Sumo
Enter the ring of champions.
Bare except for the mawashi loincloth, sumo wrestlers clash against each other, grappling in intense - yet brief - bouts of strength. Hours of training go into developing these athletic skills, all for a match that often finishes in a matter of seconds. Yet, far more than just an impressive display of power, sumo wrestling has spiritual origins, dating back over 1,500 years to religious rituals honoring the gods and praying for bountiful harvests. It wasn’t until the Edo Period that sumo became a spectator sport, drawing in crowds hailing from all different social classes to watch each explosive competition.
Currently, sumo is the national sport of Japan, with the National Sumo Association holding 6 large-scale tournaments a year - 3 in Tokyo, and one in Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka, respectively. Wrestlers start young - often only 14 or 15 - living communally in sumo housing known as the beya, where they sleep, eat, and train together with the other wrestlers in their sumo stable. And yet, despite the modern athletic focus, the spiritual elements are still deeply imbued in every aspect of the sport, from the sacred dohyo circle that marks the battle ring to the silk ceremonial aprons adorned by fighters as they complete the ritual marking the start of the competitions.
Encounter the legacy of sumo and witness their legendary power.
Tokyo Area Sumo Experiences
Group Experience
What you’ll do
Observe the sumo wrestlers as they stretch and wrestle in rounds during their real, everyday training sessions. Watch authentic sumo fighting, right next to the ring.
Morning Sumo Training & Chanko Nabe Lunch
Group Experience
What you’ll do
After watching the sumo wrestlers work up a sweat in the ring, join them for a group meal. Experience chanko-nabe, the iconic sumo stew wrestlers eat to conserve energy and build power.
Private Experience
What you’ll do
Indulge in a full-course izakaya meal with active sumo champions at a eatery run by a former sumo legend. Drink, dine, and talk one on one with these accomplished atheletes.
Private Sumo Training Session
Private Experience
What you’ll do
Reserve the ring and receive private access to a Tokyo sumo training session. No interruptions, just full focus on these legendary fighters.
Osaka Sumo Experiences
(March only)
Encounter sumo in Osaka during their annual Osaka tournament training sessions. Observe an authentic morning sumo session and witness these sumo champions prepare for the intense battles they’ll face later in the ring.
Fukuoka Sumo Experiences
Sumo Stable Exclusive Guided Tour
Private/Group Experience
What you’ll do
Take a behind the scene tour of a Tokyo sumo stable and see where these fierce fighters spend time outside of the ring.
Nagoya Sumo Experiences
Morning Training
(October only)
Experience the world of sumo in Nagoya during their annual tournament training sessions. Watch the training ringside and get up close to the action with this authentic morning sumo session.
Discover more about sumo
Dive deeper into the enigmatic, energetic world of sumo wrestling. Learn more about the sport’s unique history, the current rules and regulations, and countless other cultural explorations that will help enrich your understanding of sumo. From the spiritual origin of the sport to interviews with sumo champions, immerse into sumo’s culture.
Sumo Ranking: Ranking, Divisions, and the Road to Becoming Champion:
Learn the different divisions of sumo wrestlers and how sumo wrestlers can increase their rank.
Sumo Rules, Regulations, and Techniques:
Understand the rules of sumo and how to win sumo matches, from sumo fighting techniques to banned maneuvers.
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