The cover of Sumida Ward’s booklet with ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai
12:31 JST, August 16, 2024
Tokyo’s Sumida district, home to many tourist attractions, recently released a new version of the popular “Chikyu no Arukikata” (“World Traveler’s Guide”) featuring Japanese ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849).
“Chikyu no Arukikata” is a leading travel guide for Japanese travelers, especially those planning to travel abroad.
Sumida Ward published the first version of the booklet last fall. This second version, titled “Sumida no Arukikata Katsushika Hokusai” (Sumida Walking Guide Katsushika Hokusai), was created because Hokusai was from the ward and one of his masterpieces, “Thirty-six views of Mt. Fuji: Under the Wave off Kanagawa,” now appears on the back of the new ¥1,000 note, which was introduced in July.
The 12-page, full-color booklet introduces readers to recommended routes for tracing the scenes Hokusai painted, as well as dining spots near Hokusai Street, which runs from Ryogoku Station to Kinshicho Station. It also points out the locations of shops selling Hokusai-themed souvenirs such as wallets, sensu folding fans, and tenugui towels.
The guidebook offers interesting information about places that will captivate readers. It also provides trivia about Hokusai’s character at the bottom of each page, such as that he loved soba and that sweets were his favorite.
In addition to the approximately A5-sized booklet, the ward published a multilingual B5-sized version in English and Chinese for overseas tourists. The booklets are available free of charge from the Sumida Ward Tourism Department, the Sumida Tourism Association, and Tokyo Mizumachi commercial facilities near Tokyo Skytree.
“After last year’s very successful booklet on chankonabe hot pot and public baths, this year’s edition is again full of Sumida attractions,” said a neighborhood representative. “I want people to take the booklet and follow Hokusai’s history.”
