Sumida-ku, Special ward in eastern Tokyo, Japan
Sumida-ku is a ward in northeastern Tokyo, positioned between the Sumida and Arakawa rivers. It covers a compact area that includes residential neighborhoods, the Tokyo Skytree tower, and districts such as Ryogoku and Mukojima.
The ward was established after World War II by merging two older districts, Honjo and Mukojima, which had been settled since the Edo period. Many streets still reflect the old riverside quarter that saw fires and rebuilding over the centuries.
The Ryogoku district within Sumida houses the Kokugikan arena, where professional sumo wrestlers compete in grand tournaments throughout the year.
Major stations like Kinshicho connect the ward to the rest of Tokyo through several rail lines. Many neighborhoods can be explored on foot, especially along the riverside walkways and in the quieter residential streets.
In the Ryogoku area, sumo wrestlers can sometimes be seen walking the streets in traditional yukata on their way to morning training at the nearby Kokugikan. A few small restaurants in the district serve chanko-nabe, the protein-rich stew eaten by the wrestlers.
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