Nihonenoki Branch of Takanawa Fire Station with Observation Tower
12:50 JST, August 19, 2024
Historic buildings blend harmoniously with modern architecture in the Takanawa residential area in Minato Ward, Tokyo. Nestled among the old buildings is the Nihonenoki branch of the Takanawa Fire Station, which looks like a lighthouse.
It becomes visible when you head towards Sengakuji Temple from Takanawadai Station. It was built in 1933 and is currently manned by about 30 firefighters.
The fire station not only serves as a local disaster prevention center, but also helps convey the city’s history.
The building was used for many years as the main building of the Takanawa Fire Station. During World War II, the outer walls were painted black to protect the building from air raids.
It was once slated for demolition when the main facility was relocated in 1984, but remained a fire station. In 2010, it was designated a historical monument by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
The building houses a reception and a garage on the first floor, an office space on the second floor and a round auditorium on the third floor.
The auditorium, designed in the German Expressionist style, is characterized by eight ascending beams that meet in the middle. It is currently used as an exhibition space, lined with old firefighters’ equipment and a ladder, among other items. An Art Nouveau gas lamp, once used in the past in case of power outages, is now a valuable antique.
Left: Old firefighters’ uniforms and other items are displayed in a circular auditorium on the third floor of the Nihonenoki branch of the Takanawa Fire Station. Right: An old, four-meter-long, folding ladder
From the auditorium, a steep staircase leads to a lookout tower, which was used as a lookout post until 1970. Today it resembles a lighthouse.
The 10-meter-high observation tower stands on top of the nearly 20-meter-high building and offers a clear view of the streetscape of the Shinagawa district.
“The tower used to be called the ‘lighthouse on the quay’ because you used to be able to see the ocean from there,” said Akiko Hatakeyama, 61, the fire station’s director.
A classic fire truck used 80 years ago
In the garage is a classic Nissan Motor Co. fire truck. The vehicle, which was in service from 1941 to 1964, is believed to be the first full-size domestically produced fire truck. It has no roof, but does have a ladder at the back and a pump on the side.
The vehicle was repaired for the Tokyo International Fire and Safety Exhibition last year and was used during the event.
“This fire station has been around since it was beloved as a symbol of the city. We want to continue to preserve it while ensuring the safety of the city,” Hatakeyama said. The building, which is open to the public, offers visitors the chance to learn more about the history of the fire department.
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Nihonenoki Branch of Takanawa Fire Station
Address: 6/2/17 Takanawa, Minato Ward, Tokyo
Access: A 15-minute walk from JR Takanawa Gateway Station, a 15-minute walk from Shirokane-Takanawa Station on the Toei Mita Line or the Namboku Line, and a 9-minute walk from Takanawadai Station on the Toei Asakusa Line
Opening hours: 09:00-16:30 Reservations are required for groups of 15 or more. The lookout tower is off-limits.
