Provided is a friction damper, which has a simple constitution and a small difference between frictional forces at an initial time and a sliding time, and which is hardly deformed in sliding members, even when a high fastening force is applied, so that it can generate a high frictional force stably. The friction damper (1) comprises a cylindrical box (2), a cylindrical member (6) fixed axially in the cylindrical box, a sliding bearing (7) press-fitted in the inner circumference of the cylindrical member, and a shaft (3) made of a metal and so press-fitted in the inner circumference of the sliding bearing as can slide in the axial direction. When the cylindrical box and the shaft axially move relative to each other, the outer circumference of the shaft and the inner circumference of the sliding bearing frictionally slide relative to each other, thereby to absorb a vibrational energy. The cylindrical box and the shaft are so mounted in the intermediate portion or the end portion of the structural portion of a building structure as to axially move relative to each other. When a repeating tensile or compressive force is caused to act on the structural member of the building structure by an earthquake or the like, the inner circumference of the sliding bearing press-fitted in the cylindrical member and the outer circumference of the shaft frictionally slide relative to each other, thereby to absorb the vibrational energy.