is a special ward in the Tokyo Metropolis in

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

. The English translation of its Japanese self-designation is Sumida City. As of 1 April 2025, the ward has an estimated

population Population is a set of humans or other organisms in a given region or area. Governments conduct a census to quantify the resident population size within a given jurisdiction. The term is also applied to non-human animals, microorganisms, and pl ...

of 287,766 and a

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

of 20,120 persons per km². Its total area is 13.77 km². Sumida's city office is located in Azumabashi, while its commercial center is the area around Kinshicho Station in the south.

Geography

Sumida is in the north-eastern part of the mainland portion of Tokyo. The Sumida and Arakawa are the major rivers, and form parts of its boundaries. Its neighbors are all special wards: Adachi to the north; Arakawa to the northwest;

Katsushika is a special ward in the Tokyo Metropolis in Japan. It is known as Katsushika City in English. As of May 1, 2015, the ward has an estimated population of 444,356, and a population density of 12,770 people per km2. The total area is 34.80 ...

to the east; Edogawa to the southeast; Taitō to the west; Chūō to the southwest; and

Kōtō is a Special wards of Tokyo, special ward in the Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolis in Japan. The ward refers to itself as Kōtō City in English. As of May 1, 2025, the ward has an estimated population of 543,730, and a population density of . The total ...

to the south.

Landmarks

Asahi Breweries The is a Japanese beverage holding company headquartered in Sumida, Tokyo. In 2019, the group had revenue of JPY 2.1 trillion. Asahi's business portfolio can be segmented as follows: Alcoholic drink, alcoholic beverage business (40.5%), over ...

headquarters: The Asahi Beer Hall, with the ''Asahi flame'' created by French designer Philippe Starck in 1989, is one of Tokyo's most recognizable modern structures. * Edo-Tokyo Museum * Eko-in:

Buddhist Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...

temple *Hokusai-dori (Hokusai Street), with a series of prints by famed Japanese artist

Hokusai , known mononymously as Hokusai, was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist of the Edo period, active as a painter and printmaker. His woodblock printing in Japan, woodblock print series ''Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji'' includes the iconic print ''The Gr ...

, who was born in the Kamezawa area of Sumida *Honjo Matsuzaka-cho Park: the residence of

Kira Yoshinaka (October 5, 1641 – January 30, 1703) was a Japanese ''kōke'' (master of ceremonies). His court title was ''Kokushi (officials), Kōzuke no suke (上野介)''. He is famous as the adversary of Asano Naganori in the events of the forty-seven ...

stood on this site. The

Forty-seven rōnin The revenge of the , also known as the or Akō vendetta, was a historical event in Japan in which a band of ''rōnin'' (lordless samurai) avenged the death of their former master on 31 January 1703. The incident has since become legendary. I ...

killed him during the Genroku era. * Kinshicho Station * Ryōgoku Kokugikan (National Sumo Stadium) * Sumida Triphony Hall, concert hall *Tobu Museum *Tokyo Irei-do (Tokyo Memorial Hall): a memorial to unidentified people who died in the Great Kantō earthquake, the Bombing of Tokyo in World War II and other catastrophes; by Itō Chūta *

Tokyo Skytree , also written as Tokyo Sky Tree, is a broadcasting and observation tower, located in Sumida, Tokyo, Japan. It has been the tallest tower in Japan since opening in 2012,

: A

digital terrestrial television Digital terrestrial television (DTTV, DTT, or DTTB) is a technology for terrestrial television, in which television stations broadcast television content in a digital signal, digital format. Digital terrestrial television is a major technologica ...

broadcasting tower used by

NHK , also known by its Romanization of Japanese, romanized initialism NHK, is a Japanese public broadcasting, public broadcaster. It is a statutory corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television licence, television license fee. NHK ope ...

and other broadcasters. It is the tallest tower in the world and the tallest man-made structure in Japan. The Tokyo Solamachi (Tokyo Skytree Town) retail complex is adjacent to Skytree, with

Sumida Aquarium is a public aquarium located on the 5th and 6th floors of the Tokyo Skytree in Sumida, Tokyo. It opened in 2012 at the same time as Tokyo Skytree itself. It is managed by ORIX real estate corporation. Exhibits According to the aquarium's websit ...

on the 5th and 6th floors. * Yokoamicho Park, in the Yokoami district

Places

*In the north (the former Mukojima Ward): Sumida, Tsutsumi-dori, Higashi Sumida, Yahiro, Mukojima, Higashi Mukojima, Tachibana, Bunka, Kyojima, Oshiage *In the center (former Honjo Ward): Azuma-bashi, Higashi Komagata, Honjo, Narihira, Yokokawa *In the south (former Honjo Ward): Yokoami, Ryogoku, Chitose, Ishiwara, Kamezawa, Midori, Tatekawa, Kikukawa, Taihei, Kinshi, Koto-bashi

History

The ward was founded on March 15, 1947. It was previously the (ordinary) wards Honjo and Mukojima. Mukojima, formed in 1932, contained the former town of Sumida, which along with the river gave the ward its name.

