How to Experience the Height of Sumo Wrestling at the Sumo Grand Tournament

In the heart of Japan's ancient sporting tradition stands sumo wrestling - a mesmerizing blend of raw athleticism and sacred ritual. When two wrestlers clash on the dohyō (ring), wearing nothing but their traditional mawashi loincloths, they create a spectacle of power that often ends in mere seconds. Yet behind each explosive bout lies countless hours of rigorous training and centuries of spiritual tradition.

Sumo's roots stretch back over 1,500 years, beginning not as a sport but as a religious ceremony. These early matches were sacred rituals, performed to honor the gods and pray for abundant harvests. It wasn't until Japan's Edo Period that sumo transformed into a spectator sport, drawing enthusiastic crowds from across all social classes to witness these dramatic confrontations.

Today, sumo holds pride of place as Japan's national sport. The path of a sumo wrestler begins remarkably early - many join at just 14 or 15 years old - and these young athletes live in communal sumo stables called a beya, where they share meals, sleeping quarters, and countless hours of training with their fellow wrestlers, all in pursuit of becoming a champion during the sumo Grand Tournaments.

The National Sumo Association orchestrates six grand tournaments annually, with three hosted in Tokyo and the others rotating between Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka. For many travelers to Japan, witnessing the ancient sport of sumo is a must-see experience. Whether you're planning to attend one of the grand tournaments (honbasho) or exploring alternative options like morning practice sessions, understanding the customs and booking processes will enhance your sumo experience.

How to Book Sumo Grand Tournament Tickets

There are six grand sumo tournaments held annually, each lasting 15 days. These take place in:

• January, May, and September in Tokyo

• March in Osaka

• July in Nagoya

• November in Fukuoka.

Securing tickets requires advance planning, as these events frequently sell out—and fast, as domestic fans snap these limited releases up quickly.

Official sumo tickets go on sale approximately one month before each tournament through the Japan Sumo Association's website. For visitors to Japan, it’s often most convenient to book through specialized ticket agencies or your hotel's concierge service, as navigating the Japanese booking system can have many challenges. 

When buying sumo tournament tickets, there are different options (and prices) to consider. Box seats (masu-seki) accommodate four people and offer traditional Japanese-style floor seating with cushions. Individual chair seats (isu-seki) are also available. Seats are offered a variety of distances from the dohyo ring, with the closest ringside seats to the action often being reserved by sponsors and supporters. 

Sumo Tournament Day Customs and Etiquette

While there are many sumo customs and etiquette that attendees should keep in mind on the day of the sumo grand tournament, the atmosphere is often more relaxed than what first-time sumo tournament visitors expect. The energy of the crowd is palpable, with fans cheering in unison for particularly triumphant wins; drinking and bringing in your own bento food boxes is also considered a quintessential part of the experience, with box masu-seki seats making sharing snacks and beverages seamless during the matches.

However, sumo tournaments follow strict traditions that visitors should respect when attending the sumo Grand Tournament. 

Key etiquette points include:

- Never stepping on the cushions when entering or leaving box seats

- Remaining seated during bouts to avoid blocking others' views

- Refraining from flash photography

- Staying quiet during pre-bout ceremonies

- Not eating or drinking while the wrestlers perform their entrance ceremonies

Sumo Tournament Daily Schedule

Attending a sumo tournament –whether in Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, or Fukuoka– is a full-day affair. Lower-ranked wrestlers compete in the morning, fresh after their morning practice, while elite matches occur in the late afternoon. As remaining for an entire day of sumo competition can be tiring for the first-time observer (and even for the die-hard sumo fanatics), most travelers arrive in the mid-afternoon. This allows them to watch the top-division (makuuchi) rounds, which normally begin around 4:00 PM.

The line-up for the sumo Grand Tournament and most-updated rankings of the sumo wrestlers are released before the tournament begins, giving attendees ample time to review the players and match-ups before the day of the sumo tournament arrives.

Seeing Sumo Morning Practice

Visiting the sumo Grand Tournament is a thrilling chance, no doubt in part due to the competition’s limited availability and exclusivity. Even countless full-time residents of Japan have yet to secure the opportunity to explore this spiritual form of Japanese martial arts culture.

However, with only three tournaments in Tokyo a year (and others in Fukuoka, Osaka, and Nagoya), its often the case that tournament dates and visitors’ dates of travel don’t align. Even in those cases, don’t write off being able to get up close and personal with this ancient athletic tradition. A number of sumo stables offer visitors the chance to sit ringside at morning sessions held at their training residences, offering a exhilarating glimpse of the sumo wrestlers in action. Every slam, slap, and tackle is just meters away from your eyes.

As these training sessions are not a tourist experience, but authentic practices being conducted by professional athletes, all in a space with intensely spiritual ties, similar to when attending the sumo grand tournament. These morning session rules include:

• Arriving around 10 minutes early to practice

• Remaining silent for the whole practice

• Dressing respectfully

• Following the photography policies set by the stable (polices my vary by stable)

• Taking off shoes before entering the stable

It is typically considered rude to leave in the middle of morning practice, although some sumo stables might have different regulations. Any guests interested in attending these sumo morning practices should keep in mind the length of the experience, the cushion seating provided by the sumo stable (which can be uncomfortable for guests who might require seating with more stability), and when considering whether or not to bring younger children.

Advance reservation for these sumo morning practices is required and seating is limited. A guide must also accompany visitors to ensure that all attendees are respectful at all times and do not distract the sumo wrestlers from their intense training. To learn more about the rules of sumo wrestling before your visit to a sumo morning practice, click here.

Japan Sumo Experiences

Get up close and personal with sumo wrestling at a morning training session. Watch these powerful athletes in action from the ringside, gain insight into their rigorous training methods, and cap off the experience with a chance to chat and snap a photo with them after practice ends.