Special ward in Kantō, Japan
Photo: Kakidai, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Sumida (墨田区, sumida-ku) is a ward to the east of central Tokyo. It has a famous cherry blossom viewing area along the Sumida River near Asakusa Station in spring, and the Sumida River Fireworks Festival (Hanabi Matsuri) in summer.
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東京スカイツリー
Completed in 2012, Tokyo Skytree stands tall over the old Sumida ward as the newest symbol of Tokyo and the world's tallest self-supporting tower at 634 m. It is the primary location from which digital television broadcast signals in Tokyo are transmitted. The tower's LED lighting system uses a different color scheme every night. The Skytree is complemented by a shopping complex, Tokyo Solamachi (Tokyo Skytree Town).
江戸東京博物館 Edo-Tōkyō-hakubutsukan
This bizarre multi-story edifice suspended in midair and bearing not a small resemblance to a Star Wars Imperial Walker (meant to be a replica of an old raised warehouse) covers the history of the metropolis, starting from 1590 when it was selected as Japan's new capital Edo, all the way through the Kanto earthquake and firebombings of World War II. The museum is built with the latest technology including life-size replicas of entire buildings and the Nihombashi Bridge. Free informative tours are available in several languages, depending on which volunteers are around; audio guides in several languages always available. Pair it up with a visit to the more intimately sized Fukagawa Edo Museum in nearby Kōtō ward, just a couple of stops away on the Toei Ōedo subway line.
刀剣博物館
Display of all types of Japanese art swords and fittings, some of them centuries old. Beautiful view from balcony on 3rd floor over Kyū Yasuda Garden. Quite hefty entrance fee, but a must see for anyone interested in Japanese swords.
桐の博物館 kiri no hakubutsukan
両国花火資料館 ryōgoku hanabi shiryōkan
相撲博物館, sumō hakubutsukan
A small, quirky museum tucked inside the arena's first floor, dedicated to the history of sumo, particularly artifacts and ceremonial clothing, almost entirely in Japanese only. The collection rotates several times a year. During sumo tournaments, it is open daily, but only to tournament ticket holders.
相撲写真資料館
足袋資料館 / tabi shiryōkan / Japanese socks
たばこと塩の博物館 Tabako to Shio no Hakubutsukan
This peculiar institution owes its existence to Japan's government monopoly on these two substances. The website advises that "dangerous substances are not permitted within the museum". They have map-guides of the museum in English and most exhibits have English translations. There is a free mobile-app based auto tour as well.
東武博物館
A museum of railways and buses, operated by Tobu Railway. At the museum, visitors can also see trains running through Higashi Mukojima Station, which is located directly above the museum.
両国国技館 / Sumo
The largest sumo arena in Japan with a capacity for 10,000 spectators, this is where grand tournaments or basho are held in January, May and September, starting on the second Sunday of the month. These tournaments last for 15 days, and are filled with ceremony and ritual which observe strict hierarchies not just for the wrestlers, but also for the referees and callers. The competition each day begins around 09:00 with the amateurs, and from there, wrestlers compete in progressing order of seniority. The professional wrestlers start around 14:35, but the excitement begins when the top division makuuchi (幕内) enter the ring in the dohyō-iri (土俵入り) ceremony at 15:50. The tournament culminates when the high-rank yokozuna (横綱) and ozeki (大関) have their bouts, around 18:00. If you have seats far from the ring, but arrive early, it is possible to borrow some seats close to the ring until mid-afternoon, when most spectators begin to arrive. English pamphlets describing the day's program and sumo in general are available, and radios with live English commentary can be rented. Food is available inside, at somewhat inflated prices. There are now signs prohibiting you from bringing in outside food and drink, but enforcement is spotty.
巴潟
One of Tokyo's oldest chanko joints, operating for over 100 years, specializing in a slightly unusual miso-flavored soup. Lunch sets at ¥840/1260 weekdays/weekends are just about the cheapest chanko you'll find anywhere and a good option for the solo traveller. Dinner starts from ¥2940/person for the Tomoegata (miso) or Yahazuyama (dashi) set and goes up to ¥8400 for the aptly humongous 9-course Yokozuna.
麦酒倶楽部Popeye
Popeye's is an excellent place to try Japanese microbrews. There are 70 beers on tap, which cover the full range of beers from familiar ales to barley wines and rauchbiers. The food menu is interesting, try the avocado and blue cheese. English menus are available. Not English friendly if you have problems asking about the menu or bill. Not a standing bar, you have to be seated and charged for that; hidden seating and cover charges can be a nasty surprise when you get your bill.
浅草スマイルバー&カフェ
Founded by a Tokyo resident returning from abroad. Located across the Sumida river from the Asakusa tourist district. Clientele has many expats and English-speaking Japanese. Periodically hosts an English-language comedy show.
東武ホテル レバント東京
ロッテシティホテル錦糸町
第一ホテル両国
東京ソラマチ
Tokyo's largest commercial complex, with over 300 shops and restaurants, plus an aquarium and a planetarium, at the base of Tokyo Skytree.
The JR Sobu Line (local service) runs east–west through Sumida, connecting to the Yamanote line across the river in Akihabara.
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