Companies

has its headquarters in Azuma-bashi. *

Japan Tobacco The (JT) is a Japanese diversified tobacco company and parent company to Japan Tobacco International, one of the three largest international Big Tobacco product manufacturers in the world. It was established in 1985 as a that inherited the ri ...

has a plant in Yokokawa. * Keisei Electric Railway has its headquarters in Oshiage. * Lion Corporation, the detergent and toiletries giant, has its home office in Honjo. * Tobu Railway has its headquarters in Oshiage.

Politics

As of 2023, the mayor is Tōru Yamamoto. The council consists of 34 members.

Transport

Rail lines

JR East The is a major passenger railway company in Japan and the largest of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR-EAST or JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in ...

Sōbu Main Line: Kinshichō, Ryōgoku Stations * Tobu Railway ** Tōbu Isesaki Line: Oshiage, Tokyo Skytree, Hikifune, Higashi-Mukōjima, Kanegafuchi Stations ** Tōbu Kameido Line: Higashi-Azuma, Omurai, Hikifune Stations * Keisei Electric Railway

Keisei Oshiage Line The is a railway line in Tokyo, Japan, operated by private railway company Keisei Electric Railway. It connects Oshiage Station in Sumida, Tokyo, Sumida and Aoto Station in Katsushika, Tokyo, Katsushika. The Oshiage Line passes through areas ...

: Oshiage, Keisei Hikifune, Yahiro Stations * Tokyo Metro Hanzōmon Line: Kinshichō, Oshiage Stations *

Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation The , also known as Toei Transportation, Toei Transport, or simply , is a bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government which operates public transport services in Tokyo. Among its services, the Toei Subway is one of two rapid transit systems wh ...

Toei Asakusa Line The is a subway line in Tokyo, Japan, operated by the municipal subway operator Toei Subway. The line runs between in Ōta, Tokyo, Ōta and in Sumida, Tokyo, Sumida. The line is named after the Asakusa district, a cultural center of Tokyo, un ...

: Honjō Azuma-bashi, Oshiage Stations ** Toei Shinjuku Line: Kikukawa Station **

Toei Ōedo Line The is a rapid transit railway line of the municipal Toei Subway network in Tokyo, Japan. It commenced full operations on December 12, 2000; using the Japanese calendar this reads "12/12/12" as the year 2000 equals Heisei 12. The line is comple ...

: Ryōgoku Station

Railway stations

* Higashi-Azuma Station * Higashi-Mukōjima Station * Hikifune Station * Honjo-Azumabashi Station * Kanegafuchi Station * Kinshichō Station * Kikukawa Station * Tokyo Skytree Station * Omurai Station *

Oshiage Station is a railway station in Sumida, Tokyo, Japan, jointly operated by Tokyo Metro, Tobu Railway, Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation, Toei, and Keisei Electric Railway. It is adjacent to the Tokyo Skytree complex. Lines Oshiage Station i ...

* Ryōgoku Station * Yahiro Station

Notable railway stations

* Kinshicho Station: A major commercial hub served by the JR Sobu Line and Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line. * Oshiage Station (Skytree-mae): Serves four lines including the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line, Keisei Oshiage Line, and provides access to the Tokyo Skytree. * Ryogoku Station: Located near Ryogoku Kokugikan (sumo arena), served by the JR Sobu Line and Toei Oedo Line.

Highways

Shuto Expressway The is a network of Toll road, tolled expressways in the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is operated and maintained by the . Most routes are Grade separation, grade separated and have many sharp curves and multi-lane merges that require cauti ...

**C2 Central Loop **No. 6 Mukōjima Route **No. 7 Komatsugawa Route *

National highways National Highways (NH), formerly Highways England and before that the Highways Agency, is a State-owned enterprise, government-owned company charged with operating, maintaining and improving Roads in England, motorways and major A roads in Eng ...

