Honda Welcome Plaza
The Honda Welcome Plaza, Aoyama-Itchome, is a showroom in central Tokyo which is a great place to visit when in Japan.
The displays regularly change, and feature almost all Honda products ranging from their very successful private jet to outdoor power equipment, passenger cars, and of course, motorcycles. There is always some form of Formula One and motorcycle racing product on display. Also on display and demonstrated at selected times during the day, is ASIMO the humanoid robot. It’s worth taking the time to watch ASIMO in action. For 2019, the Honda Welcome Plaza has a display commemorating the 50th anniversary of the CB750 Four. On the central display are the Honda performance models commencing with the 1959 CB92R Benly Super Sport, 1965 CB450, 1969 CB750 Four, 1979 CB750F, and 1992 CB1000 Four. Also on display was an exquisite range of 1970s to 1980s Honda models. Entry to the Honda Welcome Plaza is free of charge.
How do you get to the Honda Welcome Plaza?
Tokyo is not hard to get around via train. The JR Lines (JR = Japan Rail) are the easiest to find and to navigate. The other lines and the subways can be challenging. Central Tokyo is circumnavigated by the circular train line called the “JR Yamanote Line”. This line features trains running in both directions within ten-minute intervals. Use the Yamanote Line as your reference point when moving around Tokyo. You can take alternate train lines or most of the subways connecting from the JR stations. To get to the Honda Welcome Plaza, arrive at the Shibuya Station on the Yamanote Line (from either direction). Walk to the Hachiko Gate (this is well labelled with “English” signage), and on the right before you leave the gate is the stairwell down to the Hanzoman (subway) Line. Go down two levels and buy your ticket of 170 yen (about AUD$2.30). The Hanzoman Line platform is well labelled. Take the
train to Aoyama-Itchome Station (number Z03), which is only two stops away. Walk to the Kita – Aoyama Gate (kita = north), and go up two levels to the road.
Some important notes when travelling on Japanese trains
Japanese people and society are very (read: extremely) considerate, and as visitors to their country, we must show respect to their customs and rules. Do not speak loudly on the trains; only speak very quietly, or do not speak at all. Do not speak on your phone on the trains. In public, do not use your phone on loudspeaker. Keep your phone on silent when in public. Do not walk around looking at or using your phone – there are signs requesting that you do not do this. Always give your seat to a lady or an elderly person. Queue to the side when waiting for the train doors to open. This allows travellers to exit the train quickly. Do not barge or push your way through the Japanese people. You will get to where you want to in time.
Inside the Honda Welcome Plaza
Take your time walking around the showroom, and don’t forget to have a drink at the Honda Welcome Plaza café. There are books and magazines to read while you have a break. There is a gift + souvenir shop and you are bound to find something you want. Have a coffee at the Plaza café. Café manager is Suzuki san (yes, a Suzuki working at Honda), and you can take home your souvenir Honda Plaza coffee cup. I was fortunate enough to be back in Tokyo and went to the Honda Welcome Plaza to see the display and by sheer good luck I arrived on the day of the 2019 Suzuka 8 Hour race. The Honda Welcome Plaza was opened up with a big screen and filled with seating to accommodate race fans. There were about 15 Honda staff present to host the event, and the guest speaker was Yukio Nukumi from the Sakurai Honda Team. I lined up with about 200 Japanese fans and took my seat number and sat inside to watch the race start. The day was promoted as the 60th anniversary of Honda racing, and banners, flags and literature were especially printed. The Honda Welcome Plaza was revamped just for the Suzuka 8 Hour race day. Expectations at the Plaza were very high for a Honda victory. The Japanese people are very optimistic people, and this is contagious. On display especially for the event were previous Honda winners of the Suzuka 8 Hour race. There was a race long battle between the factory Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki teams. The race ended controversially with a red flag only 1½ minutes from the eighth hour after a Suzuki blew its engine, depositing oil on the track. Coupled with the light rain and racing under lights, the race conditions were dangerous and the leading Kawasaki of Rea/Haslam/Razgatliouglu left the track at high speed. The race was immediately red flagged, with the Kawasaki team subsequently declared winners. did not intend to stay for the whole race, but the atmosphere and the interaction with the local race fans around me was excellent. I was the only European person present, and I was treated with interest and respect. Our common interest and my poor Japanese language skills helped open up the conversations. This was the perfect way to watch the Suzuka 8 Eight race. Tokyo was a hot 31 degrees and very humid. It was relaxing to spend the day watching in the comfort of the air conditioned premises (I had left Melbourne the day previously when it was 8 degrees and I needed to acclimatise).