Introduction
Standing quietly in the heart of Futamata-chō in Hamamatsu's Tenryū Ward, the Former Futamata Town Hall (旧二俣町役場) is a charming example of early Shōwa-era Western-style architecture. Completed in 1936, this two-story wooden building served as the administrative center of Futamata Town for decades before being repurposed over the years as a public hall, library, and consumer affairs office. Today, it houses the Soichiro Honda Craftsmanship Center (本田宗一郎ものづくり伝承館), a free museum dedicated to the founder of Honda Motor Company, who grew up in the surrounding area. Registered as a National Tangible Cultural Property in 2003, the building stands as both a valuable piece of architectural heritage and a living tribute to the spirit of innovation.
Historical Background
The story of the Former Futamata Town Hall begins in 1924, when plans were drawn up to construct a new municipal building as a commemorative project celebrating the marriage of Crown Prince Hirohito (later Emperor Shōwa). However, difficult economic conditions forced the project to be shelved. It was not until the economic recovery of 1933 that Mayor Kenichi Morino revived the proposal. Construction began in 1935, the building was raised in November of the following year, and it was officially completed on August 5, 1936.
The town hall served as the seat of Futamata Town government until 1958, when Futamata merged with neighboring communities and was elevated to city status as Tenryū City. At that point, the building became the Tenryū City Hall. When the city government relocated to new premises in 1970, the structure was converted for use as a community center and library. Following the 2005 merger with Hamamatsu City, part of the building served as a consumer affairs center. In 2010, the building was carefully renovated—preserving its historically significant roof and exterior—and reopened as the Soichiro Honda Craftsmanship Center, where it continues to serve the community today.
Why It Was Designated a Cultural Property
The Former Futamata Town Hall was registered as a National Tangible Cultural Property (登録有形文化財) on January 31, 2003. The building is valued as a representative example of Western-influenced civic architecture crafted by a local carpenter during the early Shōwa period.
The structure is a two-story wooden building with a hipped roof covered in san-gawara (J-shaped clay tiles), encompassing a total floor area of 237 square meters. Its exterior features scratch-tile cladding on the corner pilasters and ground-floor walls, with tall, vertically oriented sash windows arranged in a balanced rhythm across the facade. The front entrance is accentuated by a slightly elongated porte-cochère (carriage porch), lending the building a dignified and welcoming presence.
The building was designed and constructed by Ishirō Motojima, a local master carpenter who is believed to have taught himself Western architectural techniques by studying existing Western-style buildings rather than receiving formal training from foreign engineers. This self-taught approach makes the building a particularly noteworthy example of how Western architectural styles were absorbed and reinterpreted by Japanese craftsmen during the modernization era.
Architectural Highlights
Visitors approaching the Former Futamata Town Hall will immediately notice the building's well-proportioned facade, which blends Western civic architecture conventions with Japanese wooden construction traditions. Several features deserve special attention:
- Scratch-Tile Exterior: The ground-floor walls and corner pilasters are clad in scratch tiles (スクラッチタイル), a type of decorative tile with scored horizontal lines that was popular in Japanese Western-style architecture of the 1920s and 1930s. This treatment gives the lower portion of the building a sense of solidity and refinement.
- Vertically Oriented Windows: The tall sash windows arranged evenly along the facade create an elegant vertical rhythm, allowing ample natural light into the interior while reinforcing the building's dignified character.
- Porte-Cochère: The covered entrance porch at the front of the building, slightly taller than it is wide, serves as the focal point of the main elevation and reflects the civic importance of the structure.
- Hipped Roof: The san-gawara-tiled hipped roof provides a distinctly Japanese profile to what is otherwise a Western-style design, embodying the cultural fusion that characterizes many buildings of this period.
The Soichiro Honda Craftsmanship Center
Since 2010, the Former Futamata Town Hall has served as the Soichiro Honda Craftsmanship Center, a museum celebrating the life and legacy of Soichiro Honda (1906–1991), the legendary founder of Honda Motor Company. Born in the nearby village of Kōmyō (present-day Tenryū Ward), Honda grew up in this area and developed his lifelong passion for engineering and innovation here.
The first floor features a chronological display of Honda's life story, from his mischievous boyhood—chasing after the rare automobiles that passed through his village—to his groundbreaking achievements in motorcycle and automobile engineering. Visitors can see early Honda motorcycles, including the iconic Super Cub, as well as photographs, personal artifacts, and video presentations featuring recollections from associates and family members.
The second floor serves as a flexible space for special exhibitions, workshops promoting the joy of craftsmanship, and a reading area stocked with Honda-related publications. Admission to the museum is free, making it an accessible and rewarding stop for anyone interested in the intersection of engineering, entrepreneurship, and Japanese cultural heritage.
Visitor Information
The Former Futamata Town Hall (Soichiro Honda Craftsmanship Center) is located in the center of Futamata-chō, within walking distance of local temples and shrines. The nearest railway station is Futamata-Honmachi Station on the Tenryū Hamanako Railway, approximately 10 minutes on foot. Alternatively, visitors can take the Enshū Railway to Nishikajima Station and then transfer to a local bus bound for Futamata-Sandō, alighting at the Futamata-Nakamachi stop, which is about a 3-minute walk from the museum. By car, the museum is approximately 10 minutes from the Hamamatsu-Hamakita Interchange on the Shin-Tōmei Expressway.