** Route 6 ** Route 14

Education

Metropolitan high schools are operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education. * * Mukojima Commercial High School * Mukojima Technical High School * * * * In addition, the metropolitan school district also operates a metropolitan junior high school: * Municipal kindergartens, elementary schools, and junior high schools are operated by Sumida City Board of Education (墨田区教育委員会). Municipal junior high schools: * Azumadaini ("Azuma No. 2") Junior High School (吾嬬第二中学校) * Azumamatchibana Junior High School (吾嬬立花中学校) * Bunka Junior High School (文花中学校) * Honjyo Junior High School ( 本所中学校) * Kinshi Junior High School ( 錦糸中学校) * Ryogoku Junior High School ( 両国中学校) * Sakuratsutsumi Junior High School (桜堤中学校) * Sumida Junior High School (墨田中学校) * Tatekawa Junior High School (竪川中学校) * Terashima Junior High School (寺島中学校) Municipal elementary schools: * No. 1 Terajima (第一寺島小学校) * No. 2 Terajima (第二寺島小学校) * No. 3 Azuma (第三吾嬬小学校) * No. 3 Terajima ( 第三寺島小学校) * No. 4 Azuma (第四吾嬬小学校) * Chuwa (中和小学校) * Futaba ( 二葉小学校) * Higashiazuma (東吾嬬小学校) * Hikifune (曳舟小学校) * Kikukawa (菊川小学校) * Kinshi (錦糸小学校) * Kototoi ( 言問小学校) * Koume (小梅小学校) * Midori ( 緑小学校) * Nakagawa (中川小学校) * Narihira ( 業平小学校) * Oshiage ( 押上小学校) * Ryogoku (両国小学校) * Sotode (外手小学校) * Sumida (隅田小学校) * Tachibana Azuma-no-Mori ( 立花吾嬬の森小学校) * Umekawa (梅若小学校) * Yahiro (八広小学校) * Yanagashima (柳島小学校) * Yokokawa (横川小学校) Municipal kindergartens: * Daisanterajima ("No. 3 Terajima") (第三寺島幼稚園) * Hikifune (曳舟幼稚園) * Kikukawa (菊川幼稚園) * Midori (緑幼稚園) * Tachibana (立花幼稚園) * Yahiro (八広幼稚園) * Yanagishima (柳島幼稚園) International schools: * - North Korean school

Notable people

Historical

* Ryūnosuke Akutagawa lived in Mukojima * Enomoto Takeaki lived in Mukojima * Katsushika Hokusai was born in Kamezawa * Katsu Kaishū was born in Kamezawa * Kōda Rohan lived in Mukōjima * Matsuo Bashō lived in Honjō * Mori Ōgai lived in Mukōjima * Nezumi Kozō (Jirokichi): a memorial is located at Eko-in

Modern

* Haruka Igawa: actress, model * Chosuke Ikariya: actor, comedian ( The Drifters) * Nana Kinomi: actress * Masakazu Morita, voice actor * Masao Ohba: former WBA flyweight champion * Sadaharu Oh: baseball player and manager * Kazuhito Tadano: Major League Baseball player * Suihō Tagawa: manga artist * Tetsuya Chiba: manga artist * Hisanori Takahashi: baseball player * Tomomi Takano: model and professional boxer * Yoshihiro Takayama: pro wrestler * Chisa Yokoyama: voice actor *

Shunsuke Kazama is a Japanese actor and television personality. Career In 1997, when Kazama was in his second year of junior high school, he entered Johnny & Associates and started activities as a trainee. He made his debut on stage that same year in a Shon ...

, actor, voice actor and tarento

International relations

Sumida maintains sister-city relationships with Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea, and with Shijingshan District, Beijing, China.

Works set in Sumida

* ''Chushingura'', the fictional account of the events surrounding the revenge of the Forty-seven Ronin * ''Bokuto Kitan'', the novel by Nagai Kafu * '' You're Under Arrest''

manga are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...

series * Battle Kuma Oni. in Kachidoki Bridge 「東京激震! 新生莫斯科華撃団! ''Tōkyō Gekishin! Shinsei Mosukuba Kagekidan''!」 ''Tokyo Trembles! The New Moscow Combat Revue!'' in Oji Hiroi's 2000 ''Sakura Wars'' TV Series '' Shin Sakura Taisen the Animation'', 2020 * '' Lycoris Recoil''

anime is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...

series * '' Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo'', the horror

visual novel A visual novel (VN) is a form of digital interactive fiction. Visual novels are often associated with the medium of video games, but are not always labeled as such themselves. They combine a textual narrative with static or animated illustratio ...

directed and written by Takanari Ishiyama and published by

Square Enix is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational holding company, video game publisher and entertainment conglomerate. It releases role-playing video game, role-playing game franchises, such as ''Final Fantasy'', ''Dragon Quest'', and '' ...

, 2023

References

External links

Sumida City Official Website
{{Authority control Wards of Tokyo