Tokyo Sumo Tickets are one of the most popular objects among local and international tourists. Sumo to local people related to the spiritual and fun matches. On the other hand, Sumo to international tourists is one of the four wanted dreams like riding on Bullet Trains, seeing volcanoes, meeting with Geisha, and climbing Mount Fuji.
Four other dreams are easy to fulfill but getting Tokyo Sumo Tickets and watching Sumo in Japan only comes true sometimes. So, keeping this in mind, I composed this post after a long research from my real experience.
Table of Contents
1) What’s Sumo:
Sumo in Japan is the National Sport as well as the spiritual Shinto heritage. You might not have heard that National Sport and Shintoism in Japan go hand in hand. These two are interrelated.
I uncovered this truth from my Sumida Community Ambassadors‘ Grand Sumo Tour on January 13, 2023. However, it’s not the main subject here, but if you want to know the deep relationship between Sumo Tournaments and Shintoism, read my Grand Sumo Tour.
2)Sumo Tokyo Schedule:
To watch Sumo in Tokyo, you must know the Tokyo Sumo Tournament Schedules and plan your trips during the Tokyo Sumo Tournaments.
Sumo in Japan is held only six times a year, three times in Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan National Sumo Arena and others outside Tokyo. Every Sumo tournament last for 15 days.
The first Sumo Match is held in Ryogoku Kokugikan National Sumo Arena in January, the second match in May, and the third match in September. However, the January Grand Sumo tournaments are the most important as it’s one kind of offering prayers for the blessing of Shinto Kami.
March Sumo Tournament is held in Osaka, July in Nagoya, and November in Fukuoka.
Tokyo Sumo 2023:
- January Match: January 8-22 ( advance tickets available from December 10, 2022)
- May Match: May 14-28 (advance tickets available from April 8, 2023)
- September Match: September 10-24 (advance tickets available from August 5, 2023)
However, if you miss Tokyo Sumo in 2023, you can try 2024 Tokyo Sumo Tickets by booking in advance to bring your dream come true.
Tokyo Sumo 2024:
- January Match: January 14-28 (advance tickets available from December 9, 2023)
- May Match: May 12-26 (advance tickets available from April 6, 2024)
- September Match: September 8-22 (advance tickets available from August 10, 2024)
3) Sumo Tickets Prices:
Believe it or not, Tokyo Sumo Tickets prices are cheaper than you have ever thought. The seat price starts from 3,000 Japanese yen.
The first-floor Box Seats are more expensive than the second-floor Arena Seats. However, Box Seats and Arena Seats are reasonable for the public.
On the other hand, the tamari seat prices nearby the sumo stage(dohyo) are relatively high, starting from 15,000-50,000 Japanese yen.
I suggest not taking such seats not for a high price but for a better position. The seats nearby the stage are usually for Sumo related ranked people. But it’s the first time for you, and if you want to take great photos and enjoy the matches with your family, then the middle place is better for you.
However, if you wish, you can still take such seats (recently, only for sponsors or Japan Sumo Association members). First, let’s talk about the structure of the Sumo Stadium and where seats are placed.
4) Know Sumo Seats:
Ryogoku Kokugikan National Sumo Stadium is two stories with different categories of seats. Simply first-floor seats are known as ‘Box Seats,’ and the second-floor seats are known as ‘Arena Seats’.The prices vary with the seat category.
First Floor Box Seats:
The first floor has three classes of seats- Box A, Box B, and Box C. That’s why these seats are called Box Seats or Masu Seki.
Box Seats are usually for 3 or 4 people and families. Seats are with square Japanese Tatami where families can sit together on Tatami and eat and drink while enjoying Sumo Tournaments.
Box Prices start from about 10,000-13,000 Japanese yen per person.
Second Floor Arena Seats:
The second floor has four kinds of seats-Arena S, Arena A, Arena B, and Arena C. These seats are cheaper than First-Floor Box Seats.
