There’s no doubt you’ve heard of sumo wrestling and seen the larger-than-life men who carry it out, but have you ever thought about actually attending a sumo wrestling match in Japan?
Sumo wrestling is one of the most exciting ways to experience Japanese culture — live, powerful, and uniquely local. Whether you’re visiting during sumo matches at Ryogoku Kokugikan or just looking for hands-on tours like morning sumo training or a sumo show with chanko nabe, here are the best sumo experiences you can book in Tokyo!
We’ve compiled a list of some of the best ways to feast your eyes on some sumo wrestling action and get a feel for this iconic part of Japanese culture!
Sumo Wrestling in Tokyo
Sumo wrestling is more than a match, it is a cultural event filled with rituals and raw energy. You’ll see massive sumo wrestlers perform ancient ceremonies before powerful sumo fights. Whether you’re into sports or cultural travel, a sumo show in Tokyo is a must-see for first-time visitors!
Where and When to Experience Sumo in Tokyo
There are six tournaments held every year in Japan, with three grand sumo tournaments held in Tokyo - January, May, and September. These official Tokyo sumo tournaments are hosted at Ryogoku Kokugikan, a legendary sumo stadium in Sumida-ku near Ryogoku Station.
There is a lot to learn about the tradition of sumo wrestling that you can’t learn at a match
If you're visiting outside the tournament dates, don’t worry. Many sumo stables offer tours, and you can still watch ring-entering ceremonies and visit the Tokyo Sumo Museum. Also, many sumo stables offer year-round experiences that still connect you with the spirit of Japan's national sport!
Booking Tokyo sumo tournament tickets online is the easiest way to secure good seats, especially during peak dates. In this article, we’ll show you the best ticket options and packages available on Klook!
How to Choose Arena Seats for Sumo Wrestling in Tokyo
There are several seats to choose from when attending a Tokyo sumo tournament. If you're seeking a close-up view, go for ringside seats. Prefer a more traditional setting? Reserve box seats (masu seki) for two to four people.
For comfort and great views, arena seats on the second floor are ideal. Tickets often go on sale early, and ticket holders usually book months in advance. To avoid disappointment, complete your purchase online via trusted platforms with English support and optional guided packages!
Top 10 Sumo Experiences in Tokyo to Book Now
Beyond tournaments, Tokyo offers immersive ways to enjoy Japan’s national sport year-round. Watch a morning sumo training session at a local sumo stable, book a guided tour with a local expert, or dine at a sumo restaurant while enjoying a sumo demonstration.
Some packages even let you challenge a retired wrestler, snap a photo, and enjoy a hearty serving of chanko nabe—the protein-packed stew that helps wrestlers build their bodies. Whether you're exploring in the early evening or looking for flexible options in late afternoon, there’s a sumo experience for everyone.
Here are some of the top-rated experiences you can book:
Watch Tokyo Sumo Tournaments in Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan
There’s nothing quite like the excitement of a live sumo wrestling tournament in Tokyo — the pounding footsteps, the ceremonial salt toss, and the clash of elite sumo wrestlers under the spotlight. If you want the real deal, these limited-time events offer front-row access to Japan’s most powerful sport.
1. Tokyo Grand Sumo Tournament Experience with Local Sumo Expert
This 4-hour guided experience takes you to a grand sumo tournament, where you’ll meet your expert English guide at JR Ryogoku Station West Gate, arrive at the stadium, learn about rules, and enjoy the view from B-class or C-class reserved arena seats. A great way to witness Japan’s national sport up close!
2. Tokyo Grand Sumo Tournament Viewing
Don’t miss the Grand Sumo Tournament at Kokugikan Tokyo. This experience gives you direct access to reserved seats for one of the year's most anticipated events. Rank list (in Japanese) and SUMO brochure (in English) are included. Feel the power, tradition, and excitement of live sumo wrestling in Tokyo.
3. Tokyo: Sumo Wrestling Tournament Tour with Expert Guide
© Nihon Sumo Kyokai all rights reserved.
Upgrade your sumo tournament experience with premium A-class seats and an expert guide. This package ensures you enjoy every match with cultural context, comfort, and insider stories. Perfect for those seeking a deeper and comfortable way to enjoy sumo wrestling in Tokyo.
"Amazing experience! I had tried to buy the tickets directly on the official website but without success. I immediately bought via Klook and got lucky! The organization is perfect, our guide was great, very kind and speaks understandable English. We were on the second floor (2F) and we could see very very well! Don't hesitate for a second, if you see seats on the second floor row S or A, buy them you won't regret anything!!!"
