| Sumida ((ja)墨 田) | |
 | |
| Asahi Breweries head office, Tokyo skytree | |
| Information | |
| Country |  Japan |
|---|---|
| City | Tokyo |
| Area | 13,77 km² |
| Population | 259 634 hab.(2016) |
| Density | 18,855.05 inhab./km² |
| Location | |
 35 ° 42 ′ 2 ″ N 139 ° 48 ′ 9 ″ E | |
| Official site | |
Tokyo SkyTree, the tallest free-standing tower in the world
The borough of Sumida (墨 田 区, sumida-ku) is located east of the center of Tokyo. There is a famous place to see the cherry blossoms in spring (along the Sumida River, near Asakusa Station), the Sumida Fireworks Festival (Hanabi Matsuri) in summer, and Tokyo's main sumo arena (Ryōgoku Kokugikan) where tournaments are held three times a year. There is also the tower Tokyo Skytree, the tallest free-standing tower in the world.
The neighborhood is considered shitamachi (roughly translated as "old town"), but it has recently become a sort of dormitory area for Tokyoites, resulting in the construction of many tall buildings. Despite the construction boom, the neighborhood retains its pre-war charm, to which the many small businesses contribute.
The district of Ryōgoku (両 国), in the southwestern part of the district, is almost synonymous with sumō, one of the most famous sports in Japan, where human behemoths struggle and try to hoist the opponent out of the circle. the Edo-Tōkyō museum, a large and excellent museum on the history of Tokyo, is located there, as well as a collection of unusual themed museums.
To go
The square of Sumida main station, Kinshichō station
Line JR Sōbu (local) runs from east to west and passes through Sumida; the connection with the Yamanote line is on the other side of the river at Akihabara. Regarding the metro, the Toei Ōedo line makes a loop reaching the western limit of the borough with links with Ueno north and Shiodome South.
- 1 Ryōgoku Station (両 国 駅, ryōgoku-eki) – Located on these two lines, Ryōgoku Station is the closest link to most of the district's major attractions.
Those going to the Tokyo Skytree can stop at the following stations:
- 2 Tokyo Skytree Station (と う き ょ う ス カ イ ツ リ ー 駅, tōkyō sukaitsurī-eki) – On the Tobu Skytree line (at a station in the Asakusa terminus station)
- 3 Oshiage-Skytree Station (押上 駅, Oshiage-eki) – On the Toei Asakusa line and the Tokyo Metro Hanzōmon line.
To see
- 1 Tokyo SkyTree (東京 ス カ イ ツ リ ー, Tokyo Sukaitsurī) 1-1-2 Oshiage (Tōbu Railway to Tokyo Skytree Station, Toei Asakusa Subway Line or Tokyo Metro Hanzōmon to Oshiage-Skytree Station, or direct bus from Tokyo Station (30 min, 500 JPY))
every day 8 h - 22 h. 
adults 2 060 JPY-2 570 JPY for the main floor; 1 000 JPY suppl. for the upper floor. International visitors can purchase quick-access tickets at the Fast Skytree box office at 4e floor for 3 000 JPY/4 000 JPY (passport required). – Completed in 2012, the Tokyo Sky Tree Tower stands proudly over the old Sumida district as the new symbol of Tokyo and as the tallest free-standing tower in the world (634 m). It is the main broadcast location for digital television signals in Tokyo. The tower LED lighting system uses a different color scheme each evening. The view from the two observatory levels (350 m and 450 m) is particularly spectacular. The SkyTree is complemented by a shopping complex, Tokyo SkyTree Town.
every day 
adults 
Ryōgoku Kokugikan
- 2 Ryōgoku Kokugikan (両 国 国 技 館) 1-3-28 Yokoami,
81 3-3623-5111 (Japanese) – The largest sumō arena in Japan with a capacity of 10,000 spectators. This is where the big tournaments, or basho, take place in January, May and September, starting on the second Sunday of the month. These tournaments last 15 days, and are imbued with ceremonies and rituals which observe a strict hierarchy, not only for the wrestlers, but also for the referees and the announcers. The competition begins each day around 9 h with the amateurs, and from there, the wrestlers officiate in increasing order of seniority. Professional wrestlers start around 14 h 35 , but the frenzy really starts when the Premier League, makuuchi (幕 内), enter the circle for the ceremony dohyō-iri (土 俵 入 り) to 15 h 50. The tournament reached its peak when wrestlers from the highest ranks, ozeki (大関) and yokozuna (横 綱), clash, around 18 h .