These seats are gallery chair seats and are comfortable. Easier to get a booking even if you’re late booking tickets in advance. However, these seats are a little far from the stage, but watching over 190 kg sumo wrestlers is fine.
The price of an Arena Seat starts from about 3,000 -9,000 Japanese yen. So you can buy cheap tickets from Arena.
You can book Sumo wrestling tickets from the official website Nihon Sumo Kyokai.
Tip: If you’re a photographer or social media personality, I suggest taking Arena S, and you’ll get clear shots without worrying about any hindrance by others during the match. But for the family better to book Box Seats.
5) How to buy a ticket?
There are three options for buying Tokyo Sumo Tickets, but advance booking is the best option because sumo Tokyo tickets sell out very quickly. At the same time, ticket prices vary on where you want to sit.
However, you can choose which option is the best for you, and I discussed below-
a) Advance Booking:
The best way to buy Tokyo Sumo Tickets is by advance booking from the Sumo Ticket English website (Ticket Oosumo English). It’s the most trustworthy and easy. You can pick up your ticket on any of the tournament days.
The ticket office opens early during the Sumo Tournaments. So you can pick up your tickets at any time.
You’ll see a signboard written in English Ticket Oosumo English and pick up. The machine supports the English language and is very straightforward.
However, if you are stuck and ask for help from the gate, they will help. Therefore, you don’t even have to learn in advance how to print out tickets. If necessary, show them the booking reference number and confirmation email.
Another good option is buying from a travel-related site. If you book in advance, you’ll get even cheaper than the regular price.
Book Tokyo Sumo Tickets from KLOOK (Check Price)
b) Ticket Pia Store:
c) Same- Day Tickets:
If you want to buy a Same-Day Ticket to the stadium, go straight to the Sumo Stadium earlier in the morning. Otherwise, you have to stay in a long queue.
6) What to eat?
Try Sumo Wrestlers’ food, Chanko nabe, at Sumo Town.
The Sumo wrestling match starts early morning, around 8 o’clock. But strong sumo wrestlers start their matches around 4:00 p.m. So, you have enough time to have lunch at Ryogoku Sumo Town.
But if you want to eat inside the Sumo Stadium, that’s possible. There’re a few restaurants where you can buy Chanko nabe or Chanko hot pot, sweets, ice cream filled with red bean paste, and snacks.
These stores sell snacks and sumo-related lovey souvenirs, perfect for a gift to friends and family members.
7) Best Place to Buy Food:
But providing 20,000 spectators with food is not easy. You may have to be in the queue for a long time for Chanko nabe bento boxes. However, buying snacks and sweets is easier.
You can go out once and re-enter through Minamin Entrance. The gate is open only for re-entry.
However, if you don’t want to go out but still want good lunch, then head to Yokocho Tea- Street. Tea Street has 20 shops.
Besides, their service is appreciable when a customer purchases a packed or boxed meal, the shop guide to the seat, no extra service charge. Most people usually reserve a lunch boxed meal in advance.
At the same time, people can order beers, green tea, and soft drinks. Many people drink alcohol and watch Sumo Matches. However, the person must be over 20 because Japan’s legal drinking age is 20.
But you can get some good snacks and drinks if you don’t need a big lunch.
8) Know Inside Sumo Hall:
Knowing Sumo Stadium is very important before arriving there.
On the right of the entrance is the Sumo Museum, where you can get a good idea of what Sumo is. The entrance fee is free for ticket holders, and you don’t need extra admission tickets.
Ask for a Sumo calendar in front of the museum. The ticket holders can have one at no extra cost.
Besides, if you look straight from the entrance, you’ll see all the Sumo Tournaments Trophies inside the transparent glass wall. Remember to take a selfie with the trophies.
The second floor has some lovely things to see. However, among many lovely things, two are very important to be noticed. One is Yokozuna’s historical record, and the other one is Yokocho.
In 2,000 years of Sumo history, only 73 Sumo Wrestlers achieved the ‘Yokozuna’ title till January 13, 2023. Tokyo Sumo Association made a great way to show records by putting the record on the wall serially on the second floor.
