Sumo Tournament Experience in Tokyo | 4 hours to 5 hours

257 Reviews | Tokyo
Likely To Sell Out
From $150.32 per person Lowest Price Guarantee
Select Date and Travelers
You can select up to 15 travelers in total.
Adult (3-99) Minimum: 1, Maximum: 15
2
Infant (0-2) Minimum: 0, Maximum: 15
0
Non Refundable All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Sumo Tournament + Dinner
2 Adults x $175.25
$350.50
Approx Total
$350.50
Dinner at chanko hot pot or sukiyaki restaurant (experience and understand what sumo wrestlers normally eat with tour guide)
Duration: 5 hours
Standard Sumo Experience
2 Adults x $142.80
$285.60
Approx Total
$285.60
Duration: 4 hours
B or C-class seats : B-class reserved seats or C-class reserved seats with English-speaking tour guide (local sumo expert)

Inclusions / Exclusions

  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English
  • Sumo information and pamphlet
  • Standard Tour (Join-in small group): B-class reserved seats or C-class reserved seats
  • If selected, Sukiyaki or vegetarian option is available upon request (at least one week in advance).
  • English-speaking tour guide (local sumo expert)
  • Service Fee for Getting the Ticket
  • Private Tour: A-class reserved seats or sometimes B-class reserved seats
  • If selected, dinner at a local chanko hot pot restaurant to experience what sumo wrestlers eat.
  • Hotel pick-up not included
  • Meals and drinks are not included (unless dinner option is selected at checkout).

Overview

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 - 20 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).

Meeting points

Ryogoku Kokugikan
3-28, 1 Chome, Yokoami, Sumida, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan, JP, 130-0015

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

  • Ryogoku Kokugikan

    The Sumo Tournament Experience is a 4-hour experience at the official basho (sumo tournament) with a group of up to 24 people (minimum of 15 people is required to operate this tour) On this tour, not only will you learn about many ancient Japanese traditions that have been preserved in sumo, including ritual elements such as the use of salt purification, youā€™ll also get to cheer on and greet the most famous sumo wrestlers in Japan as they are entering the stadium for their big match. Once you are inside of the stadium, youā€™ll be seated at B or C-class reserved seats, which has the best view of the match with chair seatings in the stadium. Youā€™ll learn about the history and culture of sumo wrestling, as well as learn about some of the most famous sumo wrestlers throughout history and today in Japan. Enjoy the intense matches with explanations from your expert guide and cheer on your favorite sumo wrestlers along with dedicated local fans.

Sample Menu

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 adultā€™s lap
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Chanko nabe, also known as ā€œsumo stewā€, 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 ā€œSpecial Requirementsā€ field at checkout. Please note that traditional chanko nabe broth is typically made with pork or chicken, but the restaurant may substitute the broth for those who prefer vegetarian option. 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 parentsā€™ 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 20 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 Japanā€™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.
  • Please also note that group tickets are released by the Sumo Association about 4 ā€“ 7 weeks before the tour date; if we are unable to obtain the tickets, we will notify guests within 4 weeks before the tour and will offer an alternative tour date or full refund.
  • Using audio headsets, youā€™ll clearly be able to hear the expert guide explain the history and culture of sumo wrestling, as well as learn about some of the most famous sumo wrestlers throughout history and today in Japan. Enjoy the intense matches with explanations from your expert guide and cheer on your favorite sumo wrestlers along with dedicated local fans.
  • What if Iā€™m late?
  • We ask that all guests arrive at the location at least 10 minutes before the designated meet-up time. Since this is a group tour, we may not be able to wait for you if you are late. The tour will begin without the late guests and you can meet the rest of the group at the next location. Guests are provided with the tour guidesā€™ phone number before the tour and you can call the tour guide if you need to meet the group in the next location.
  • Japan Awaits is a licensed tour operator in Japan, with hundreds of registered and vetted tour guides nationwide. We offer tours in any location in Japan and manage all details, including transportation and tickets. Visit Japan Awaits to learn more about our tours or inquire about a custom experience today.
  • The meeting point will be included in the tour details sent to your email at least one week before the tour date.

Non Refundable

This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If itā€™s canceled because the minimum isnā€™t met, youā€™ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews

4.8

257 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
  • 5 stars
    231
  • 4 stars
    18
  • 3 stars
    4
  • 2 stars
    3
  • 1 star
    1

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 231 reviews with 5 stars

The perfect way to see sumo.

Published on Oct, 2024

The guide was excellent and his knowledge of the competitors really added to the quality of this experience. He gave the group insight into the upcoming bouts. The dinner was also very good. Highly recommended.

So glad I went

Published on Oct, 2024

So glad I was able to experience this in Tokyo one of the highlights of my trip. Worth seeing once in your life. Good guide explained history and culture well.

Grand Sumo Tournament

Published on Oct, 2024

One of the most fascinating live sports events. Our guide Shun provided us with tournament timetables and information about each of the wrestlers. His knowledge helped to make our experience very enjoyable.

