Current Special Exhibition

  • Exhibition Plus
  • What's On

"Scenery on Both Banks of the Sumida River" and "Sketches by Hokusai"

June 13, 2023(Tue.) - November 26, 2023(Sun.)
Term
June 13, 2023 - November 26, 2023
Open
9:30-17:30 (last admission 17:00)
Closed
Every Monday
*Or if Monday is a national holiday or a substitute holiday, open Monday and closed the following Tuesday.
New year holiday
Exhibition room
4th floor exhibition room
Organizers
Sumida City, The Sumida Hokusai Museum

Exhibition Overview

We exhibit "Scenery on Both Banks of the Sumida River" with a total length of about 7 m, a real-sized high-quality replica for conservation reasons. And several Hokusai's books of drawing manuals such as "Sketches by Hokusai"  known in the world as ”Hokusai Manga”. Some of them are replicas, so please pick them up and enjoy flipping through them!
 

Visitor Guidelines

Health and Safety During Your Visit for Keeping us All Safe 
There is a <reading corner> where you can pick up a replica of the picture and read it. Disinfect your fingers with a disinfectant before and after viewing to prevent infection with the new coronavirus.
 
 

Admission Fees

　　　　　　 
 
Individual
Adults
700
H.S./Univ.Student
600
65 and over
600
J.H.S. student
200
Visitors with disabilities
200
E.S. student
Free
  • Not available for advance tickets and group discounts. *Reservations for groups, school events, etc. are not being accepted for the time being.
  • Visitors may view the exhibition without reservations; please purchase tickets at the ticket counter on the first floor of the museum on the day of the exhibition.
  • Junior high, high school, and university students (including technical college, vocational school, and special training college students) will be requested to show student ID.
  • Adults 65 and over will be requested to show a document verifying age.
  • Persons with a certificate such as the following plus one accompanying person are admitted at a discount charge: physical disability, intellectual disability, rehabilitation, mentally handicapped health and welfare, atomic bomb victim health notebook, etc. (Please show your certificate at time of admission.)
  • Use of these tickets is limited to the day on which the exhibition is visited and allows you to see AURORA (Permanent Exhibition Room) and Exhibition Plus Room, too.
  • Exhibition
  • What's On
Exhibition Handout

Hokusai Humor: Sowing Seeds of Smiles

September 20, 2023(Wed.) - November 26, 2023(Sun.)
This exhibition introduces a variety of "laughter" depicted by Hokusai and his students, such as depictions of smiling faces and humorous expressions.
Term
September 20 - November 26, 2023
First term: September 20 - October 22
Second term: October 24 - November 26
Open
Tuesday-Sunday
9:30-17:30 (last admission 17:00)
Closed
Mondays
*Or if Monday is a national holiday or a substitute holiday, open Monday and closed the following Tuesday.
Exhibition room
3rd floor exhibition room
Organizers
Sumida City, The Sumida Hokusai Museum
 

Exhibition Overview 

During the Edo period, a culture of humor “seeds of laughter” blossomed, with kyōka poems, humorous books, and comic storytelling enjoyed by the common people. Hokusai and his students deftly depicted the many types of smiling faces—happy smiles, embarrassed smiles, shifty laughter—and gestures and the situations in which those smiles were generated. Hokusai, having portrayed smiles of many kinds, also created series of comical works that invite laughter. This exhibition introduces smile-linked works by Hokusai and his students.　
 

Exhibition Composition 

　Section 1. A Medley of Smiling Faces
        　      Part 1. Symbols of the Smiling Face
      　        Part 2. People Who Generate Smiling Faces
　Section 2. A Cornucopia of Smiles
   　           Part 1. Expressing Laughter
     　         Part 2. Types of Smiles
　Section 3. The World of Caricatures Hokusai and His Students Created
          　    Part 1. Hokuai's Students' Caricatures and Satirical Pictures, Plus Caricatures in Sketches by Hokusai
         　     Part 2. Hokusai’s Caricature Series
 

Exhibition Highlights

This exhibition will feature works related to smiles by Hokusai and his students from the Sumida Hokusai Museum's collection of 116 Hokusai works. Highlights will be approximately 40 caricatures by Hokusai, 32 of which are on display for the first time at the museum, and the popular "One Hundred Ghost Stories" series! The seeds of laughter sown by Hokusai will blossom into countless smiles and give the viewer a rich and enjoyable time.
 
*Hokusai's caricature series, introduce in Chapter 3, Section 2, captures the laughter that abounded in daily life during the Edo period and depicts it with a rich sense of humor. There are some words and expressions that may be considered inappropriate in terms of contemporary values due to the historical background of the time when the works were published. We do not approve of or condone these expressions, but respectfully for the historical background and historical value of the works, we have not removed or altered any of the works. Because we think the customs of the Edo period and Hokusai's art-works are closely connected, and difficult to separate from each other in understanding his works. We hope that you will understand and appreciate Hokusai's work.
 

Admission Fees　　　 

 
  Individual  
Adults
1000
H.S./Univ.Student
700
65 and over
700
J.H.S. student
300
 Visitors with disabilities 
300
E.S. student
Free
  • Reservations for groups are not being accepted for the time being.
  • Junior high, high school, and university students (including technical college, vocational school, and special training college students) will be requested to show student ID.
  • Adults 65 and over will be requested to show a document verifying age.
  • Persons with a certificate such as the following plus one accompanying person are admitted at a discount charge: physical disability, intellectual disability, rehabilitation, mentally handicapped health and welfare, atomic bomb victim health notebook, etc. (Please show your certificate at time of admission.)
  • Use of these tickets is limited to the day on which the exhibition is visited and allows you to see AURORA (Permanent Exhibition Room) and Exhibition Plus Room, too.
 

Tickets

 Ticket Counter 
 ・Entrance reception on the first floor of the Sumida Hokusai Museum ( from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on days the museum is open.)
 ・Ryogoku Tourist Information Center: https://visit-sumida.jp/spot/6196/
 
  
 Advance Tickets
    20% discount on the regular admission fee. *These tickets are limited time sale. 
    Sales Period: Tuesday, June 20 to Tuesday, September 19, 2023
 　*Advance sales at the Sumida Hokusai Museum ticket counter will end on September 18 (Monday/holiday).
 　Becouse we will be closed on Tuesday, September 19.
 
 After the advance tickets purchase period
    Same-day tickets can be obtained in person at the ticket counter on the first floor of the museum on the day of the exhibition.
    No reservations are required to view the exhibition.
     

Access

 
Access Page Here          
 

The Sumida Hokusai Museum measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19

 Visitor Guidelines： Health and Safety During Your Visit for Keeping us All Safe 
 Please check The Sumida Hokusai Museum's official website for details before visiting.
 All visitors are required to...here.​