🗺️ Iwate Bank Red Brick Building岩手銀行赤レンガ館

The Iwate Bank Red Brick Building was constructed in 1911 as the headquarters of the Morioka Bank, designed collaboratively by the renowned architect Kingo Tatsuno, who also designed the Tokyo Station, and the Kasai Manji Architectural Office. It is the only building designed by Kingo Tatsuno that remains in the Tohoku region. The exterior of the building fully embodies Tatsuno's unique style, featuring decorative white granite bands among the red bricks and a domed roof, making it a prime example of Renaissance-style architecture. It has been designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. After 25 years of serving as the headquarters of the Morioka Bank, the building was acquired by the Iwate Colonization Bank following the bankruptcy of the Morioka Bank, becoming the office facilities for the Iwate Colonization Bank. To distinguish it from the previous Morioka Bank, the exterior was painted white, and it was then referred to as the "White Meiji Building." After the Iwate Bank (formerly the Iwate Colonization Bank) relocated, it became the site of the Iwate Bank Nakahashi Branch. In 1994, the Red Brick Building was designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, still serving as a historical building used for banking purposes. With a history of 100 years since the opening of the Morioka Bank headquarters, it fulfilled its mission as a banking facility and reopened in 2016 under the name "Iwate Bank Red Brick Building," becoming a public facility open to visitors. In 2018 alone, it attracted 100,000 visitors. The interior is divided into three sections: the "Iwate Bank Area" (free), the "Morioka Bank Area" (fee-based), and the "Building Restoration Area," which features restored entrance halls, lounges, and vaults in the style of the original architecture. The chandelier and decorative iron railings in the multifunctional hall (free) evoke the historical atmosphere of the Meiji era.

Architect Kenzō Tange was one of the founders of Japan's first architectural design office, along with Kunio Maekawa. Except for areas where photography is prohibited, both the exterior and interior of the building can be photographed. Nearby, there is the "Morioka Takuboku Kenji Seishunkan," which has been designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, just a few steps away from the Iwate Bank Red Brick Building. You can watch a video introducing the history of the Iwate Bank Red Brick Building.