[Coming in September 2023!] Experience the Thrilling Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan! Don't forget, reservations are needed to join this tour!
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The Sumo Tournament is held in Tokyo three times a year. Sumo is one of Japan's most iconic sports, and nowhere else can you experience a match with such intensity! If it's your first time, don't worry; a pre-match lecture will help you understand and enjoy the event. Come and feel the power of a su...
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At GTN, our mission is "Making Your Stay in Japan Great". We offer diverse solutions to support foreign nationals and foster a cross-cultural society. Through addressing social issues, we strive to create an inclusive environment that enables individuals to live their lives to the fullest, no matter where they are in the world.
Sumo is a traditional Japanese sport.
In Japan, sumo matches are regularly televised, but for those from overseas, it might not be as common. Seeing wrestlers collide might leave them wondering what kind of sport it is.
Wrestlers are ranked on a chart known as "banzuke," and they train daily to reach the highest level. The tournaments, known as "basho," are where they showcase the results of their hard work and dedication.
In Tokyo, matches known as Tokyo-basho are held three times a year at Ryogoku Kokugikan. These events are incredibly popular and sell out quickly, so don't miss your chance to watch this sizzling competition with Sunrise Tours!
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Table of Contents
- Start by Learning About Sumo Wrestling with a Lecture!
- Let's Watch the Sumo Tournament!
- Enjoy the Sumo Tournament with Sunrise Tour♪
- Make your Sunrise Tour reservations at GTN when you arrive at Haneda Airport!
[Tokyo Basho] Sumo Tour: 2nd Floor S/A Seats, complete with refreshments and cheering merchandise
★ Click here to reserve your spot!
★ Make your reservations for the tour at the GTN Haneda Store. Make sure to drop by when you arrive at Haneda Airport, the gateway to Tokyo!
*Please be aware that some dates may already be fully booked at the time of your inquiry. Thank you for your understanding.
Start by Learning About Sumo Wrestling with a Lecture!
If you're participating in the Sunrise Tour, an English-speaking guide who is knowledgeable about sumo will give you a 20-minute lecture at the nearby Ryogoku View Hotel to help you fully enjoy the upcoming matches.
After the lecture, you'll head to Ryogoku Kokugikan for the tournament.
At Kokugikan, you'll enjoy yakitori, a specialty of the venue, along with beverages, and a cheering towel.
All tour participants will also receive a Sumo booklet called "The Sumo" (in English) and a ranking list, so you'll have everything you need to watch the matches. After receiving the cheering merchandise, you can relax and enjoy watching the sumo match!
Let's Watch the Sumo Tournament!
On the day of the tournament, matches start with the bouts of the lower-ranked wrestlers, so as the evening progresses, the level of sumo rises. The general flow of the sumo tournament is as follows:
Around 3:40 p.m.: Opening of the Makuuchi and Yokozuna ring-entering ceremonies (not held when the Yokozuna is absent). Popular sumo wrestlers circle the ring wearing colorful ceremonial mawashi (sumo belts). This is the moment when the atmosphere of the sumo arena suddenly comes to life.
Around 4:00 p.m.: Makuuchi Bout: The makuuchi wrestlers, who are at the highest rank in the sumo world, enter the ring. Fierce battles unfold.
Around 6:00 p.m.: Yumitori Ceremony: The winner's dance ceremony is performed at the end of all the bouts.
After the Yumitori Ceremony and the tournament ends. *The tour concludes here.
The Ryogoku Kokugikan is also home to a Sumo Museum, souvenir stores, and more, providing plenty of spots to have fun between matches. Be sure to stop by and enjoy!
The Ryogoku Kokugikan is the only place in Tokyo where you can watch sumo wrestling.
January tournament: Sunday, January 14, 2024 - Sunday, January 28, 2024 (Senshu-raku)
May tournament: Sunday, May 12, 2024 - Sunday, May 26, 2024
September tournament: Sunday, September 10, 2024 - Sunday, September 24, 2024
If you have the opportunity to visit Japan, be sure to check out these exciting sumo matches!
Enjoy the Sumo Tournament with Sunrise Tour♪
With this tour, you can fully enjoy watching sumo wrestling at Ryogoku Kokugikan, just about a 20-minute walk from Sosenji Temple.
If you've ever wanted to watch sumo, a sport unique to Japan, then this tour is definitely for you!
Tour Details:
[Tokyo Basho] Sumo Tour: 2nd Floor S Seats, complete with refreshments and cheering merchandise
[Tokyo Basho] Sumo Tour: 2nd Floor A Seats, complete with refreshments and cheering merchandise
*Tickets for September 10-24 are currently on sale! (Seats are limited, so don't wait!)
*Please visit the web link above to check the reservation status and the remaining number of seats. Since seats are limited, it's best to make your reservations early.
*Please be aware that some dates may already be fully booked at the time of your inquiry. Thank you for your understanding.
Details:
An English-speaking interpreter and guide with extensive knowledge of sumo wrestling will give a lecture on the sport before the tournament, and then you'll watch the Japanese national sport of sumo wrestling.
This tour includes a light meal (Yakitori, a specialty of the Kokugikan, and beverages) and a cheering towel (one per person). This plan allows you to relax and enjoy watching sumo matches with cheering merchandise in hand, all while savoring a light meal.
All tour participants will receive a copy of the Sumo booklet "The Sumo (in English)" and a ranking chart as souvenirs. The Sumo booklet provides a straightforward explanation of the origins of sumo, the rules of the bouts, how to read the banzuke, and how to appreciate it as a ceremonial event.
★ Make your reservations for the tour at the GTN Haneda Store. Make sure to drop by when you arrive at Haneda Airport, the gateway to Tokyo!
Make your Sunrise Tour reservations at GTN when you arrive at Haneda Airport!
At the GTN Haneda Airport Garden Store, we can help book and arrange your Sunrise Tour.
Feel free to visit us!
★How to get to GTN Haneda Airport Garden
Directly connected to the arrival lobby of Haneda Airport International Terminal!
Walk straight towards the parking lot and bus stop from the 2nd floor arrival lobby, and you will see the entrance to Haneda Airport Garden.
From the Haneda Airport Garden entrance, walk straight through the passageway towards the hotel entrance.
When you see the Omotenashi Center (information counter), walk into the Haneda Sando on the right side of it and you will find our store.
For more detailed directions, check out the video below!
At GTN, our mission is "Making Your Stay in Japan Great". We offer diverse solutions to support foreign nationals and foster a cross-cultural society. Through addressing social issues, we strive to create an inclusive environment that enables individuals to live their lives to the fullest, no matter where they are in the world.
The contents on this page may partially contain automatic translation.
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