The North Wall Street in Otaru (北のウォール街) is a historic street located in the city of Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan. The street is lined with historic brick buildings, many of which were built in the late 19th century and early 20th century, and is known for its well-preserved architectural heritage.
The North Wall Street is considered one of the most beautiful streets in Otaru and is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. Visitors to the street can experience the history and culture of the city through its architecture, as well as visit the various shops, restaurants, and other attractions along the street. The North Wall Street is an important part of Otaru’s cultural and architectural heritage and is a popular destination for those seeking to experience the city’s history and culture.
Attractions in The North Wall Street
“Former Hokkaido Bank Head Office.” A building built in 1912 by Uheiji Nagano, a disciple of Kingo Tatsuno, a pioneer in the Japanese architectural world. Known as one of the historic buildings designated by Otaru City, it is located in front of the Bank of Japan Street and the former Bank of Japan Otaru Branch. The Renaissance-style exterior wall uses Sapporo’s soft stone, and it is a building where you can feel good taste in a well-balanced combination of designs. Currently, it has been renovated into a stylish wine cafe and shop called “Otaru Vine” at the head office of Hokkaido Central Bus.
“Former Hokkaido Takushoku Bank Otaru Branch.” The former Hokkaido Takushoku Bank Otaru Branch, one of the four financial institutions at the Wall Street intersection in the north, was built in 1923 and is now renovated as a “Hotel Vibrant” with the taste of the time. There are rooms with unique specifications such as a safe room, and you can immerse yourself in the feeling of traveling back in time in a space that makes use of the characteristics of the bank. You can enjoy the atmosphere just by visiting, but we also recommend a valuable experience of staying in a historic building.
“Bank of Japan Former Otaru Branch Financial Museum”. The building built in 1912 is famous for being designed by Kingo Tatsuno, the same as Tokyo Station. The inside of the stone Renaissance-style building is a free financial museum, and it explains not only the “North Wall Street” in Otaru, but also from bills to the economic situation of the world in an easy-to-understand manner. It is a facility where you can enjoy things that you can not experience easily, such as being able to enter the safe and checking the weight of 100 million yen.
“Former Mitsui Bank Otaru Branch.” The former Mitsui Bank Otaru branch, which was built in 1927. The design was designed by Sonetatsuzo, one of the four first-year graduates of the Construction Department of Kobu University (currently the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, the University of Tokyo), who were leading the Japanese construction world at that time. It was a city bank that remained in Otaru until the end, but it closed in 2002, and since then, the heavy iron door has been closed. It will be a tour only for the appearance, but it is a building where you can fully feel the history that has been loved by Otaru citizens for a long time.
“Former Yasuda Bank Otaru Branch.” It was built in 1930 as the former Yasuda Bank Otaru Branch. After the war, after Yasuda Bank was inherited by Fuji Bank, it operated as Fuji Bank Otaru Branch. After that, it has been used as a company building of the Nikkan Hokkai Keizai Shimbun since 1970, and now it is a place that fills the stomachs of customers as a Japanese restaurant “Hanagokoro Otaru Store”. There is a cherry tree in full bloom in the center of the store on the second floor atrium, and the flowers are artificial flowers, but the trees are made of real antiseptic processing.
Getting there
From Otaru Station to The North Wall Street:
| Walk | About 5 minutes |
