Museums (Hakubutsukan)

Small Museums

The City of Sumida has 26 "small museums," places where individuals and corporations can exhibit rare industrial products, materials and technical know-how which have helped in the cultural building of the city.

Rubber Baseball Exhibition Hall (Nanshiki Yakyu Shiryoshitsu)

The history of baseball equipment, such as bats, balls, gloves and how they are manufactured, is exhibited here. The hall is open Monday through Friday and the first, third and fifth Saturday (except national holidays), from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Address: 2-36-10, Sumida, Tel. 3614-3501

Sumida Housing Center, Wooden House Museum (Sumida Jutaku Senta Mokuzo Kenchiku Shiryokan)

Included in this exhibition space are traditional tools, such as planes, chisels and metal measuring tools, etc., used by carpenters in this area. Also exhibited are books, documents and panels. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every Saturday and every fourth Sunday.

Address: 1-7-16, Tsutsumi-dori, Tel. 3612-7724

Kobayashi Doll Museum (Kobayashi Ningyo Shiryokan)

The entire procedure of making traditional Japanese dolls is exhibited here. It is open each Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Reservation is required

Address: 6-31-2, Yahiro, Tel. 3612-1644

Koimari Museum (Koimari Shiryokan)

Let the Koimari pottery fill your mind with dreams of what "shitamachi" are large plates, tea cups, bowls, square warmer with drawer and lid, mini chest of drawers for tea utensils and more. The museum is open Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Address: A.S. Motors, Inc. 2nd Floor, 5-23-9, Yahiro, Tel. 3619-3867

Battledore Museum (Hagoita Shiryokan)

Approximately 20 precious battledores or hagoita made before the Second World War are exhibited here, together with the history of the battledore and its production methods. The museum is open each Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (It is closed from Oct. 1 to Jan. 20).

Address: 5-43-25, Mukojima, Tel. 3623-1305

Folding Screen Museum (Byobu Hakubutsukan)

Tools used in folding screen work and items for the manufacturing process are explained in an easy-to-understand manner. The museum is open daily except Sunday and national holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (the museum is also closed on the second and fourth Saturdays from May through October).

Address: 1-31-6, Mukojima, Tel. 3622-4470

Alloy Casting Museum (Gokin Imono Hakubutsukan)

The entire procedure used in casting, from the pouring of the molten metal into a mold to the finishing steps of the product, is shown in panels. Many molds are also on display. The museum is open the first, second, thrid Friday and every Saturday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Address: 2-4-4, Bunka, Tel. 3612-2773

Dry Woodwork Museum (Kanso Mokuzai Kogei Shiryokan)

Exhibits include many toys and folk handicrafts. Open Monday through Friday except national holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Reservation is required.

Address: Kanso Mokuzai Kogei Building, 2-9-11, Kinshi, Tel. 3625-2401

Tortoiseshell Museum (Bekko Shiryokan)

On display is an easy-to-understand explanation of the changes that have taken place in the tools used in the making of tortoiseshell, and in the designs of such items as combs and ornamental hairpins. The museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Address: 2-5-5, Yokoami, Tel. 3625-5875

Wood Carving Museum (Mokucho Shiryokan)

Various carved wood pieces are exhibited in this museum which is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Address: 1-13-3, Ishihara, Tel. 3622-4920

Sumo Photo Museum (Sumo Shashin Shiryokan)

The history of sumo wrestling ex exhibited through photographs and materials provided by the Japan Sumo Association. Open each Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Note: During the January, May and September tournaments, the museum is open daily.

Address: 3-13-2, Ryogoku, Tel. 3631-2150

Tabi Museum (Tabi Shiryokan)

This museum exhibits material related to the history of tabi (Japanese socks), the tools used to make them and footprints of several Japanese sumo wrestlers. Open daily (except Sundays and national holidays) 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Address: 1-9-3, Midori, Tel. 3631-0092

Paulownia Wood Museum (Kiri no Hakubutsukan)

Staring with the relationship between paulownia and the Japanese, this museum offers a look at paulownia chests, the tools needed in the manufacture of the chests and so on. The museum is open daily except Wednesday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.(closed during GW, Summer Vacation, and New Year Holidays.)

Address: 4-1-8, Ryogoku, Tel. 3632-0341

Safe and Key Museum (Kinko to Kagi no Hakubutsukan)

Six large safe boxes, including some which are foreign-made, locks and materials concerning safe keys, from ancient to modern times, are exhibited here. Open the first and third Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.(closed on August) Reservation is required.

