Ohashi House, Historic house museum in Kurashiki, Japan
Ohashi House is a historic merchant residence in Kurashiki featuring traditional Japanese building methods with white earthen walls, wooden lattice windows, and tile roofs. The property includes multiple structures such as an entrance gate, rice storehouses, and storage buildings that show how a successful trading family operated.
Construction took place between 1796 and 1799 when the Ohashi family became wealthy from rice and salt trading. The scale and quality of the building reflect the fortune and influence merchants gained during the Edo period.
The residence displays how a merchant family organized their living and working spaces, with distinct areas for family life and business operations. Walking through these rooms gives you a sense of daily routines and social status in a prosperous merchant household.
The house sits within easy walking distance of Kurashiki's waterfront and fits easily into a morning or afternoon visit to the merchant quarter. Wear removable shoes since you will need to step out of them when entering the tatami rooms.
Four distinct buildings on the property each received designation as a National Cultural Property, making it one of the most comprehensively protected merchant houses in the region. This multi-building layout reveals how wealthy families compartmentalized their operations and daily lives.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
