A Classical Bank Front of 1925
The Former Shiga Bank Konan Branch (旧滋賀銀行甲南支店, Kyū Shiga Ginkō Kōnan Shiten) is a two-storey reinforced-concrete bank built in 1925 on the old Soma road at Terasho, Konan-cho, Koka City, Shiga Prefecture, and registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on March 26, 2015 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records a two-storey reinforced-concrete building with a building area of 150 square metres, altered in 1975; registration number 25-0357.
A Village Bank
According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the building stands in the middle of the Terasho settlement, facing the Soma road. The Koka City tourism association attributes it to William Merrell Vories, dating it to 1925.
The association notes that the interior is not regularly open.
Why It Was Registered
The Former Shiga Bank Konan Branch was registered as a structure that has become a model of design. The Agency for Cultural Affairs describes a classical design typical of bank buildings.
What to Look For
Rectangular pilasters project from the front, with Ionic columns set inside them carrying a heavy entablature (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
Above the entrance is a semicircular arched window, crowned by a keystone that doubles as a decorative bracket (Agency for Cultural Affairs). Small as it is, the building concentrates its classical detail around the front door.
Visiting
According to the Koka City tourism association, the interior is not regularly open. The exterior can be seen from the Soma road.
The address is 1078 Terasho, Konan-cho, Koka City. The association gives access as about 7 minutes on foot from Terasho Station on the JR Kusatsu Line, or about 6 minutes by car from the Konan interchange of the Shin-Meishin Expressway.
Q&A
- When was the Former Shiga Bank Konan Branch built?
- In 1925, with alterations in 1975 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Who designed it?
- The Koka City tourism association attributes it to William Merrell Vories.
- What are its exterior features?
- Ionic columns within projecting pilasters, a heavy entablature and an arched window with a keystone over the entrance (Agency for Cultural Affairs).
- Can I go inside?
- The interior is not regularly open (Koka City tourism association).
- When was the Former Shiga Bank Konan Branch registered?
- On March 26, 2015.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Shiga Bank Konan Branch (旧滋賀銀行甲南支店) |
|---|---|
| Location | 1078 Kamikawahara, Terasho, Konan-cho, Koka City, Shiga Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Structure) |
| Year Designated | Registered 2015/03/26 (Heisei 27) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Two-storey reinforced concrete, building area 150 square metres |
| Owner | Not listed in the national database |
| Public Access | Exterior visible from the road (interior not regularly open) |
References
- Former Shiga Bank Konan Branch (Database of National Cultural Properties, Agency for Cultural Affairs)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/101/00010477
- Former Shiga Bank Konan Branch (Koka City tourism guide, Japanese)
- https://koka-kanko.org/see/kyushigabank-konan/
Last verified: 2026.10.14