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review by Jason (23 May 2025)
Sumo Dining Shows and Experience with Chanko Nabe
For a fun, cultural dining experience, check out Tokyo’s sumo restaurants featuring sumo demonstrations and hearty bowls of chanko nabe. These shows often include a live performance, Q&A with retired wrestlers, and even a friendly sumo challenge.
Whether or not you attend a Tokyo tournament, this is one of the most memorable ways to enjoy sumo wrestling up close!
4. The SUMO Show
The SUMO Show is a one-of-a-kind sumo experience in Tokyo offering live demonstrations by wrestlers, set inside a sumo-themed restaurant. You’ll laugh, learn, and dine on traditional chanko hotpot, making this perfect for families or those looking for a fun twist on sumo.
Review: The SUMO Show
"This was an amazing experience and my family had an amazing time. We learned a great deal about how Sumo wrestlers train, live, and eat. The lunch was very oishi as well. All thanks to the expert hands of the Makushita Sumo wrestler who prepared our meals. It was so fun to watch the audience participation. Young kids, women, and men stepped up to challenge the wrestler of their choice. You will definitely enjoy this activity so please do not hesitate to check it out."
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review by Carie (3 Feb 2025)
5. Authentic Sumo Experience in Tokyo with Chanko-nabe Lunch
This interactive sumo experience lets you step into the world of sumo: try traditional techniques, take photos, ask questions, and enjoy chanko-nabe like a real wrestler. Great for travelers looking to actively engage with sumo wrestling in Tokyo. Women and children can also participate!
6. Sumo Experience & Chanko Hot Pot Lunch in Tokyo
Perfect for families and culture lovers, this sumo experience at Yokozuna Tokatsu blends live performance, education, and a chanko hotpot lunch. Meet wrestlers, learn about traditions, and enjoy a fun, approachable way to connect with sumo wrestling in Tokyo.
7. Complete Sumo Experience in Tokyo
This all-in-one sumo wrestling experience in Tokyo combines everything: a stable visit, close-up training observation, fun match challenges, wrestler Q&A, commemorative photos, and a hearty chanko-nabe lunch with live sumo demonstration. It’s the most immersive way to experience sumo from every angle.
Morning Visits to Sumo Stables
Klook review photo by Felipe
If you're curious about what goes on behind the scenes, visiting a local sumo stable is a must. Watch a morning sumo training session, observe the rituals, and learn about the strict routines that shape sumo wrestlers’ daily lives. Many tours include commemorative photos and even the chance to speak with wrestlers. It’s a more personal way to connect with the sport, even outside of official tournaments.
8. Morning Tractice Tour in Asakusa
Get behind the scenes of sumo wrestling in Tokyo with this morning tour of Takasago Stable in Asakusa. You’ll witness the intense discipline of live training, learn about daily routines, and finish with a rare photo op alongside the wrestlers. After watching the sumo, you can enjoy the rest of your day at Asakusa.
9. Sumo Training Watching Experience
This sumo training experience offers a quiet, authentic way to witness sumo wrestling up close. You’ll visit a traditional sumo stable, observe a full training session, and gain insight into the commitment and lifestyle of Japan’s iconic athletes.
"It’s almost impossible to describe this cultural experience. Getting the privilege to see these men in the ring was incredible. I learned so much about their culture and how hard they work to win the battles they have in the ring. Definitely would encourage anyone who is visiting Tokyo to hop on this opportunity to visit a stable."
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review by Klook User (24 Feb 2024)
10. Morning Sumo Training Visit
Perfect for first-time visitors to Japan, this sumo morning tour is designed with foreign guests in mind. You’ll enjoy a guided visit to a sumo stable where you can quietly observe the wrestlers at work, making it an approachable introduction to the world of sumo wrestling in Tokyo. Children aged 0-3 can enter free of charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is sumo wrestling?
Dating back 1,500 years, the sport began as part of Shinto ritual, taking shape in the form of a performance outside shrines to honour the spirits in the hope of receiving a bountiful harvest.
Some of this tradition remains today, with Shinto purification rituals taking place in the ring prior to the contestants entering. Protocols around these traditions are very strict; so much so that women are never allowed to enter a sumo ring as they are considered to violate its purity.
The wrestling portion of the tournament itself is actually very short and each stint can last just a few seconds up to a few minutes at a time. The way it works is that each session begins once both wrestlers have their hands placed on the ground. This helps to build excitement and each bout of wrestling is usually prolonged by a psych-out session where wrestlers will pretend to be ready before purposely flaking out to put their opponent off. The match ends when either one of the wrestlers is thrown out of the ring or when any body part (except for the soles of the feet) touches the ground.
