the finest gardeners of the Meiji and Taisho periods and a garden designer known as the “magician of water and stone.”
Ogawa Jihei designed gardens including the Shin-en Garden at Heian-jingu Shrine in Kyoto, the Keiun-kan Garden in Shiga, and Murin-an Garden in Kyoto.
He also designed Shinkei-en Garden, next to the Ohara Museum of Art.
About Natsunosuke Mise’s “Homage to Gyokudo”
From October 19 (Friday) to November 4 (Sunday), 2018, Yurin-so Villa hosted a special exhibition called “Homage to Gyokudo” by Natsunosuke Mise.
It was an exhibition unique to Yurin-so Villa, and could only be seen in autumn 2018.
Painter Natsunosuke Mise creates works using traditional Japanese materials.
He has received numerous awards, including the VOCA Award, a gateway to recognition for emerging artists, and the Encouragement Prize of the 32nd Kyoto Prefecture Cultural Award, and has held solo exhibitions throughout Japan.
His works are also held by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, the Saxon State Art Collections in Germany, and the Benetton Foundation, among others.
Mise was reportedly drawn to Uragami Gyokudo, an Edo-period literati painter with ties to the Ohara family.
The exhibition “Homage to Gyokudo” featured new works by Mise inspired by Uragami Gyokudo’s art, as well as works by Uragami Gyokudo himself.
Two of the works on display were created during a stay at Yurin-so Villa.
They were made in a size ideal for display at Yurin-so Villa, with the artist sensing how the sunlight entered each day.
When displayed in a room lit by natural light from large windows, the way the works look changes with the weather and time of day.
Unlike displays in museums, where the lighting is kept even so the works can always be seen clearly, they may be a little difficult to see at times.
That is precisely the environment in which the works were painted, and part of what makes them interesting.
Mise’s works were powerful yet fit naturally into Yurin-so Villa, making them feel as though they had been there for a long time.
From the Writer
With its distinctive exterior, Yurin-so Villa was a wonderful place to enjoy its blend of Japanese and Western architecture, lush gardens, and rich views.
Be sure to visit this rare opportunity to see inside.
Articles about Yurin-so Villa
Ohara Museum of Art Yurin-so Villa Information
| Name | Ohara Museum of Art Yurin-so Villa |
|---|---|
| Location | 1-3-18 Chuo, Kurashiki City |
| Contact | 086-422-0005 |
| Parking | None |
| Opening hours | Normally, only the exterior can be viewed. During the Fall 2022 Special Opening of Yurin-so Villa, held from Friday, October 7 to Sunday, October 23, 2022, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. ※Last admission at 3:30 p.m. ※Open every day during the event |
| Closed | Irregular holidays |
| Admission (tax included) | Prices during the Fall 2022 Special Opening of Yurin-so Villa 【Yurin-so Villa admission】 Adults: ¥1,000 High school, junior high school, and elementary school students: ¥500 【Combination ticket】 ※Admission to Yurin-so Villa and the Ohara Museum of Art Adults: ¥2,000 High school, junior high school, and elementary school students: ¥1,000 |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Not available |
| Smoking | Entirely non-smoking |
| Website | Ohara Museum of Art Official Website |
What would you like to know about Kurashiki?
Enter a word to search articles on this site
