Honjo-Azumabashi
Honjo-Azumabashi
Station
is a subway station on the Toei
Asakusa Line in the Sumida Ward
of Tokyo . The station has two platforms
with two tracks – one for passengers
travelling towards Nihombashi and
Sengakuji in the south-west; and
the other for passengers travelling
towards Oshiage in the north-east.
Honjo-Azumabashi
Station serves the neighborhood
of Azumabashi. Located near the
station are the Sumida Ward Office
(the city hall), the local police
headquarters, and the Asahi Breweries
headquarters.
Asahi
Breweries
Asahi
Breweries Ltd. is the second largest
beer brewery and soft drink company
in Japan . Its headquarters, located
near Honjo-Azumabashi Station, are
mainly known for their unique designs.
The building in which the main Asahi
Breweries offices are located, is
shaped like a beer mug. Complementing
it, is Asahi Beer Hall ,
located on the east coast of Sumida
River and also containing Asahi
offices. This building, which is
one of Tokyo's most well-known buildings,
is shaped like a beer glass. The
most noted feature of this building
is the Asahi Flame ,
an enormous 360-tonne golden structure
on top of the building. Shaped like
a flame, it represents the “the
burning heart of Asahi beer”. Asahi
Beer Hall was designed by Philippe
Starck and completed in 1989.
Azumabashi
is also home to 3 of Sumida's many
small museums:
Alloy
Casting Museum
Alloy
Casting Museum is located 5 minutes
from Honjo-Azumabashi Station. The
exhibits at this museum include
everything from a mold to the final
product used in casting alloys.
The methods and procedures of molding
have also been explained through
display panels. The museum is open
every Saturday and every first,
second and third Friday of the month
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Traditional
Wood Sculpture Museum
Also
located 5
minutes from Honjo-Azumabashi Station,
is the Traditional Wood Sculpture
Museum. Since traditional Japanese
homes, shrines, and temples are
built of wood, wood sculpture has
always had a special place in Japanese
history. This history is what is
shown in the Traditional Wood Sculpture
Museum. Besides the history of wood
sculpture that is shown through
display panels, the museum also
exhibits works of skilled craftsmen
that include building structures
and various decorative pieces. Admission
to the museum, which is open from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., is free.
Paulownia
Wood Museum
Paulownia
wood is very popular in Japan. How
this popularity came about and the
making of Paulownia wood items is
what is shown at the Paulownia Wood
Museum. On display are various items
made of Paulownia, like chests and
tables, and the tools used in making
them. The museum, which is located
7 minutes from Honjo-Azumabashi
Station, is open from 10 a.m. to
5 p.m. every day except Wednesdays.