Japan Awaits

The Sumo Tournament Experience in Tokyo City (in Tokyo Prefecture) with Japan Awaits is an experience at the famous Grand Sumo Tournament that occurs only three times a year (January, May, September) in Tokyo. The experience offers an inside look into sumo’s traditions and culture with an English-speaking guide who is an expert in the sport.

Sumo is one of Japan’s most iconic sports, with roots going back centuries. Classified as a gendai budo (modern Japanese martial art), it is more than a competition — it’s a living tradition filled with rituals that reflect Japan’s history and culture.

Sumo wrestlers (rikishi) lead highly disciplined lives. Most live in communal training stables (heya), where every aspect of their day — from meals to clothing — follows strict rules designed to preserve the sport’s heritage.

The Sumo Tournament Experience is a 4-hour guided visit to an official basho (tournament) with a small group of up to 20 guests. Your guide will introduce you to ancient traditions, including the ritual use of salt purification, while you cheer on Japan’s top wrestlers as they arrive at the stadium.

Inside Ryogoku Kokugikan arena, you’ll enjoy reserved B- or C-class seats with comfortable chair seating and an excellent view of the ring. Using personal audio headsets, you’ll clearly hear your guide explain the history, culture, and stories of legendary wrestlers past and present.

Feel the excitement of each match, the energy of the crowd, and the pride of witnessing Japan’s national sport alongside passionate local fans.

Sumo Tournament 

Availability:
Afternoon session: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM (on selected tournament dates)

Location:
Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena, Tokyo
The directions to the meeting point will be provided after booking.

Price:

• Join-in Standard: ¥27,800 per person (B-class or C-class seats)
• Join-in Standard + Dinner: ¥34,600 per person (B-class or C-class seats)
• Join-in Premium + Dinner: ¥43,300 per person (A-class or S-class seats)
• Private Premium + Dinner: Price shown at checkout (A-class or S-class seats)

All dinner-included options feature dinner at a chanko hot pot restaurant, a traditional sumo meal. Dinner is optional for Join-in Standard and already included in all Premium options.

Inclusions:

• Reserved seat according to selected option
• • Standard: B-class or C-class seats
  • Premium: A-class or S-class seats (includes dinner)
• English-speaking tour guide (local sumo expert)
• Sumo information and/or pamphlet
• Audio headset
• Banzuke-hyo (A table of rankings)
• Dinner without drinks at a chanko hot pot restaurant (experience what sumo wrestlers normally eat with an English-speaking guide) — included for all “+ Dinner” options.
• Vegetarian options available upon request (at least one week in advance)

Exclusions:

• Hotel pick-up
• Meals and drinks (unless dinner option is selected)

Sumo Stable Practice

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the daily life of sumo wrestlers through this separate morning experience. This optional activity is ideal for guests who want to observe how wrestlers train and prepare before their official matches.

Availability:
Morning session – Starts at 8:00 AM (on selected dates)

Price: Join-in Standard (Lunch Add-On): ¥24,100 per person

Sumo Stable Practice is offered as a separate experience and is not included in the Sumo Tournament product.
For full details, pricing, and availability, please visit the Sumo Stable Practice Morning Tour page.

Dinner Information

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 Ryogoku 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 the 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 vegetarian, or if you have any other special dietary requirements on the “Special Requirements” 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 options.

Please understand that once we have accepted your dinner request, changes cannot be made one week before the tour date.

Seating Arrangement

• Join-in Standard / Join-in Standard + Dinner – B-class or C-class reserved seats
• Join-in Premium + Dinner – A-class or S-class reserved seats
• Private Premium + Dinner – A-class or S-class reserved seats

The tour will have a maximum of 20 participants seated in the same area with the English-speaking tour guide.

Age Requirement

There is no age requirement. Children must be accompanied by adults (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). Please note you may be required to show your ID for proof of age at the venue.

Wheelchair Accessibility

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 Arena will not be able to assist guests.

Food at the arena

No outside food or drinks are allowed in the arena, but food is available for purchase from vendors within the arena.

Crowds at the Arena

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.

Cancellation Policy

This is a join-in group experience that requires a minimum of 15 confirmed guests to operate. If the minimum is not met, the tour will be canceled, and you will receive a full refund.

Tickets are requested but not guaranteed, as the Sumo Association does not release them until 4–7 weeks before the tournament. If we’re unable to secure tickets, we’ll notify you at least 4 weeks in advance and offer another date or a full refund.

Standard Cancellation Policy:

• Cancellation fee of 100% is charged if cancelled 7 days or less before the event
• Cancellation fee of 50% is charged if cancelled 14 days or less before the event
• Cancellation fee of 25% is charged if cancelled 20 days or less before the event

Payment

All bookings are payable via Stripe (Booking Checkout) or Flywire. Confirmations regarding your booking will be sent at least 10 days before your activity date.

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 they take place during the same months each year:

• January Tournament: Tokyo
• March Tournament: Osaka
• May Tournament: Tokyo
• July Tournament: Nagoya
• September Tournament: Tokyo
• November Tournament: Fukuoka

What if I’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 proceed without the late guests and no refunds will be provided.

Looking for a tour in a different city?

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. Contact us and inquire about a custom experience today.