[Very popular – Grand Sumo!] Grand Sumo Tour – Tokyo Tournament, Ryogoku Kokugikan, and fun sumo goods included

About this tour

• We have hard-to-obtain tickets for the Tokyo Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan!

• A very popular souvenir! All participants will receive a sumo towel and a secret sumo item to unwrap!

• Our staff will guide you to your seat!
• Boxed lunches and drinks are available for purchase within the building.
• Chanko nabe is available on the basement floor (fees apply).

• Once you enter the venue, you can re-enter. You can go out to eat or go shopping during your stay.

• If you wish to re-enter, please return by 5pm.

The content of this product is provided by machine translation and may not reflect the actual information, please take this into consideration before booking.

• Tour to see the great national sport of sumo wrestling

Sumo is Japan's national sport, and its competitors are not just fat people. Beneath the fat lie superbly trained muscles. And despite their large physiques, they have incredible flexibility, with legs as strong as tree trunks. Their physical abilities are truly acrobatic, and sumo wrestlers are the ultimate athletes, built for fighting. At the moment of a serious match, the sound of the wrestlers colliding with each other resonates throughout the arena. Be sure to see the clash with your own eyes!

• Viewing points

Sumo's history stretches back over 1,500 years

Sumo, Japan's national sport, has origins dating back to the age of mythology, and is said to have begun as a contest of strength. It continued as an imperial court event for around 300 years, held annually as a festival ritual to predict the year's harvest, and then during the Sengoku period, sumo became a form of training for samurai. Later, in the Edo period, sumo became more commercialized, with the introduction of kanjin sumo, and the foundations of modern-day professional sumo were laid. Today, sumo has taken on a formal form as a sport, beloved by many. At the venue, you can experience sumo's long history and one aspect of traditional culture up close.

• Ring-entering

This is a ceremony that takes place before a sumo match, in which the juryo and makuuchi wrestlers enter the ring wearing colorful mawashi. It is an introduction to the audience, and also serves as a religious ritual to ward off evil spirits from the arena. The wrestlers enter the ring in east and west groups, and in order of lowest rank, they line up in a circle and perform certain movements, such as lifting up the edge of their mawashi and lightly clasping their hands together.

• Yokozuna ring-enter

The sumo wrestlers enter the ring and make their appearance in the dohyo-iri ceremony. The "yokozuna dohyo-iri" is held separately from the juryo and makuuchi dohyo-iri, and offers a slightly different, sacred ritual. Accompanied by two wrestlers, the "tsuyuharai" (decoy barai) and the "tachimochi" (sword bearer), the yokozuna enters the ring through the runway, claps his hands, and then raises his leg high and performs a stomp. As he performs this stomp, shouts of "Yoisho!" from the audience reverberate throughout the venue. The yokozuna's kesho mawashi (mawashi) and white rope are also highlights.

• FAQ:

Q&A

Q: Can I eat or drink while watching sumo?

A: You can eat and drink at your seat. You cannot bring in bottles, cans, or food from outside, but soft drinks such as tea and juice, as well as alcoholic beverages such as beer and chuhai will be sold at the venue's convenience stores.

Q: What souvenirs or foods should I buy when I go to watch sumo wrestling?

A: The "cheering towels" with the names of the wrestlers printed on them and the "sumo wrestler cookies" with cute designs are popular.

Q: What is the etiquette when watching sumo wrestling?

A: Sumo matches often end in just a few seconds, so please try not to move seats during the match. People behind you may miss the moment of victory or defeat. You can take photos in the chair seats, but please do not use a strong flash.

Q: Are there any dress codes when watching sumo wrestling?

A: There are no specific dress codes, but please avoid wearing large hats that may block the view of other spectators.