Sacra Building

The SACRA Building, brick elegance in Kyoto

In the centre of Kyoto, the SACRA Building appeals with its elegant brick façade. Built in 1916, this former bank building testifies to the city's modernisation at the beginning of the twentieth century. The Kyoto audio-guided tour stops here to evoke the Western heritage of the former capital, often eclipsed by its temples.

A former bank from 1916

Originally, the SACRA Building housed a branch of the Fudo Chokin Bank, a savings bank that accompanied the economic development of Kyoto. Built in 1916, of brick, it illustrates the adoption of Western architectural styles in the Japan of the Taisho era. Converted, it now houses several shops, while keeping its historical character.

What to see

The building stands out by its brick façade and its refined details, in a central district of Kyoto. The building now houses several shops, and you can step inside to take a look. A witness of the Westernising architecture of the early twentieth century, it completes the discovery of modern Kyoto, between tradition and influences from elsewhere.

Practical information

The SACRA Building lies in the Nakagyo ward, in the centre of Kyoto, a few minutes' walk from Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae station, reachable by public transport. As the building houses shops, you can visit the ground floor during the shops' opening hours, which vary by day. The façade can be freely admired from the street.

When was the SACRA Building built?

It was built in 1916 and originally housed a branch of the Fudo Chokin Bank, a savings bank of Kyoto.

What is found today in the SACRA Building?

The building now houses several shops, which you can discover while admiring its early twentieth-century brick architecture.