23-11 Nambucho, Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Rating
Cost per person
¥500
The Former Akita Shokai Building, completed in 1915, is a unique blend of Western and Japanese architectural styles. As the first reinforced concrete office building in western Japan, it originally served as the office and residence for the Akita Shokai trading company. Today, the building functions as a tourist information center, offering visitors a glimpse into its fascinating history. Explore the Western-style office space on the first floor and the traditional Japanese-style rooms on the second and third floors. Don't miss the rooftop Japanese garden, visible from the outside, and the building's stunning nighttime illumination. Located near Karato Market, it's easily accessible and offers a memorable experience for architecture enthusiasts and history buffs alike. Open daily except Tuesdays and Wednesdays, admission is free.
Barrier-free facilities: Wheelchair-accessible toilet. Rooftop Japanese garden. A unique blend of Japanese and Western styles representing modern architectural history. This building features three floors above ground, one basement floor, and a tower. A spiral staircase leads to the rooftop, which features a Japanese garden and a Japanese-style house. It is one of the oldest existing buildings of its kind. The interior features a purely Western-style office space on the first floor, and elegant traditional Japanese-style residential spaces on the second and third floors. Currently, the building is open to the public as a tourist information center. Unfortunately, the rooftop is not generally open to the public. The first floor is used as the Shimonoseki Tourist Information Center, and the Japanese-style rooms on the second and third floors can be viewed. The building is also illuminated at night.