Former Bank of Japan Hiroshima

The Former Bank of Japan Hiroshima Branch was completed in 1936. It was damaged by the atomic bombing at an extremely close distance of about 380 meters from the hypocenter, yet it remains a rare building that still largely retains its original form. Designed in a Greco-Roman style, the building was planned by Uheiji Nagano, a disciple of Kingo Tatsuno, who worked on the Bank of Japan Head Office and Tokyo Station. On the day of the bombing, the former Bank of Japan Hiroshima Branch was used as an emergency hospital ward, and just two days after the bombing, the bank resumed operations. The branch ended its role as a bank in 1992 due to relocation, but strong public demand led to its preservation as an atomic-bombed building. In 2000, it was designated an Important Tangible Cultural Property of Hiroshima City, and since 2005—the 60th anniversary of the bombing—it has been open to the public at all times. In the former branch manager’s office, there is a "Former Bank of Japan Hiroshima Branch Museum Room," and on Basement Floor 1, where the vault is located, you can see exhibitions on Hiroshima’s history and overseas migration. Events such as art exhibitions and concerts are also held irregularly. The Atomic Bomb Dome is about a 10-minute walk away, so be sure to visit them together.