Former Kashima Bank Ikeda Branch. Designed by Tatsuno Kataoka Architectural Office, completed in 1918. A Registered Tangible Cultural Property. This charming building along the old highway was a financial institution of Kashimaya, associated with Hirooka Asako, founder of Daido Life and the model for the NHK morning drama "Asa ga Kita." It now houses a shop called Kawamura-san that deals in interior goods and white coats. They sell interior items cheaply, so it's nice to shop while you're looking around. The owner couple are pleasant to deal with and will also tell you about the history of the former bank building. Traces of the old days remain, such as the counter table, floor tiles, and the vault. There are also goods like former Kashima Bank badges.

+3

My second visit, the first in 10 years! The first time I bought a mat for Fu-chan, and this time I bought 2 noren curtains; very much a Tatsuno Kingo building~ After seeing the former Karatsu Bank in Karatsu, I got interested in buildings like this (smile) The friendly lady's explanations and guidance made me feel relaxed and soothed; she's from Minoh? so I felt a connection and ended up staying a long while~ Thank you so much😊

+3

The former Ikeda Branch, built in Taisho 7 (1918), is a two-story wooden mortar building with a steel-plate roof, in a style unusual for something Tatsuno Kingo was involved in. Tatsuno Katano Architectural Office was involved, and Tatsuno Kingo is also said to have had a hand in it. The stone carvings and red brick on the front are reminiscent of Tatsuno Kingo, but it leaves a strongly different impression from his surviving works up to that point. The same goes for the interior. That said, it was registered as a national Tangible Cultural Property in Heisei 15. It is famous as the bank associated with Hirooka Asako (1849–1919), the Meiji-era businesswoman who was the model for a morning drama, and it was founded in Meiji 21 (1888) based on the money-exchange division of the wealthy Osaka merchant house "Kashimaya." However, due to a management crisis after the Showa Depression, it closed in Showa 12 (1937); it was located in Chuo-ku, Osaka City, but the building was relocated. According to Ikeda City, the former Ikeda Branch is the only related building still standing. Construction is said to have been done by Yao Komuten of Ikeda City.

+3

A very kind and courteous shop selling curtains and carpets. They came all the way to my house to take measurements. It's the former Kashima Bank, and the inside has plenty of traces left from its bank days. Apparently they're happy to show tourists around too.

+2

Recommended for sightseeing! The name is Former Kashima Bank Ikeda Branch, but now it's an interior furnishings shop. They sell lots of cute rugs and stuff. The old bank vault and other things are still there as they were, which made it fun to visit. The owner is a kind old man, and I was happy he said photos were OK!