If you have seats away from the circle but arrive early, it is possible to borrow seats near the circle until mid-afternoon, when most spectators start arriving. English brochures describing the day's program and sumō in general are available, and live radio commentary in English can be hired. Food is available inside, but at a bit pricey. There are now signs telling you that bringing in food and drink from outside is prohibited.- 3 Sumō Museum (相撲 博物館, sumō hakubutsukan) on the ground floor of Ryōgoku Kokugikan, 81 3-3622-0366 (Japanese) 10 h - 16 h 30 weekdays, closed weekends / holidays; every day during tournaments only for spectators. free. – A small original museum hidden inside the arena on the ground floor; devoted to the history of sumō, particularly ceremonial objects and clothing - and unfortunately almost entirely only in Japanese. The collection rotates several times a year.
- 3 Sumō Museum (相撲 博物館, sumō hakubutsukan) on the ground floor of Ryōgoku Kokugikan,
- Sumō stables – Instead of observing the wrestlers in Kokugikan through binoculars from the low-cost seats, you can see sumō up close by visiting a sumō stable (this is the term in French; heya, 部屋) and attend morning training, usually between 6 h and 10 h every day (and no, you don't have to stay that long). Prior arrangements will be necessary, preferably with the help of a Japanese guide, and a "donation" in the order of 1 500 JPY is planned. While watching the workout, stay silent and do not take flash photos. Note that many stables - especially those with very famous wrestlers - do not allow tours. THE'Isenoumi stable (伊 勢 ノ 海 部屋, ise-no-umi beya) has an informative (although less and less up to date) homepage in English and is happy to organize tours.
- Sumō Photography Museum (相撲 写真 資料 館, sumō-shashin-shiryōkan) 3-13-2 Ryōgoku, 81 3-3631-2150 Tuesday only, but every day during tournaments.
Large-scale replica of the theater Nakamura-za now defunct, at the Edo-Tokyo museum
- 4 Edo-Tokyo Museum (江 戸 東京 博物館, edo-tōkyō-hakubutsukan) 1-4-1 Yokoami (near the A3 / A4 exits of Ryōgoku subway station; take the west exit of JR station), 81 3-3626-9974 9 h 30 - 17 h 30 Tue-Sun, Sat until 19 h 30, closed Mon except during holidays or sumō tournaments at neighboring Ryōgoku. 600 JPY. – One of the best museums in Tokyo, to say the least. This bizarre multi-story building, suspended in the air, has some air of a Star Wars quadripod vehicle (it is supposed to be a replica of an old elevated warehouse). It covers the history of the metropolis, from 1590 when it was chosen as the new capital of Japan (under the name Edo), through the Kantō earthquake and the firebombs of World War II. . The museum is built with cutting edge technology, including life-size replicas of entire buildings and the Nihonbashi Bridge. Guided tours are available free of charge in several languages, depending on the volunteers present; audio guides in several languages are always available. Join it on a visit to the most intimate (by its size) Fukagawa Edo museum in the nearby Kōtō district, a few metro stops on the Toei Ōedo subway line.
- 5 Japanese sword museum (刀 剣 博物館, tōken hakubutsukan) 1-12-9, Yokoami, Sumidaku (07 min walk from Ryōgoku station), 81 36284 1000 Tue.- Sun. : 9 h 30 - 17 h. 1 000 JPY. – All types of Japanese swords are on display. Beautiful view from the balcony at 3e floor on the Kyū Yasuda garden. If its entry price is quite high, it is nevertheless a must for those interested in Japanese swords.
Tobacco and Salt Museum
- 6 Tobacco and Salt Museum (た ば こ と 塩 の 博物館, tabako to shio no hakubutsukan) Tue.- Sun. : 10 h - 18 h. – Previously located in Shibuya, its reopening in Sumida-ku is scheduled for spring 2015. This unique institution owes its existence to Japan's special state monopoly on these two substances. The site reports that "dangerous substances are not allowed in the museum".
- Paulownia Wooden Furniture Museum (桐 の 博物館, kiri no hakubutsukan) 4-1-3 Ryōgoku, 81 3-3632-0341 10 h - 18 h, closed Wed..
- 7 Ryōgoku Fireworks Museum (両 国 花火 資料 館, ryōgoku hanabi shiryōkan) 2-10-8 Ryōgoku, 81 3-5608-6181 midday-16 h Thu-Sat Open every day July-August. Free.
- 8 Museum of tabi (Japanese socks) (足 袋 資料 館, tabi shiryōkan) 1-9-3 Midori, 81 3-3631-0092 9 h - 17 h, closed Sun..
