Bank of Japan Head Office

You may be familiar with Ginza, which is often referred to as the largest downtown area in Japan. However, have you heard of Kinza? Kinza refers to the area where gold manufacturing factories, offices, and the residences of government officials responsible for gold production were located. In contrast, the area where silver was manufactured was called Ginza. Kinza was located exactly where the current Bank of Japan headquarters stands, and has historically been a land deeply associated with currency.

The Bank of Japan's main building offers a free sightseeing tour. The tour is a 60-minute course that requires advance reservation and includes a guided tour of the main courtyard, the doors of the underground vault, and the exhibition room. The tour is held four times a day, with a capacity of 20 people per session on a first-come, first-served basis. If you're interested, it's recommended to make a reservation well in advance! The adjacent Currency Museum is also open for free tours, allowing you to learn more about the history of Japanese money by visiting both places.

The former building of the Bank of Japan is an Important Cultural Property. The design of the building was done by Dr. Kingo Tatsuno of Tokyo Imperial University (now Tokyo University), who also designed the Bank of Japan's branches (including nine branches in Osaka). Dr. Tatsuno conducted research on bank architecture in various countries in Europe and America, and it is said that he designed the Bank of Japan based on models such as the Bank of England. In the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, many buildings in Tokyo collapsed, but the Bank of Japan remained unshaken. Dr. Tatsuno, who was nicknamed "Tatsuno the Sturdy," left behind a magnificent building that still stands in modern Japan.

The dignified exterior is made of stacked brick and stone. Some may recognize it from somewhere before. Dr. Kingo Tatsuno, who designed the Bank of Japan, also designed the Tokyo Station building, and many people notice that it looks somewhat similar to Tokyo Station. At the front entrance of the Bank of Japan, you can see a crest with two male lions standing on their hind legs, each stepping on six thousand-ryo boxes. They are holding the "medama," the symbol mark of the Bank of Japan. This is a famous building that has been meticulously designed down to the smallest details.

It is said that when viewed from above, the Bank of Japan resembles the character for "yen". However, this is believed to be purely coincidental. When the Bank of Japan was constructed, the old-style character for "yen" ("圓") was used, not the current character ("円"). This suggests that the designer, Dr. Kingo Tatsuno, did not intend for the building to resemble the character for "yen". As opportunities to view the building from above are rare, why not experience the sensation of seeing the "yen" character on a guided tour or other visit?