Nanto Bank Head Office

An Ionic-Columned Bank in Old Nara

The Nanto Bank Head Office (南都銀行本店) is a bank head office of 1926 in Hashimotocho, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on July 15, 1997 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Agency records a reinforced concrete building of four storeys and a basement, covering 516 square metres; registration number 29-0001.

Four Ionic Columns

The Nanto Bank Head Office is a reinforced concrete bank with four Ionic columns across its front and ornament in its details (Agency for Cultural Affairs). It was designed by Nagano Uheiji and built by Obayashi-gumi.

An extension was added at the back in 1953 and the window frames and interiors were later altered, but the exterior is well preserved (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Why It Was Registered

The Agency registered it as a model of design, a fine, concise example of the classical style and one of the few historicist buildings in the old capital of Nara.

What to Look For

Look for the four Ionic columns of the front and the detailed ornament (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Visiting

It is still the head office of Nanto Bank (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Check with the bank about entering during business hours.