Sumida Landmark Buildings

One of the best known landmarks of Tokyo is this group of modern structures on the eastern shore of Sumida River, near the Azumabashi bridge. The two buildings in the middle are owned by Japan's largest beer and soft drink producer, Asahi Breweries.

The building with the 360-tons "golden flame" (Flamme d'Or) on the top - mischievously called by the locals kin no unchi "golden poo" - is the Asahi Flame, built in 1989 after a project made by the French designer Philippe Starck. Next to it, designed to look like a giant glass of beer, you can see the Asahi Beer Tower, the headquarters of Asahi Breweries .

The skyscraper visible on the right is the River Pier Azumabashi Life Tower, a residential building with 30 floors (101 meters tall), also finished in 1989. To the left, you can see the Sumida Ward Office (City Hall), a building which although is only 19 floors tall (84 meters), gives the impression that it is much higher...

And during the last two years, a new landmark appeared here - and certainly the most important - the Tokyo Sky Tree...