Lost at Ryogoku Station? Which Exit for Sumo and Museums?

Arrived at Ryogoku Station and not sure which exit to use?

Ryogoku is famous as the home of sumo, but there is one important thing to know before you leave the station:

JR Ryogoku Station and Toei Oedo Line Ryogoku Station are separate stations.

They are close to each other, but they have separate ticket gates and entrances.

So the best exit depends on both your destination and which railway you are using.

Here is the simple guide.

Quick Answer: Which Exit Should You Use?

Destination	Best Choice
Ryogoku Kokugikan	JR West Exit
Sumo Museum	JR West Exit
Edo-Tokyo Museum	JR West Exit or Toei A3/A4
Sumida Hokusai Museum	JR East Exit or Toei A3

If you are coming to Ryogoku mainly for sumo, the easiest choice is usually:

JR Ryogoku Station → West Exit

Ryogoku Kokugikan — Use the JR West Exit

Going to Ryogoku Kokugikan for sumo?

Use:

JR Ryogoku Station → West Exit

Ryogoku Kokugikan is only about a 1–2 minute walk from JR Ryogoku Station.

The West Exit is the convenient side for the arena.

If you are coming on the Toei Oedo Line, you can also walk to the Kokugikan, but JR Ryogoku Station is closer.

Sumo Museum — Also Use the JR West Exit

The Sumo Museum is located on the first floor of Ryogoku Kokugikan.

From JR Ryogoku Station, it is approximately 1 minute on foot.

From the Toei Oedo Line, the official museum information recommends:

Ryogoku Station → Exit A4 → about 5 minutes

The museum displays materials related to sumo history and culture, including woodblock prints, ranking sheets, and ceremonial aprons.

Opening days can vary, especially around tournaments and exhibition changes, so check the official calendar before visiting.

During a Grand Sumo Tournament, you need a tournament ticket to enter the arena and visit the museum.

Edo-Tokyo Museum — JR West Exit or Toei A3/A4

The Edo-Tokyo Museum is another major attraction in Ryogoku.

If you arrive by JR:

JR Ryogoku Station → West Exit → about 3 minutes

The JR East Exit is also possible, but the official museum guide lists it as approximately 7 minutes.

If you arrive on the Toei Oedo Line:

Ryogoku Station → Exit A3 or A4 → about 1 minute

So if the Edo-Tokyo Museum is your main destination, the Toei Oedo Line is especially convenient.

Sumida Hokusai Museum — JR East Exit or Toei A3

Going to the Sumida Hokusai Museum?

If you arrive by JR:

JR Ryogoku Station → East Exit → about 9 minutes

If you arrive on the Toei Oedo Line:

Ryogoku Station → Exit A3 → about 5 minutes

For this museum, the Toei station is the shorter walk.

The museum is dedicated to Katsushika Hokusai, one of Japan’s best-known ukiyo-e artists.

East Exit or West Exit at JR Ryogoku?

JR Ryogoku Station has two main exits:

West Exit

and

East Exit

A simple way to remember them is:

Sumo / Ryogoku Kokugikan → West Exit

Sumida Hokusai Museum → East Exit

For the Edo-Tokyo Museum, the West Exit is also the shorter JR route.

JR Ryogoku and Toei Ryogoku Are Different Stations

This is one of the most important things to know.

You may see:

JR Ryogoku Station

and

Ryogoku Station on the Toei Oedo Line

They have the same station name, but they are separate railway stations.

They do not share the same ticket gates.

If you transfer between JR and the Toei Oedo Line, follow the signs and walk between the two station areas.

Which Station Is Better for Sumo?

If you are going to:

Ryogoku Kokugikan

or

the Sumo Museum

JR Ryogoku Station is generally the easiest choice.

Remember:

JR Ryogoku Station → West Exit

Which Station Is Better for Museums?

For the Edo-Tokyo Museum, the Toei Oedo Line is extremely convenient:

Exit A3/A4 → about 1 minute

For the Sumida Hokusai Museum, the Toei Oedo Line is also convenient:

Exit A3 → about 5 minutes

So the station called “Ryogoku” may be the same name, but the easiest railway depends on what you want to see.

Coming from Akihabara?

Ryogoku is easy to reach from Akihabara.

Take the JR Chuo-Sobu Line local train from Akihabara to Ryogoku.

If you are going to the sumo arena:

Ryogoku → West Exit

Japan Life Steps also has a separate guide to Akihabara Station:

Lost at Akihabara Station? Electric Town or Yodobashi — Which Exit?

Coming from Shinjuku?

The JR Chuo-Sobu Line local train is a convenient way to travel from the Shinjuku area toward Ryogoku.

If you are heading to Ryogoku Kokugikan, JR is usually the simplest option.

The Toei Oedo Line can also be convenient depending on where you start and which museum you plan to visit.

A Common Mistake

A common mistake is searching for “Ryogoku Station” and assuming there is only one station.

There are two separate railway stations:

JR Ryogoku Station

and

Toei Oedo Line Ryogoku Station

This matters because the most convenient station changes depending on your destination.

Remember:

Ryogoku Kokugikan → JR West Exit

Sumo Museum → JR West Exit

Edo-Tokyo Museum → Toei A3/A4 or JR West Exit

Sumida Hokusai Museum → Toei A3 or JR East Exit

Japan Life Steps Tip

Before arriving at Ryogoku, ask yourself two questions:

1. Am I using JR or the Toei Oedo Line?

2. Am I going to sumo or a museum?

For a simple rule:

Sumo → JR West Exit

Edo-Tokyo Museum → Toei A3/A4

Hokusai Museum → Toei A3 or JR East Exit

That is much easier than trying to remember every exit at once.

Official Information

For the latest station exits, access routes, museum hours, and facility information, check the official English websites below.

Related Japan Life Steps Guide

Lost at Akihabara Station? Electric Town or Yodobashi — Which Exit?

Disclaimer:
Information in this article is based on official information available in 2026. Station exits, walking routes, museum opening information, and facility conditions may change. Always check current station signs and official information before traveling.