Iwate Bank (formerly Morioka Bank) Former Main Building

Iwate Bank (Former Morioka Bank) Old Head Office Main Building: A Meiji-Era Masterpiece in Northern Japan

Standing proudly at the bridgehead of Naka-no-hashi in central Morioka, the Iwate Bank Old Head Office Main Building is a magnificent red brick structure that has watched over the city for more than a century. Officially designated a National Important Cultural Property in 1994, this Meiji-era banking hall is the only surviving work in Japan's Tohoku region by the legendary architect Tatsuno Kingo, who also designed Tokyo Station. Today, the building welcomes visitors as the "Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building" (Iwagin Akarenga-kan), inviting you to step back into the elegance and ambition of early 20th-century Japan.

Historical Background

Construction of the building began on May 5, 1908 (Meiji 41) on the banks of the Nakatsu River, which winds through the heart of Morioka City. After three years of meticulous work, the building was completed on April 30, 1911 (Meiji 44) as the head office of Morioka Bank, which had been founded in 1896. It opened for business just one week later, on May 7 of the same year.

Why It Was Designated an Important Cultural Property

The building was designated a National Important Cultural Property on December 27, 1994, becoming the first active bank building in Japan ever to receive this honor. The designation was made on two principal grounds: outstanding design quality, and prominence in stylistic and regional character.

The building is the sole surviving work by Tatsuno Kingo in the Tohoku region, making it an irreplaceable monument to one of Japan's most celebrated modern architects. Its expressive use of red brick combined with white granite — a hallmark of the so-called "Tatsuno style" — is exemplary, while its ingenious use of a corner site to create a symbolic, sculptural composition is widely admired. The building also stands as a model case for the preservation of modern architectural landmarks in Japan.

Architectural Highlights and Things to See

Visitor Experience

Inside the Red Brick Building, visitors can explore the paid Morioka Bank Zone and enjoy a virtual theater that introduces the building's architectural value, the lives of its designers, and the rich history of Meiji-era banking. The former banking hall now serves as a multi-purpose hall open to the community for cultural events, exchanges, and exhibitions, allowing the historic space to remain a living part of Morioka's cultural life.

The building was even mentioned in the poetry of Miyazawa Kenji, the celebrated poet and storyteller who is one of Iwate's greatest literary sons — a fitting tribute to a structure that has long been a beloved symbol of the city.

Surrounding Attractions

The Red Brick Building sits in the historic core of Morioka and makes an excellent base for exploring the city's cultural treasures. Visitors can enjoy nearby destinations on foot:

• Morioka Castle Site Park (Iwate Park) — the ruins of the Nanbu clan's castle, a short walk away
• Nakatsu River — a scenic riverside walk just outside the building
• Gozaku — Morioka's traditional shopping street with historic merchant houses
• Morioka Hachimangu Shrine — one of the city's most important Shinto shrines
• Hoonji Temple — known for its 500 Rakan statues
• Local restaurants serving Morioka's three famous noodles: wanko soba, reimen, and jajamen