Arakawa Ward is a skinny bit of land bounded by the Sumida River to the north and Bunkyo Ward to the south.
The Chiyoda and Joban Lines run through Ayase Station within Arakawa Ward, and are well known to practitioners of Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, the martial art headed by 34th Grandmaster Hatsumi Masaaki, who holds regular trainings at Tokyo Budokan.
Arakawa Ward is home of the Tokyo Budokan, a significant martial arts training hall, and the Higashi Ayase Park, a long stretch of urban parkland dotted by stands of trees, fountains and luxurious plantings.
Actor, comedian and television presenter Beat Takeshi calls Arakawa Ward home, as does Sumo champion Takiazuma Daisuke.