The museum is open from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays (if a national holiday falls on either day, the museum opens that day and closes on the following Wednesday instead). It is also closed during the New Year holiday period. Admission is free.
Surrounding Attractions
The Futamata area offers a rich selection of cultural and historical sites within easy reach of the Former Futamata Town Hall:
- Futamata Castle Ruins (二俣城跡): A Sengoku-period mountain fortress overlooking the Tenryū River. This castle was the site of fierce battles between the Tokugawa and Takeda clans, and is famously known as the place where Tokugawa Ieyasu ordered his eldest son Nobuyasu to commit seppuku. The ruins retain atmospheric stone walls and offer panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
- Hamamatsu City Akino Fuku Art Museum (浜松市秋野不矩美術館): A 10-minute walk away, this distinctive museum was designed by architect Terunobu Fujimori and is dedicated to the locally born Japanese-style painter Akino Fuku (1908–2001). The building itself, with its plaster walls and natural materials, is an architectural attraction in its own right.
- Tenryū Futamata Station (天竜二俣駅): The headquarters station of the Tenryū Hamanako Railway, featuring a wooden station building, a working turntable, and a fan-shaped engine shed—all registered as National Tangible Cultural Properties. Guided tours of the railway facilities are available.
- Toba-yama Park (鳥羽山公園): A hilltop park near Futamata Castle offering beautiful cherry blossoms in spring and sweeping views of the Tenryū River valley.
- Seiryū-ji Temple (清龍寺): Located adjacent to the museum, this temple is said to have been established by Tokugawa Ieyasu to honor the spirit of his son Nobuyasu, and houses his grave.
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Q＆A
- Is there an admission fee to visit the Former Futamata Town Hall?
- No. The building currently serves as the Soichiro Honda Craftsmanship Center, and admission is free of charge. Some special exhibitions may occasionally require a separate fee.
- What is the connection between the Former Futamata Town Hall and Honda Motor Company?
- Honda Motor Company's founder, Soichiro Honda, was born and raised in the area near Futamata. The former town hall building was renovated in 2010 to house a museum celebrating his life, achievements, and philosophy of craftsmanship. The building's historically significant exterior was preserved during the renovation.
- Can I see the original architectural features of the building?
- Yes. When the building was converted into the museum in 2010, the renovation carefully preserved the roof, exterior walls, scratch-tile cladding, windows, and porte-cochère. Visitors can appreciate the early Shōwa-era Western-style design from both outside and inside the building.
- How do I get to the Former Futamata Town Hall by public transportation?
- The most convenient route is to take the Enshū Railway from Shin-Hamamatsu Station to Nishikajima Station (about 32 minutes), then transfer to a local bus bound for Futamata-Sandō and alight at the Futamata-Nakamachi stop (about 7 minutes). The museum is a 3-minute walk from the bus stop. Alternatively, it is about a 10-minute walk from Futamata-Honmachi Station on the Tenryū Hamanako Railway.
- Who designed the Former Futamata Town Hall?
- The building was designed and constructed by Ishirō Motojima (本島亥三郎), a local master carpenter who is believed to have learned Western architectural techniques through self-study rather than formal training under foreign engineers. His work represents an important chapter in the story of how Western architectural styles were adopted and adapted by Japanese craftsmen during the modernization period.
Basic Information
| Name | Former Futamata Town Hall (旧二俣町役場) |
|---|---|
| Current Use | Soichiro Honda Craftsmanship Center (本田宗一郎ものづくり伝承館) |
| Cultural Property Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (Building) — Registered January 31, 2003 |
| Construction Year | 1936 (Shōwa 11) |
| Structure | Two-story wooden building, hipped roof with san-gawara tiles, floor area 237 m² |
| Designer / Builder | Ishirō Motojima (本島亥三郎), local master carpenter |
| Owner | Hamamatsu City |
| Address | 1112 Futamata-chō Futamata, Tenryū-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 431-3314, Japan |
| Hours | 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Closed | Mondays, Tuesdays (open on national holidays; closed the following Wednesday), year-end / New Year holidays |
| Admission | Free |
| Phone | 053-477-4664 |
| Access | 10-minute walk from Futamata-Honmachi Station (Tenryū Hamanako Railway); 10 minutes by car from Hamamatsu-Hamakita IC (Shin-Tōmei Expressway) |
References
- 旧二俣町役場 — 文化遺産オンライン
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/168412
- 旧二俣町役場 — 浜松情報BOOK
- http://www.hamamatsu-books.jp/category/detail/4ef828cde8bc4.html
- 本田宗一郎ものづくり伝承館 — iN HAMAMATSU.COM
- https://www.inhamamatsu.com/japanese/art/soichiro-honda-craftsmanship-center.php
- 本田宗一郎ものづくり伝承館 — 浜松・浜名湖だいすきネット
- https://www.hamamatsu-daisuki.net/industry/spot/soichiro-honda-craftmanship.html
- 周辺観光 — 本田宗一郎ものづくり伝承館
- https://honda-densyokan.com/sightseeing/
Last verified: 2026.03.28