[This building is a must-see] Iwate Bank Red Brick Building

Iwate Bank Red Brick Building - A historic building that Iwate is proud of! Whooooo!! If you come to Iwate, you definitely can't miss this famous spot - the "Iwate Bank Red Brick Building"!! This building is not just a bank!! Its beautiful brick exterior makes you feel like you've traveled back in time, and its stately presence exudes a sense of history... it's a treasure of Morioka!! When you unravel the history, it gets even more exciting! This Red Brick Building was completed in 1911 (Meiji 44), and was designed by none other than Tatsuno Kingo!! You're probably wondering who it is, right? He is a legend in the world of modern Japanese architecture, having also designed Tokyo Station and the Bank of Japan Head Office!! Isn't it amazing that a building designed by such a master still stands in Iwate today!? Originally built as the Morioka Bank Head Office, the Iwate Bank took over and has been used as a bank ever since. However, it closed its role as a bank in 2012 and is now open to the public as a tourist facility and historical museum! This means that anyone can enjoy this historic space!! There are so many things to see! 1. The red brick exterior and white stripe decorations! This is also cool!! The contrast between the warmth of the bricks and the white decorations makes it look like beautiful Western architecture!! The atmosphere is a bit similar to Tokyo Station, thanks to Tatsuno Kingo's architectural style known as the "Tatsuno Style"! 2. The gorgeous design of the interior! Once inside, you'll see the heavy counter and the structure of the old bank still intact! The open ceiling and beautiful stained glass make it look like something out of a movie!! If you take a photo here, you're sure to get a stylish photo with a classical atmosphere! 3. The vault remains as it was! You can see the vault as it was back then!! The old-fashioned thick vault door and iron fence...it's so exciting!! Just thinking about how money was kept in a vault like this gets me excited!! 4. You can also see the retro bank counter! The counters and counters from the bank's time remain as they were, so you can feel like you've gone back to the Meiji and Taisho eras! You'll want to pretend to be an old bank employee and say "Welcome" to your friends!! Access & Surrounding Information! It's located on Morioka City Chuo-dori, so it's relatively easy to access from Morioka Station! You can also visit the remains of Morioka Castle, Ishiwari Sakura, and a famous Morioka hiyashi noodle shop, so it's recommended to include it in your sightseeing course!! Summary! The Iwate Bank Red Brick Building is ✅ A masterpiece of the Meiji era designed by Tatsuno Kingo! ✅ Both the exterior and interior are beautiful! ✅ A retro space that gives you a sense of history! ✅ Full of things to see, such as a safe and a counter! This is definitely a spot you must visit if you go to Morioka!! History buffs, architecture buffs, and photography buffs alike will surely enjoy it!! Let me know what you think when you go!!