The Storehouse premises of Kojima-ya, the old Ohara house This is the house where Ohara Magosaburo, president of the Kurashiki Spinning Company and a founder of the Ohara Museum of Art, and his son Soichiro were born. The mansion was built in 1795. In this 2,000 square meter site, there are ten buildings including a main wing, a main guest house, and a storehouse, which have been designated as national cultural property. Unfortunately, the interior is not open to the public, though, you can still walk around the moat to take a look at Kurashiki-mado (windows), Kurashiki-koshi (latticework), a wall covered with square tiles joined with raised plaster, and other unique features of the storehouse premises. 15 min. walk from JR Kurashiki Station to the Bikan Historical Quarter

Yurinso, with a beautiful, sparking, light green roof This was built in the early Showa period (1926 - 1989) by Ohara Magosaburo as his second house. The nickname Green Palace came from its roof occasionally shining with a light green color reflecting the sunlight according to the ray angle. Its natural light effect along with the orange colored exterior wall produces a particularly unique atmosphere among other buildings in the Bikan Historical Quarter. Although it is not open to the public like the old Ohara mansion, the Green Palace is well worth a view. Next to the old mansion of Ohara family

Ohashi House, the residence of the biggest merchant in the area Just as the old Ohara house, this is also a 200 year old merchant's house. It has been open to the public after three years of refurbishment. The Ohashi family built their wealth by salt farming and financial business in the Yedo period (1603 - 1867). The main wing is simple and sturdy; its size and solidly built, fire-resistance architecture with a gate terrace, which was privileged to the high class family, are the proof of their outstanding prosperity in the area. 10 min. walk from JR Kurashiki Station

Ivy Square This cultural facility has been rebuilt on the old factory site of the Kurashiki Spinning Company in 1974. The brick building with ivy growing up the wall stirs a vague nostalgia. The complex contains Torajiro Kojima Memorial Museum, Kurabo Memorial Hall, Ivy Academic Hall, which tells the history of the Kurashiki Spinning Company, and Atelier Ivy to introduce the history of Western paintings, as well as a lab studio, a hotel, a restaurant, a cafe, and some stores. 3 min. walk from the old Ohara house