Karakoro Art Studio (Former Bank of Japan Matsue Branch)

A Temple Front for the Bank of Japan

The Karakoro Art Studio (Former Bank of Japan Matsue Branch) (カラコロ工房（旧日本銀行松江支店）) is a former branch of the Bank of Japan of 1938 in Tonomachi, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, and was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property (structure) on February 25, 2016 (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

The Agency records a reinforced concrete building of three storeys and a basement with a building area of 633 square metres, with a rooftop tower, chimney and wall, altered in 1981 and 2000; registration number 32-0178.

A Bank by Nagano Uheiji

Karakoro Art Studio, the Former Bank of Japan Matsue Branch, was completed in 1938 to the design of Nagano Uheiji (Agency for Cultural Affairs). It is a reinforced concrete building of three storeys and a basement with a rooftop tower and a chimney.

The exterior is designed like a Greek temple; the banking hall and the customers' lobby form one large double-height space, and the basement holds the vault (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Why It Was Registered

The Agency registered it as a model of design: it keeps its original form well and is a well-loved focus of the community.

What to Look For

The Greek-temple front, the double-height former banking hall and the old vault below are the things to see (Agency for Cultural Affairs).

Visiting

It is owned by Matsue City and used as Karakoro Art Studio. No official information on opening hours or admission was found.