Kataraiza Ohara Main Residence (Former Ohara Family Residence)

The Kataraiza Ohara Main Residence, also known as Ohara House Katalyzer, stands as a designated Important Cultural Property of Japan in the heart of the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter in Okayama Prefecture. This historic estate served as the home of the Ohara family, a distinguished lineage that has shaped Kurashiki's commercial and cultural landscape for over 300 years. Construction of the main building began in 1795, with additional structures including the tatami room and storehouses added during the mid-Meiji period to create the complex as it appears today.

The Ohara family's influence on Kurashiki cannot be overstated. The sixth generation head, Koshiro Ohara, founded Kurashiki Spinning (Kurabo), while the seventh generation, Magosaburo Ohara, established both Kurashiki Silk Textile (now Kuraray Co., Ltd.) and the renowned Ohara Museum of Art in 1930, Japan's first private Western art museum. The family philosophy of social contribution and business ethics, particularly the teaching "Even if you are number one, think of yourself as number two or three," is embodied throughout the residence.

Visitors experience the residence through innovative exhibits combining traditional architecture with contemporary presentation. The entrance features "Pouring Words," an artistic installation where memorable quotes from eight generations of Ohara family heads hang from above, casting shadows across the historic floors. The complex includes stone-paved streets lined with white walls and warehouses that evoke "Kurashiki within Kurashiki." The Nakakura storehouses display the family's timeline and artifacts related to Magosaburo, including ten reliefs commemorating his various projects.

The highlight remains the Contemplation Room, a spacious Japanese-style room overlooking a tranquil garden that Magosaburo personally helped design, featuring moss, stones, and pine trees that transform with the seasons. A book cafe houses approximately 2,000 volumes from the eighth generation head Soichiro's personal collection, covering topics from classical music to folk art.

The residence is located at 1-2-1 Chuo, Kurashiki City, directly across the Kurashiki River from the Ohara Museum of Art. Visitors can reach the site with a 15-minute walk from JR Kurashiki Station. The residence has no parking facilities. Admission costs 500 yen for general visitors and 400 yen for high school students and below, with group discounts available for parties of 20 or more (400 yen and 200 yen respectively).