Sumo Tournament Experience in Tokyo

based on 116 reviews

Duration:4 hours to 5 hours (approx.)
Location: Tokyo, Kanto

From $129.18

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The Sumo Tournament Experience in Tokyo with Japan Awaits is an experience at the famous Grand Sumo Tournament that occurs only three times a year in Tokyo (January, May, and September). The experience allows guests to learn about sumo traditions and culture with an English-speaking tour guide (expert in sumo wrestling) while watching one of the most exciting sports in Japan. This is a join-in group experience with about 15 - 24 guests (minimum of 15 people is required to operate this tour; if we do not have enough bookings, the tour will be canceled and the guest will receive a full refund).

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

ADDITIONAL INFO

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Chanko nabe, also known as “sumo stew”, is a Japanese stew (hot pot) that contains chicken stock as the soup base with various vegetables. Chanko originated from the Ryokoku area and sumo wrestlers are known to eat a lot of it because a large amount of chanko can be cooked at once and many people can eat at the same time, perfect for sumo wrestlers who are hungry from training.
• If dinner option is selected at checkout, the chanko hot pot dinner without drinks will be the default meal (please let us know if you would prefer sukiyaki, vegetarian, or if you have any other special dietary requirements on the “Special Requirements” field at checkout. Please understand that once we have accepted your dinner request, changes cannot be made one week before the tour date.
• There is no age requirement. Children must be accompanied by adult (18 or older). Adult pricing applies to all guests of any age, except infants and toddlers between age 1 and 3, which are free of charge, as long as they do not occupy a seat (infants must sit on parents’ laps).
• Before the tour, please notify us if you or someone in your group will be in a wheelchair. Please note that there is a wheelchair storage area on the first floor of the stadium; however, your seats will be on the second floor. Guests must be able to climb up the stairs on their own (or with the help from a family member) as staff from Ryogoku Kokugikan will not be able to assist guests.
• No outside food or drinks are allowed in the arena, but food is available for purchase from vendors within the arena.
• The seats will be on the second floor B chair seats (from rows 7 to 11) or C chair seats. The tour will have a maximum of 24 people sitting in the same location with the English-speaking tour guide.
• Please note that there may be a wait prior to seating, as we must wait for all sumo matches to end before entering. There may also be congestion at the Sumo Museum, in which the tour guide may ask guests to visit on their own since it would be difficult to walk around with a large group in a congested area.
• When do the sumo tournaments take place in Japan?
• The official basho (tournaments) take place six times a year at various locations with each tournament lasting 15 days (start date and end date both land on Sundays). The exact dates vary, but takes place on the same months each year:
• January Tournament: Tokyo
• March Tournament: Osaka
• May Tournament: Tokyo
• July Tournament: Nagoya
• September Tournament: Tokyo
• November Tournament: Fukuoka
• Sumo originated in Japan and is one of Japan’s most well-known sports. It is considered as a gendai budo (Japanese martial art) with a history spanning many centuries. The sport is known for its highly regimented rules and strict traditions for its wrestlers. Most sumo wrestlers are required to live in communal heya (sumo training stables) with all aspects of their daily lives, including their meals and how they dress, closely monitored.
• How far in advance should I book?
• Preparing an event requires some time, especially if reservations for restaurants or other venues are required. We recommend making a reservation as early as possible. Ideally, it should be 3 months before your travel date, or 1 month before the travel date at the very least. We may not be able to arrange your event in time so your booking request may be cancelled and you will receive a full refund.
• Why am I charged a service fee if I make a cancellation after you started planning the trip?
• Organizing and planning a trip or event requires a lot of time and if we have made reservations on your behalf, it may be very challenging to cancel some booking requests. Once we receive your booking and will start arranging your tour guide, buying tickets, making reservations at venues for your tour, etc.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Posted By : P5045BVstevent
My Sumo Experience in May 2024 was absolutely fantastic. From the moment I booked the tour, everything ran smoothly. But the true star of the show was our guide. She were absolutely phenomenal! Not only did we secure great seats for the tournament, but throughout the entire experience, they provided insightful explanations about everything sumo. The tour guide explained the history, traditions, and even the details of each match, making the whole event come alive.
By the end of the day, I felt like I had a deep understanding of this fascinating sport. Thanks to the excellent guide and the efficient staff, this sumo tournament experience was unforgettable.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-14 04:02:52

Posted By : Andrew_C
The sumo and chanko nabe were amazing! Worth it to do! Tour guide was also phenomenal! Highly recommend!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-13 18:45:40

Posted By : D103IYcarriew
This experience was amazing. Taku was our guide and he clearly has a passion for the sport. He did a great job at balancing giving us information and time to watch the matches. He welcomed questions and did a great job at helping us understand the traditions. We opted for the dinner option which was a great experience! Our guide went above walking with us back to the train station and making sure we knew where we were going. Highly recommend this tour!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-13 09:30:34

Posted By : U6076AMandrewc
Tour was amazing, tour guide was even better, can’t thank Japan Awaits enough for the amazing experience that I will never forget! Definitely do the chanko nabe dinner, worth it!!!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-13 06:28:19

Posted By : fn6r8k6yxq
Thanks to our wonderful tour guide, she gave in-depth backgrounds of the wrestlers and a deeper understanding of the history of sumo. The dinner that followed was just the cherry on top.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-12 21:34:52

Posted By : Patricia_F
The sumo wrestling was so much fun! Each match goes quickly but learning the process and process of it all was fascinating! Having someone talking you through it and demonstrating a love for the sport made it so enjoyable! The Chanko meal after was delicious as well.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-12 20:39:59

Posted By : Tracey L
A thrilling tournament with unexpected outcomes! Fun for all ages! Tour guide explained everything perfectly so we knew what was happening
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-12 10:06:52

Posted By : Travel_Bea_2010
We had a wonderful experience watching the Sumo with Shun as our guide. He was incredibly knowledgeable with all facets of Sumo and we really enjoyed the personal insights on some of his favourite wrestlers. We also joined the dinner following. It was an enjoyable and filling meal. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Tokyo. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-12 07:51:17

Posted By : alexbB9213JT
Had the most amazing time, learnt so much about Sumo and Miyako was so informative and loved the sumo! Would highly recommend this to anyone wanting to see the sumo and understand what’s going on.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-12 05:02:24

Posted By : Jet56734168336
We had a wonderful time. It was overal an interesting experience to watch the sumo and getting a better understanding about the sport. Our tourguide Shunsuke Moriyama did a terrific job.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-12 04:36:23