Arai Building

A Doric Bank Front in Kitahama

The Arai Building (新井ビル) is a former bank building of 1922 in Imabashi, Chuo Ward, Osaka City, Osaka 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, with a building area of 254 square metres; registration number 27-0021.

A Former Bank with Doric Columns

The Arai Building is a four-storey reinforced concrete building first built as a bank, with a weighty front of four Doric columns at the ground-floor entrance (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Inside, the centre rises as a double-height space with small rooms round it on the second floor and offices above. It was designed by Kawai Kozo and built by the Shimizu-gumi firm.

Osaka City says it was built as the Osaka branch of the Hotoku Bank and bought in 1934 by the Arai family, who founded Arai Securities there. After the war it became a tenant building, and in 2005 the confectioner Gokan opened its main shop here, using the double-height former banking hall.

Why It Was Registered

The Agency registered it as a model of design, a bank building with a weighty front of Doric columns. Osaka City sees new European currents of the time in its modern design, which simplifies ornament into geometry.

What to Look For

Notice the four Doric columns at the entrance and the double-height former banking hall now used by the shop (Agency for Cultural Affairs; Osaka City).

Visiting

A confectioner occupies the ground floor and is open to customers (Osaka City). Check the shop for opening hours.