Sumida (墨田区, Sumida-ku) is a special ward in the Tokyo Metropolis in Japan. The English translation of its Japanese self-designation is Sumida City.
As of 1 April 2025, the ward has an estimated population of 287,766 and a population density 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.
Contents
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 to the east; Edogawa to the southeast; Taitō to the west; Chūō to the southwest; and Kōtō to the south.
Landmarks
Asahi Breweries 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 temple
Hokusai-dori (Hokusai Street), with a series of prints by famed Japanese artist Hokusai, who was born in the Kamezawa area of Sumida
Honjo Matsuzaka-cho Park: the residence of Kira Yoshinaka stood on this site. The Forty-seven rōnin 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: A digital terrestrial television broadcasting tower used by NHK and other broadcasters. It is the third 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 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
Asahi Breweries has its headquarters in Azuma-bashi.
Japan Tobacco 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 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: Oshiage, Keisei Hikifune, Yahiro Stations
Tokyo Metro Hanzōmon Line: Kinshichō, Oshiage Stations
Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation
Toei Asakusa Line: Honjō Azuma-bashi, Oshiage Stations
Toei Shinjuku Line: Kikukawa Station
Toei Ōedo Line: Ryōgoku 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
C2 Central Loop
No. 6 Mukōjima Route
No. 7 Komatsugawa Route
National highways
Route 6
Route 14
Education
Metropolitan high schools are operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education.
In addition, the metropolitan school district also operates a metropolitan junior high school:
Ryogoku 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:
Municipal elementary schools:
Municipal kindergartens:
International schools:
Tokyo Korean 5th Elementary and Middle School (東京朝鮮第五初中級学校) - 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, 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 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 series
Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo, the horror visual novel directed and written by Takanari Ishiyama and published by Square Enix, 2023