Hokusai’s 7-meter-long original painting is must-see! The innovative building “SUMIDA HOKUSAI MUSEUM” with about 1,800 artworks

Ryogoku is an area known for having the sacred place for sumo ‘Ryogoku Kokugikan.’ Because the main station is next to Kinshicho Station near TOKYO SKYREE®︎ and Sumida Aquarium, it also might be a good idea to stop by at Ryogoku before or after strolling around Kinshicho. This time, from among sightseeing spots in such Ryogoku area, we’re going to introduce a hole-in-the-wall photo spot “SUMIDA HOKUSAI MUSEUM.” You can get a glimpse of the life of Ukiyo-e (a genre of Japanese traditional painting) artist ‘Hokusai Katsushika,’ who was born and raised in Sumida-ku and active in the 1800s.

Opened in November 2016, “SUMIDA HOKUSAI MUSEUM” was designed by Ms. Kazuyo Sejima who has won many prestigious awards such as The Japan Institute of Architechs Award and The Pritzker Architecture Prize. You’re sure to be fascinated with its innovative design -mirrors made of aluminum are used for the whole outer wall. By reflecting the surrounding scenery on the wall, the building blends nicely into the cityscape without any discomfort. It’s also one of the charms that the color and atmosphere change depending on the viewing angle.

It seems that the notches were made to make it possible to enter the building from anywhere based on the concept of ‘a museum open to the local community.’ On the 1st floor, you can enter here from the corridors placed in 4 directions. In other words, the structure is such that there is no reverse side. In addition, the glass fitted in the notches plays a role in giving the openness to the hall. You will feel as if you’re not inside the building because the glass shows the outside scenery and the sunlight shines through it.

Well, let’s enjoy looking at about 1,800 artworks of Hokusai Katsushika collected by researchers and Sumida-ku in such the space. The permanent exhibition consists of multiple areas for each theme, and introduces the life of Hokusai in an easy-to-understand manner using a touch panel, high-definition monitor, and so on. In particular, what you should not miss looking at is ‘Sumidagawa Ryogan Keshiki Zukan’ (隅田川両岸景色図鑑), Hokusai’s original painting with a length of 7 meters! The whereabouts were unknown for about 100 years, but it was discovered in these days. Moreover, one of the attractive things is special exhibitions that are held 5 or 6 times a year. Except for some places, you can take pictures in the hall.