Accommodation

For visitors looking for a place to stay in the vicinity of KIST, we recommend the following hotels.

Comfort Hotel Tokyo Kiyosumi Shirakawa
A business-style hotel located directly adjacent to the KIST campus.
Check in: 3:00 p.m. / Check out: 10:00 a.m.
Address: 1-6-12 Shirakawa, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0021
Tel: +81-(0)3-5639-9311 / Fax: +81-(0)3-5639-9160
 
Tokyu Stay Monzen-Nakacho
An apartment-style hotel located approximately 15 minutes walk from KIST.
Check in: 4:00 p.m. / Check out: 10:00 a.m.
Address: 1-23-2 Tomioka, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0047
Tel: +81-(0)3-5620-0109 / Fax: +81-(0)3-5620-0107
 
Weekly Mansion Fukagawa
For budget-conscious travellers and business people approximately 10 minutes walk from KIST.
Check in: 2:00 p.m. / Check out: 10:00 a.m.
Address: 1-12-16 Tokiwa, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0006
Tel: +81-(0)3-5624-2641 / Fax: +81-(0)3-5624-2642

Tobu Hotel Levant Tokyo
A modern, international hotel located near Kinshi-cho Station, two stops from KIST.
Check in: 2:00 p.m. / Check out: 11:00 a.m.
Address: 1-2-2 Kinshi, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-0013
Tel: +81-(0)3-5611-5511 / Fax: +81-(0)3-5611-5500

Sightseeing

The area surrounding KIST is part of one of the older areas of downtown Tokyo (formerly known as Edo) called Fukagawa. In the area, there are a number of gravesites of historical figures as well as various other points of interest as outlined below. Please note that this information is provided only as a guide. Details of entry fees, entry times etc. may change. KIST will accept no responsibility for incorrect information.

Tokyo Skytree
Tokyo Skytree, located near Oshiage Station (Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Subway Line) in Sumida-ku, three stops from Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station, is a television and radio broadcasting tower that opened in May 2012. Reaching a height of 634 m, it is the tallest structure in Japan and the tallest tower in the world. Observation decks at 350 m and 450 m with viewing platforms, restaurants and shops provide spectacular views of the city and surrounds. A shopping mall, Tokyo Solmachi, is also located within the tower grounds. The tower is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Kiyosu Bridge
Kiyosu Bridge (Kiyosu-bashi), approximately eight minutes' walk from Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station, crosses the Sumida River and links Kiyosumi-cho with the Nihon-bashi area. The original bridge, which was destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake, was rebuilt in 1938. Modeled on the design of a large suspension bridge in Cologne, Germany, the current bridge has an elegant beauty that contributed to it being recognized as a “cultural asset of national importance” in 2007.

Fukagawa Edo Museum
Fukagawa Edo Museum (Fukagawa Edo Shiryokan), located approximately three minutes' walk from Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station, presents an indoor reconstruction of the Fukagawa area as it was during the 19th century Edo Period. It features 11 full-scale replicas of traditional homes, stores, inns, warehouses and a fire watchtower, all arranged to resemble a typical neighborhood of the time. Special effects within the museum recreate the cycle of a day from morning to night as well as various seasonal changes.

Open: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed: 2nd and 4th Mondays each month
Entry fee: 300 yen for adults / 50 yen for children aged 6 to 14

Kiyosumi Garden
Kiyosumi Garden (Kiyosumi Teien) is located approximately five minutes' walk from KIST. The garden, which was recognized as one of Tokyo’s official Scenic Beauty Spots in 1979, has a long history dating back to feudal times. Finally opened to the public in 1932, the garden features a large artificial pond with three small islands surrounded by finely manicured lawns with stepping stone paths and stone bridges. The area is inhabited by an abundance of fauna including various species of birds, large multicolored carp and turtles, as well as flora including cherry trees, plum trees, black pines, hydrangeas, irises, azaleas, daphnes, camellias and more.

Open: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry 4:30 p.m.)
Closed: December 29 to January 1
Entry fee: 150 yen for adults

Fukagawa Enma Hall
Fukagawa Enma Hall (Fukagawa Enma-do) is located on the left-hand side of Kiyosumi-dori walking south from Kiyosumi Garden. Easily identifiable by its large red entrance gate, the traditional exterior of the old temple section belies the interior of the newer hall which features a 3.5 m tall statue of Enma, god of the dead, in blue, minimalist surroundings.

Kiba Park
Kiba Park, a 15- to 20-minute walk from Kiyosumi-Shirakawa Station, is the largest park in Koto-ku and one of the newest large parks in Tokyo. Previously the site of timber-related businesses, it was redeveloped as a forest park in the late 1960s for families to enjoy. It is divided into two blocks that feature areas for various sports including tennis, as well as a large grass area, a barbecue area, an athletics field, an adventure playground and a botanic garden.

Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo (MOT)
Located in the northern block of Kiba Park, the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo features both international and Japanese modern art created since 1945. Opened in 1995, the gallery has a permanent collection including works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, David Hockney and others, as well as regular special exhibitions.

Open: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last entry 5:30 p.m.)
Closed: Mondays (or Tuesdays if Monday is a national holiday)
Entry fee: 500 yen (permanent collection) / Approx. 800 – 1,000 yen (special exhibitions)

Basho Memorial Museum
The Basho Memorial Museum, located north of KIST close to Morishita Station, is dedicated to Matsuo Basho, an important literary figure in Japanese history who lived in the area in the late 17th century. Basho is credited with establishing the present format of the haiku and helped it to gain acceptance as a major literary genre. The museum presents a video about Basho's life (in Japanese) as well as a number of exhibits of his writings and personal items.

Open: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry 4:30 p.m.)
Closed: Mondays (or Tuesdays if Monday is a national holiday)
Entry fee: 100 yen (Complimentary English pamphlet available)

Umibe Bridge
Further commemorating Basho's presence in the area is Umibe Bridge (Umibe-bashi) on Kiyosumi-dori, a short walk further along from Kiyosumi Garden. This bridge was the starting point of Basho's travels in 1689 and a bronze statue of him is located at its southern end. Several other monuments to Basho's life and times including a memorial park and a small shrine can also be found around the area.

Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine
Located approximately three minutes from Monzen-Nakacho Station to the south of KIST, Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine was originally built in 1627 but has been rebuilt several times due to fires. During the Edo Period, sumo tournaments were held regularly at the shrine. Although tournaments are no longer held, the shrine is still widely known by sumo enthusiasts who visit it to view a monument known as the "Yokozuna Stone" in which the names of champions are etched. Every three years, a major festival, the Fukagawa Hachiman Festival, is held at the shrine. The festival is one of the three largest festivals in Tokyo and attracts around 500,000 spectators. One of the special features of the festival is a parade of "mikoshi" (portable shrines).