On the other hand, Yokocho Street will make you remember the glorious past of the Edo Period. Of course, this Yokocho Street is smaller than Asakusa Nakamise Shopping Street or Ueno Ameyoko, but no one can say it’s less glamorous.
The red lights of the Yokocho fascinate people to enter the street. It’s a really lovely street. So whether you purchase lunch boxes or not, remember to enter the red light zone on the second floor.
If you wish to see the ground floor, you can turn left from the main entrance and go down. It’s a huge conference hall. During our Sumida Community Ambassadors Grand Sumo Tour, we tasted Chanko nabe there.
9) Watch Free Sumo:
Suppose you missed booking Tokyo Sumo Tickets in advance or Sumo is not your first priority as much as watching autumn leaves in Tokyo, but you still want to watch free Sumo. In that case, I suggest going to Setagaya Hachiman Autumn Festival. Every year, ritual sumo matches take place in front of the shrine.
These are small matches but enough to enjoy a day. On the other hand, the famous Menaki Neko Gotokuji Temple is close to the Setagaya Hachiman Shrine.
However, I have good news for you if you miss all these chances. You can watch the same sumo wrestlers’ practice sessions in the morning at any of the Sumo Stables in Sumida City. You can book a Morning Tour Ticket and solve the problem. Morning Tour Tickets are even cheaper.
It may not be as comfortable as watching Sumo matches at Ryogoku Kokugikan Kokugikan National Sumo Arena, but you’ll get a great experience with Sumo during your Tokyo visit.
10) Surroundings:
Sumida Ward is famous for its numerous tourist spots, and Ryogoku Sumo Town is one of the districts of the ward. There many things to see in Ryogoku Town.
At the same time, the Ryoguku Sumo Stadium is the center of the town with many famous hubs of famous tourist spots surroundings. For example, the Edo-Tokyo Museum, Ekoin Temple, and the Japanese Sword Museum are next to the stadium.
Besides, Sumida Hokusai Museum and Fireworks Museum are very close. You can see a lively figure of Katsushika Hokusai in the museum.
Ryogoku Sumo Town is also famous for Chanko nabe. Chanko nabe is the main menu for sumo wrestlers. So, when you’re in Sumo Town, during sumo wrestling, remember to taste Sumo food.
Some of the recommended Chanko nabe restaurants are Shima and Chank Tomoegata Restaurants. In addition, Chanko nabe and Sumo will give you an amazing experience on your Tokyo trip.
Read more about Chanko Tomoegata
Access:
If you buy Tokyo Sumo Tickets on the day or in advance, you must know how to access Kokugikan Kokugikan National Sumo Arena. The stadium has good access by JR and Metro Line.
Nearest Station: Ryogoku Station
1) Toei Oedo Line
Via A3 Exit
5 minutes walk
2) JR Sobu Line local train
Via West Exit
2 minutes walk
3) Tokyo Mizube Line
Via Ryogoku departure/arrival area
3-minute walk
From Tokyo Station:
JR Yamanote Line- Akihabara and Akihabara Station to Ryogoku Station by Sobu Line.
Exit via West Exit
Walk 2 min (230 m)
From Shinjuku:
Take Chuo- Sobu Line(Platform 13) to Ryogoku Station
Exit via West Exit
Walk 2 min (230 m)
From Ginza:
Take Yamanote Line from Yurakucho Station to Akihabara and Akihabara Station to Ryogoku Station by Sobu Line.
Exit via West Exit
Walk 2 min (230 m)
From Asakusa:
Take Subway Asakusa Line from Asakusa Station to Asakusabashi Station and transfer to Chuo- Sobu Line(Platform 13) to Ryogoku Station.
Exit via West Exit
Walk 2 min (230 m)
Address:
1 Chome-3-28 Yokoami, Sumida City, Tokyo 130-0015, Japan
Official website:
Book hotel near Ryogoku Kokugikan: