Arai Building

Arai Building was constructed in 1922 as the Osaka branch of the former Hotoku Bank. Later, the Arai family became its owners. The building was designed by Kōzō Kawai, who is also known for designing the Mint Museum (formerly a thermal power plant). Although built as a bank, it incorporates geometric patterns and other elements, resulting in a design that is simple yet conscious of trends of the time. In 1997 it was registered as a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property. Since 2005, the popular sweets shop Gokan has occupied the 1st and 2nd floors as “Gokan Kitahama Honkan.” The former banking hall on the 1st and 2nd floors features an airy atrium, and the private rooms lining the 2nd-floor gallery serve as café spaces. Normally, visitors without business there cannot tour the 3rd floor and above, but during “Ikefes Osaka” (the Living Architecture Museum Festival Osaka), held on two weekend days in autumn, the interior can also be viewed. The Kitahama area is dotted with retro buildings like Arai Building, so it’s a pleasant area to stroll around and explore.