From TOKYO mizumachi to Tokyo Skytree, Sumida Aquarium, and Kameido Tenjin-sha Shrine

History and Local Charm

TOKYO mizumachi is a commercial complex opened in June 2020 beneath the elevated tracks of the Tobu Skytree Line. Previously, this area along the Kitajukken River could not be walked along or approached. Using space created by seismic reinforcement work on the river revetments, a new river terrace was established.

To the east stands Tokyo Skytree. Standing 634 meters tall in Oshiage, Sumida Ward, this free-standing broadcasting tower had its grand opening on May 22, 2012, along with Tokyo Solamachi and the rest of the Tokyo Skytree Town. Sumida Aquarium is also located in Tokyo Skytree Town, inside Tokyo Solamachi at the base of the tower.

The history of Kameido Tenjin-sha Shrine dates back to the Edo period. Following the Great Fire of Meireki, the shogunate designated the district of Honjo as an area for post-fire redevelopment. The fourth shogun, Tokugawa Ietsuna, donated the current shrine grounds, and in the second year of Kanbun (1662), main shrine buildings, the Shinji-ike Pond, and drum bridges were built modeled after Dazaifu.

From the new waterside district and the tower reaching into the sky, to the Tenjin shrine continuing from Edo, this course connects Tokyo's present and past on foot.

Key Highlights

• ​TOKYO mizumachi​​: Unique shops are gathered here, including well-known traditional Japanese confectionery shops from downtown Tokyo and modern cafes. On the river terrace, visitors can relax while looking out over the river. On the Sumida River Walk, which spans about 160 meters across the Sumida River, you can look down at the water through glass floor windows.
• ​Tokyo Skytree​​: An elevator ride of about 50 seconds brings you to the Tembo Deck at 350 meters above ground. Floor 340 features a glass floor, offering views spreading right beneath your feet. Boarding the Tembo Shuttle up to 445 meters, you can walk along the glass-walled Tembo Galleria with the feeling of an aerial stroll. The highest point reached is the "Sorakara Point" at 451.2 meters.
• ​Sumida Aquarium​​: Located on the 5th and 6th floors of Tokyo Solamachi at the foot of Tokyo Skytree. As it is inside the same Tokyo Skytree Town as the observation decks, you can tour them back-to-back. The "Ogasawara Tank," representing the waters around the Ogasawara Islands, contains about 450 sea creatures across roughly 45 species. In the indoor open-pool exhibit, Magellanic penguins can be viewed swimming from above, beside, and below.
• ​Kameido Tenjin-sha Shrine​​: A shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane. The three bridges spanning the Shinji-ike Pond represent the past, present, and future, respectively. From mid-April, over 50 wisteria plants across the grounds begin to bloom. From early February to early March, more than 250 plum trees produce red and white blossoms.

Recommended Route and Duration

The estimated time required is approximately 5 hours. The tour begins in Asakusa. It takes about 3 minutes to walk to TOKYO mizumachi from the North Exit of Asakusa Station on the Tobu Skytree Line. Using the Sumida River Walk, you can walk across the Sumida River from the direction of Senso-ji Temple.

From TOKYO mizumachi, walk about 650 meters east along the Kitajukken River to arrive at the base of Tokyo Skytree. First, head up to the observation deck.

Next, visit Sumida Aquarium in Tokyo Solamachi at the base of the tower. The entrance is on the 5th floor, and upon entering, you first take the stairs up to the 6th floor.

After leaving the aquarium, Kameido Tenjin-sha Shrine is about 1.3 kilometers to the southeast, a walk of approximately 20 minutes from Tokyo Skytree. The shrine grounds can be toured in around 20 minutes. Since you can capture the worship hall and Tokyo Skytree together in a single photograph, look up and view the tower you ascended earlier. Along the approach, established historic shops line the street, including a kuzumochi shop founded in the 2nd year of Bunka (1805). On the return journey, it is a 15-minute walk to either the North Exit of Kameido Station or the North Exit of Kinshicho Station on the JR Sobu Line.

The linear distance between the spots alone totals roughly 2.1 kilometers, and walking to and from stations adds more distance. Please wear comfortable walking shoes.

Experience Summary

A riverside terrace, the observation deck of a 634-meter tower, a large tank recreating the seas of Ogasawara, and three bridges representing past, present, and future: you can experience both the new face of the city and its heritage continuing from Edo all in a single day. At the end, looking toward Tokyo Skytree from within the grounds of Kameido Tenjin-sha Shrine allows you to reflect on the route you have walked.