Sumo Tournament Sept 2024

Published on Oct, 2024

This was a fantastic thing to do. The guide, Yasuhiro, was excellent and full of interesting information about sumo, its history and the wrestlers. I fully expected to be bored after about half an hour, but wasn't. I highly recommend attending this if you are in Tokyo when a tournament is on.

Sumo and dinner

Published on Oct, 2024

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the Sumo. She knew all the rules and explained the rules very easily. It was truly an authentic experience and very exciting. Dinner was also great and our tour guide even stayed and had dinner with us and showed us to the direction to the nearest train station. It was a great day.

Personalize Your Destination Experience
Japan

Japan

6781 tours

View
Compare Similar Experiences

Current

Sumo Tournament Experience in Tokyo
Likely To Sell Out
27666P84
time

4 hours to 5 hours

time Non Refundable
257
From
$150 /   Person
Tokyo Go Kart: Asakusa, Skytree, and Aki ...
210466P1
time

1 hour

time Free Cancellation
549
From
$102 /   Person
Tokyo Sumo Wrestling Tournament Experien ...
21490P12
time

3 hours 30 minutes

time Free Cancellation
308
From
$100 /   Person
Tokyo Sumo Early-Morning Practice Tour i ...
Likely To Sell Out
63670P10
time

3 hours

time Free Cancellation
225
From
$102 /   Person
Tokyo Sumo Morning Practice Tour at Stab ...
21490P10
time

2 hours

time Free Cancellation
154
From
$110 /   Person
Tokyo downtown bicycle tour Tokyo Backst ...
Special Offer
151281P1
time

4 hours

time Free Cancellation
97
From
$68 /   Person
Grand Sumo Tournament Tour in Tokyo
74853P20
time

6 hours

time Free Cancellation
62
From
$190 /   Person
Tokyo Private Car Tour: Professional Gui ...
40436P4
time

10 hours

time Free Cancellation
45
From
$1,011 /   Group
Grand Sumo Tournament Tokyo - Osaka - Na ...
178179P3
time

4 hours

time Non Refundable
25
From
$165 /   Person
Edo Tokyo & Japanese Culture Tour with G ...
92136P95
time

6 hours

time Non Refundable
23
From
$150 /   Person
[S seat] Tokyo Grand Sumo Tournament Tou ...
63670P54
time

1 hour 30 minutes

time Free Cancellation
22
From
$212 /   Person
Ryogoku sumo town history / culture and ...
74853P5
time

3 hours 30 minutes

time Free Cancellation
18
From
$136 /   Person
Private Ryogoku Walking Tour with Sumo W ...
13441P12
time

2 hours

time Non Refundable
6
From
$422 /   Person
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Mt Fuji and Hakone 1-Day Bus Tour Return ...
28575P41
time

11 hours

time Free Cancellation
16,308
From
$161 /   Person
1-Day Tokyo Bus Tour
28575P2
time

9 hours to 10 hours

time Free Cancellation
9,176
From
$119 /   Person
Mt Fuji & Hakone Cruise, Drum Show Bulle ...
Special Offer
2142TYO_F800_F820
time

11 hours 50 minutes

time Free Cancellation
6,429
From
$120 /   Person
Official Street Go-Kart Tour - Tokyo Bay ...
Likely To Sell Out
57331P2
time

2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes

time Free Cancellation
3,146
From
$67 /   Person
Tokyo Bar Hopping Night Tour in Shinjuku
63670P1
time

3 hours

time Free Cancellation
2,534
From
$120 /   Person
Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-L ...
Likely To Sell Out
92136P34
time

6 hours

time Non Refundable
2,439
From
$150 /   Person
Official Street Go-Kart in Shibuya
Likely To Sell Out
57331P9
time

1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes

time Free Cancellation
2,139
From
$102 /   Person
怐2nd Anniv.怑Sushi Making Tokyo! Popu ...
Special Offer
217172P1
time

1 hour 50 minutes

time Free Cancellation
1,988
From
$49 /   Person
Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Food and Cultu ...
Special Offer
21490P9
time

3 hours

time Free Cancellation
1,603
From
$76 /   Person
Tokyo Asakusa Rickshaw Tour
Likely To Sell Out
6808TYORICKSHAW
time

30 minutes to 3 hours

time Free Cancellation
1,351
From
$41 /   Person
Private Sightseeing to Mt Fuji and Hakon ...
130384P1
time

10 hours

time Free Cancellation
1,338
From
$475 /   Group
Mt Fuji & Hakone Cruise, Drum Show Bus 1 ...
Special Offer
2142TYO_F880_F830
time

12 hours 35 minutes

time Free Cancellation
1,271
From
$107 /   Person
Connect with TravelOne
travelone
Louise Berg
Destination Expert
Plan your Next Trip
TravelOne Subscribe
We organise unforgettable vacations.
Subscribe for trending deals.
© Copyright 2025 TravelOne Technologies Inc. | All Rights Reserved.
Visa Card Mastercard Maestro Amex Discover

TravelOne uses cookies to give you the best possible service. If you continue browsing, you agree to the use of cookies. More details can be found in ourĀ privacy policy.