Although it happens rarely, if a wrestler loses their loin cloth they are instantly disqualified because, you know, public nudity and all that.
2. Who are sumo wrestlers?
Sumo wrestling in Japan is more than just a job – it’s a lifestyle - and the wrestlers must adhere to a rigorous schedule and set of rules in order to preserve their status.
The wrestlers face guidelines that dictate the way they speak and show emotion, as well as where they live and how they dress.
Sumo wrestlers live in ‘stables’ with up to 14 other athletes where they train and maintain their imposing physiques on a diet of hearty hot pots, sushi and deep-fried food. They are only permitted to move into private quarters if and when they marry.
Wrestlers are not allowed to drive, and they must dress in traditional Japanese clothing. Can you imagine other professional athletes sticking to these rules?
With all these restrictions, why would anyone choose to be a sumo wrestler? Well, being the national sport, naturally its athletes are revered – kind of like soccer players in Brazil. So, while it may mean nothing to westerners, it is worth knowing that sumo wrestlers are considered big celebrities in their home country and are treated accordingly, so the perks must be worth the constraints placed on them.
3. Does sumo wrestling happen all year round?
While you can get up close and personal with sumo wrestlers throughout the whole year, during January, May and September in Tokyo, you can actually attend a proper sumo tournament. The tournaments are a huge deal and if you manage to nab a ticket you can look forward to feeling the palpable energy of the crowd in the packed out Ryogoku Stadium.
Due to the popularity of these events and their infrequent nature, these tournaments do sell out, so it is recommended that you pre-book as soon as you have planned to visit Japan. If not sooner.
4. What can I expect from attending a sumo wrestling match?
Since it’s such a unique experience it’s hard to fully prepare yourself to watch a sumo wrestling match – there’s really nothing like it.
For one, you won’t be sitting on a hard plastic seat as you would at the footy, you’ll be on a cushion on the floor. The stadium will be packed to the rafters, with the ticket holders of the coveted ringside seats nervously anticipating whether or not this outing will be their last. Death by flying sumo wrestler might be an improbability but it’s not an impossibility!
The atmosphere will be electric as excited fans lose their traditional, polite sensibilities and cheer on their favourite wrestlers, and instead of a meat pie and beer, you’ll be snacking on a bento box and sipping sake.
5. What’s the difference between ringside, box, and arena seats?
Ringside seats are the closest to the sumo ring, but can be intense as wrestlers may fall off during a match. Box seats (also called masu seki) offer a traditional experience for two to four people, while arena seats on the second floor are more affordable and comfortable.
6. Damn. I missed out on tickets. How else can I get a taste for the sport?
So, you didn’t get a ticket to the tournament or the dates didn’t line up with your schedule? Don’t worry. You can still see sumo wrestlers in their natural habitat as a spectator by taking a peek into the daily lives of how these athletes live and prepare for tournaments.
In private sessions, you can watch on as the men practice elaborate moves and techniques, giving you an inside look at their extensive training routines. Finish off your morning with a hot pot lunch, just like the wrestlers do!
Please note, as you must stay silent as part of this experience, it is only open to children aged 12 and above. Noisy adults take heed as well – you don’t want to disturb these big fellas while they’re in the zone.
7. Is a sumo experience kid-friendly?
While it’s not recommended that you sit too close to the front (there’s a genuine risk of sumo wrestlers flying into the crowd) there’s no reason why kids can’t attend the event. In fact, attending a sumo wrestling tournament would be a totally immersive cultural experience for young ones of the right age and given the fast-paced nature of the matches, it will be hard for even the most easily distracted kids to lose focus.
If you think the tournament might be a bit full-on for your kids (the stadium may be too loud and overwhelming for some), there are still options for them to see sumo wrestlers in the flesh. Why not attend a more intimate session, inclusive of a sumo demonstration where they can pick up some moves and play in a sumo wrestler costume, topped off with a hot pot lunch?
8. Can I watch sumo wrestling outside of Tokyo?
Yes! In addition to the three Tokyo sumo tournaments, grand sumo tournaments also take place in Osaka, Fukuoka, and Nagoya. The Nagoya event is held in July, and is a great option for summer visitors looking to see live sumo matches.
9. What are some etiquette rules for watching sumo?
Visitors are expected to follow certain rules inside the stadium—remain seated during ring entering ceremonies, avoid loud talking, and be respectful during each training session. Most experiences include a brief cultural introduction.
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