Former Akita Commercial Firm building

Former Akita Commercial Firm building is one of the retrospective building in Karato district. It was completed in 1915 and had used as an office and house of Akita Commercial Firm, which run deals of wood and shipping. It also is Japan’s first building made of ferroconcrete. The building is unique “semi-Western style.” There are an office space of Western style on the first floor, residences of Japanese style on the second and third floor, and Japanese garden and house on the roof. It has been said that the garden had built in earliest time of Japan. (Though the roof is not opened to public now, the view can be seen from outside of the building.)