Sumida Hokusai Museum in Photos
The Sumida Hokusai Museum celebrates one of Japan’s most celebrated artists, Katsushika Hokusai. The exhibits offer an intimate look at the genius behind ‘The Great Wave off Kanagawa’ and countless other ukiyo-e masterpieces. From its sleek, modern architecture to its rich displays of iconic prints, it is a must-visit destination that brings the master’s legacy to life. Here is everything you need to know.
Some of Hokusai’s famous works
- Boy on Mout Fuji
- Fine Wind Clear Morning
- South Wind at Clear Dawn
- The Ghost of Oiwa
- The Great Wave off Kanagawa
The Sumida Hokusai Museum experience
Buy your tickets on the first floor, then take the elevator to the fourth floor. There are two types of tickets on sale, permanent and temporary. The latter changes regularly, so consult the website to see what is on display.
The permanent and temporary exhibits are on the fourth floor, but the latter is also on the third. Buy both tickets and you must go up and down stairs!
The tiny permanent exhibit is packed with a lot of high-quality art. You can see many copies of his famous works there. I wouldn’t let the size of the place worry you, as the displays are excellent.
Many of his prints are small too. Some are comparable in size to the Mona Liza. So don’t go expecting to see huge works of art. A few are large, but the majority are not.
The only thing I didn’t appreciate was the lack of stairs from the first floor. You have to take the elevator. Some people might prefer taking the stairs as it is only a short distance and preferable to waiting.
What can you learn at the museum?
- The museum isn’t only about the art. You can also learn about the process of making ukiyo-e. During their heyday, making ukiyo-e was quite sophisticated. Publishing houses created them on an almost industrial-level scale. The museum goes into considerable depth to teach this.
- You can learn about his works from multi-lingual touch-panel displays. If you don’t speak Japanese, don’t worry, as much is in English. Flip through the virtual books of Hokusai’s pictures and learn about their histories.
- For some, you will need at least a working knowledge of Japanese. The one I played with required me to match hiragana characters to parts of a drawing. If you did it successfully, you got to see the entire drawing.
Is photography allowed at the museum?
Yes, but only in the permanent exhibit area. But even there, you cannot photograph some of the art. They will be marked.
Photo spots near the museum
- Edo-Tokyo Museum (closed until 2025)
- Japanese Sword Museum
- Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall
- Yasuda Park
Where is the Sumida Hokusai Museum?
Address: 2-7-2 Kamezawa, Sumida City, Tokyo
Here it is on a Google map:
Opening hours
Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Tickets can be purchased up to 30 minutes before closing time.
- The museum is closed on Monday. If that day is a public holiday it will be closed and open the following day.
- It is also closed from December 29 to January 1.
Admission costs
¥400 for the permanent exhibition.
Check the website for special exhibition prices.
What does the museum look like?
The award-winning Kazuyo Seijima designed the four-story building. The concept was for a museum to be approachable from all sides. Walkways bisect the building on ground level leading to the entrance in the middle.
The museum has a modern art look. Minimal? Striking? Stunning? It is all those things, but I was a little bemused by the location. A children’s playground shares the block. Are they mismatched? If you have seen them, what do you think?
Conclusion
If you love Katsushika Hokusai and his art check out the museum. Even only going to the permanent exhibit is worth it. World-class ukiyo-e fill it. Take your camera and take home a few photos of his work. Leave comments and questions below.
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
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External related websites:
- Sumida Hokusai Museum (official website)