Address: 3-4-1, Chitose, Tel. 3633-9151

Construction Tools and Wooden Frame Museum (Kenchiku Dogu/Kigumi Shiryokan)

Various documents and materials relating to construction tools and actual wooden frames of various kinds are exhibited here. The museum is open each Saturday and the fourth Sunday(except national holidays) from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Address: 1-5-3, Kikukawa, Tel. 3633-0328

Edo Textile Designs Museum (Edo Komon Hakubutsukan)

Komon which literally means "fine patterns" is a general term for detailed textile designs. This museum introduces the history, work process and the various tools of these textile patterns.
Various pattern samples and stencils from the Edo period (1600-1868) are also on display. Open Monday to Friday(except national holidays) from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Reservation is required if you visit on Saturday.

Address: 2-26-9, Yahiro, Tel. 3611-5019

Brake Museum (Bureyki Hakubutsukan)

The actual brake systems used for the Shinkansen "bullet train", F1 racing cars and such are here on display. The museum is open Monday to Saturday (except national holidays) from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Address: 1-5-5 Kotobashi 2F, Tel. 3632-6931

Indigo-Dyed Textile Museum (Aizome Hakubutsukan)

The various tools used during the process of manufacturing indigo-dyed summer kimonos (yukata) and split curtains (noren) are exhibited here. The museum is open Monday to Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Address: 1-29-1, Kyojima, Tel. 3611-6760

Bags and Pouches Museum (Hukuromono Hakubutsukan)

This museum shows you the modern japanese history of bags and pouches. About 50 items such as coin purses, wallets,and hand-operated sewing machines from 17th century are exhibited here. Open Monday through Friday, the second and fourth Saturday. Hours are from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Address: 1-1-7, Ryougoku, Tel. 3631-6353

NTT DoCoMo history exhibit square (NTT DoCoMo Rekishi Tenji Square)

You can learn the evolutional process of mobile services with panels and movies. 185 mobiles and car phones are exhibited. Open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.(except national holidays and New Year Holidays). Reservation is required.

Address: NTT DoCoMo Sumida Building 1F 1-9-2, Yokoami, Tel. 6658-3535

Shindo Gallery (Shindo Gallery)

About 30 rare items about about printing such as the oldest printed matter in the world and a printing machine made in U.S. in 1870's are exhibited. Open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.(except national holidays and New Year Holidays).

Address: 1-10-5, Yokoami, Tel. 3626-1001

Edo Kimekomi-ningyo Museum (Edo Kimekomi-ningyo Hakubutsukan)

This museum exhibits Hina-ningyo(dolls for the Girl's Festival), Gosho-ningyo(Court dolls) made in Taisho/Showa/Heisei era, their clay models, tools, and materials. Panels which describe production process are also exhibited. You can request for demonstration. Open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.(except national holidays). Reservation is required.

Address: 2-11-7, Mukoujima, Tel. 3622-4579

Shindo Calender Gallery (Shindo Koyomi Tenjikan)

This gallery exhibits very various calendars such as monthly calendars in 1940's to 1960's, rare calendars from the world, one-year-one-sheet adridged calendars and classical calendars of Meiji and Taisho era. Open Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.(except national holidays, GW, Summer Holidays, and New Year Holidays)

Address: 1-12-21, Yokoami, Tel. 3626-1029

Sumo Museum (Sumo Hakubutsukan)

Located on the first floor of Kokugikan Hall, this museum includes innumerable items related to the sport of sumo wrestling. It is open Monday through Friday (except national holidays) from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free. Note: During sumo tournaments, only spectators admitted to Kokugikan may enter the museum.

Address: 1-3-28, Yokoami, Tel. 3622-0366

Tokyo Restoration Memorial Museum (Tokyo-to Fukko Kinenkan)

Various articles used in daily life, paintings and other materials that have been salvaged from fires caused by the Great Kanto Earthquake, wars and other traffic disasters are exhibited here. The museum is open daily (except Mondays and during the New Year holidays) from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free.

Address: 2-3-25, Yokoami, Tel. 3622-1208

Tobu Museum (Tobu Hakubutsukan)

This is a learning museum where you can watch, touch and operate trains. For example, there is a corner where you can experience firsthand what it is like to drive a train. Open every day except Monday, and from December 29 to January 3, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is 200yen for adults and 100yen for children.

Address: 4-28-16, Higashi-Mukojima, Tel. 3614-8811

Edo Tokyo Museum (Edo Tokyo Hakubutsukan)

Tokyo's history and culture from past to present are brought together in this one museum. Admire Tokyo's background introduced in film, recreated street scenes of Edo and Tokyo, Edo Kabuki, or Yose vaudeville. The museum is open daily except Monday and the Year-End/New-Year holidays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (until 9:00 p.m. on Friday). Admission is 600yen for adults and 300yen for elementary, junior high and high school students (a discount is available for groups).

Address: 1-4-1, Yokoami, Tel. 3626-9974