Ryogoku 両国 - Sumo District

No district in Tokyo is more synonymous with the world of Sumo than Ryogoku (両国). As you walk through the area, you’ll encounter a cornucopia of sumo related shops, museums, training stables, chanko restaurants, as well as Kokugikan Sumo Stadium (両国国技館,) which is the Tokyo home of the tournaments referred to as basho.

In Tokyo, tournaments are usually held in January (Hatsu Basho), in May (Natsu Basho), and in September (Aki Basho).



There are six official tournaments held each year throughout Japan referred to as honbasho (本場所,). These six tournaments typically last 15 days and only the results of these tournaments are used to determine if a sumo wrestler will change his rank within the sport. The highest rank that can be attained is Yokozuna.


Tickets – Tickets are normally available one month before the tournament through major ticketing services with prices ranging 3,600 – 11,000JPY per person

On the Day of the Match - Seats (unreserved seats) are sold starting at 8:20AM for approx 2,500JPY

Consult web site www.sumo.or.jo/eng/index.html for more details.

Another option: Sunrise Tours has a tour (F550) 9,800JPY per person – tour allows you to enjoy Dohyo-iri (Entering the Ring Ceremony) as well as sumo matches. You’ll also see the Sumo Museum and Ryogoku-kokugikan. (Sumo Tickets are B-class reserved seats on the Second Floor)

They also have other tours that include a chanko nabe meal with the wrestlers: (chanko nabe ちゃんこ鍋 is a stew typically eaten by the wrestlers as they train for the tournaments)

These can be booked via a travel agent, i.e.: Top Tours (formerly Tokyu Tours), KIE (Kintetsu), Nippon Express Travel, JTB, etc. as well as numerous others. Check with your preferred travel consultant for more details.


If you happen to be in Tokyo when no tournaments are taking place, you can still visit the Sumo Museum which is located on the first floor of the Kokugikan Sumo Stadium. There are interesting sumo items for those interested in the sport including - grand champion ornamental aprons, photos of famous wrestlers as well as sumo related woodblock prints and sculptures from the Edo Period (1600’s – 1800’s).

Many sumo stables, where the wrestlers train, are located nearby Eko-in Temple and if you’re lucky, you may just run into or catch a glimpse of a wrestler as you walk the streets of the Ryogoku district.

Some of the stables of note in the area are: Tatsunami Beya, Takekuma Beya, Kasugano Beya, Izutsu Beya, Dewanoumi Beya, Tokitsukaze Beya, Oshima Beya, Nishonozeki Beya, Michinoku Beya, etc.

Some stables allow visitors to enter and watch training sessions; however, it’s best to contact them in advance and ask permission.



Another point of interest as you continue to explore the area is Lion-Do, a shop that is renowned amongst the sumo community selling wrestling clothing. Items that are in stock run the gamut from more traditional garments such as: yukata (浴衣 robe), haramaki (bands that wrap around the stomach area), jimbei (甚平 a summer outfit made of lightweight cotton material), as well as pants, jackets, jogging suits, underwear, etc.

While the shop is not super-sized, the clothing sizes that are sold within certainly are!

Their web site is in Japanese only - http://www.liondo.co.jp/


All the best....Mark