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.