Ryogoku Fireworks Museum

This museum in Ryogoku, said to be where fireworks began, was built in 1991 so that we could learn about their history and artistry. In 1733, Yoshimune Tokugawa, eighth shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate, arranged the Mizu Kami Matsuri (God of Water Festival) and the Segaki Board to comfort the spirits of those who had died in a great famine the year before. The museum documents the history of fireworks, with cross-sectional views of gunpowder balls and displays of hanten (short-sleeved costumes worn by fireworks craftspeople). You can also learn about fireworks through videos shown by staff, who provide more details. Special audio-visual exhibitions held in mid-summer include current trends in fireworks. Postcards with pictures of fireworks are popular as souvenirs. A five-minute walk from the West Gate of Ryogoku Station on the JR Sobu Line brings you to the museum, located on the first floor of the Sumitomo Realty & Development Building.