- 9 Asahi Beer Hall (To 03 min walk from Asakusa Station, across the Sumida River) – If you pass by the Sumida River, you will see the head office of this brand of beer, designed by Philippe Stark and above which sits a gigantic golden flame (although it rather evokes for many people a turd).
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Do
To buy
Eat
a service from Chanko
Chanko, before cooking
While in the sumo district, take the opportunity to eat some sumo food namely the hearty stew nabe-chanko (ち ゃ ん こ 鍋) which forms the bulk of a rikishi's diet. Oddly enough, it's actually a pretty healthy dish made with chicken, fish, tofu, and vegetables cooked in broth, with wrestlers just seeming to eat a lot of them. A number of sumo wrestlers open a restaurant in chanko when they retire, and many of those establishments are located here. Be warned that they are generally quite expensive, with sets starting at around 2 500 JPY per person. You will need at least two people, and make reservations well in advance if you want to taste the chanko when a “basho” is happening nearby.
Cheap
- 1 Mochicream (モ チ ク リ ー ム) Oshiage 1-10-3 (exit B3 from Oshiage / Skytree station, enter Life Supermarket and find the Mochicream department) – A sachet of ice cream containing a small rice pudding.
Average price
- 2 Chanko Tomoegata (巴 潟) 2-17-6 Ryōgoku (3 min south of the west exit of JR Ryōgoku), 81 3-3632-5600 Open Tue-Sun, lunch 11 h 30 - 14 h, having dinner 17 h - 23 h. Lunch at 840 JPY during the week and 1 260 JPY the weekend. Dinner from 2 940 JPY for the dishes Tomoegata (miso) gold Yahazuyama (dashi) and up to 8 400 JPY for the gigantic Yokozuna of 9 courses. – One of the oldest chanko establishments in Tokyo, operating for more than 100 years, specializing in miso soup with a slightly peculiar flavor. Offers the cheapest chanko you can find, a good choice for solo travelers.
Luxury
Have a drink / Go out
- Popeye Beer Club 2-18-7 Ryōgoku, 81 3-3633-2120 Mon.- Fri. : 17 h - 1 h, sat 17 h - 2 h, closed dum. Beer here costs around 900 JPY the half pint and a tasting set is also available. – Popeye is arguably the best place in Tokyo, if not the world, to try Japanese micro-brewery. There are 70 beers on tap, which cover the entire range of beers, from classic ales to barley wines and rauchbiers. The menu is interesting, try the avocado with blue cheese. English menus are available.
Note to travelers: this is not a standing bar, you must be seated and will be charged for it. The hidden seat and cutlery costs are a nasty surprise when you receive the bill. Not recommended for just a drink.
Housing
Accommodation is scarce, especially for non-Japanese people. Staying elsewhere in Tokyo and catching the train for the day is the classic approach.
Cheap
Middle class
Luxury
Around
- Fukagawa Edo Museum (in the neighboring district of Koto; from Ryōgoku subway station, take Ōedo line to Kiyosumi-Shirakawa station, exit A3) – This small museum is a good complement to the Edo-Tokyo museum. the Kiyosumi garden is also near this station.
| Routes via Sumida |
| Tokyo ← | O  E | → Shin koiwa → Funabashi → Chiba |
| Akihabara ← Asakusabashi ← | O  E | → Kameido → Ichikawa → Chiba |
| END ← | O  E | → Keisei Takasago → Keisei Funabashi → Narita |
| Asakusa ← | O _symbol.svg/30px-Tobu_Skytree_Line_(TS)_symbol.svg.png){kind=small} NOT | → Nishi Arai → Koshigaya → joined _symbol.svg/30px-Tobu_Nikko_Line_(TN)_symbol.svg.png){kind=small} → Nikko |
| END ← | NOT  S | → Asakusa → Shinbashi → joined  → Haneda Airport |
| Shinjuku ← Kudanshita ← Iwamotocho ← | O  E | → Ojima → Motoyawata |
| Shinjuku ← Kasuga ← Ueno Okachimachi ← | O  S | → Kiyosumi Shirakawa → Monzen-Nakacho → Tsukiji market |
| Shibuya ← Jinbocho ← Kiyosumi Shirakawa ← | O  E | → END |
joined  ← | NOT  S | → Hakozaki → joined  |
| joined ← | O  E | → Komatsugawa → joined  → Funabashi → Chiba |
| This article uses content from Wikipedia's 墨 田 区 article (ja). See the history of this page for the list of authors. |