Akita-city AKARENGA-KAN MUSEUM

This museum is housed in the former Akita Bank head office, which was completed in 1912. The exterior, mainly made of red brick with white tiles and Oga stone, is based on the Renaissance style and combines strength and beauty. The exterior was designed by Naoaki Yamaguchi, an engineer, and is designated as a National Important Cultural Property.

The central sales office inside the building is the hall where the bank's customer service operations were conducted. The vast atrium space is splendid, giving the impression of being on the set of an old movie. The baroque decorations and abundant use of marble give the hall an air of grandeur. In addition, the president's office, the library, the vault with its solid steel doors, and the lavishly decorated guest rooms can be visited to get a glimpse of the bank as it was in those days.

In addition, the new building houses the "Tokushi Katsuhira Memorial Hall" for woodblock print artists and the "Shiro Sekiya Memorial Hall" for metalsmiths, in addition to special exhibitions related to Akita.