Bank of Japan Otaru Museum

The Bank of Japan Otaru Museum is housed in a Renaissance-style building featuring four domes and a watchtower overlooking the port. Inside, it displays historical objects related to the Japanese banking system, old currency, and how money was managed in earlier times.

The building was completed in 1912 and initially served as a branch office before being converted into a museum. This transformation preserved the architecture while making banking history accessible to the public.

The museum displays show how banking shaped the growth of this port city and the role money played in people's daily lives. Visitors can see how financial trade influenced the community across generations.

The building sits directly by the port and is easy to reach on foot, with clear signs for visitors. The exhibits are arranged so you can walk through them in about an hour without needing any prior knowledge.

Visitors can lift a pack representing the weight of 100 million yen, showing how heavy such sums were to handle. This hands-on experience highlights how money management changed with modern technology.

Location: Otaru

Inception: July 1912

Architects: Tatsuno Kingo, Uheiji Nagano, Shin'ichirō Okada

Official opening: May 14, 2003

Architectural style: Renaissance architecture

Website: https://www3.boj.or.jp/otaru-m/en

GPS coordinates: 43.19627,141.00033

Latest update: December 8, 2025 20:01