- Oshiage - Meet your guide at 7:30am at the nearby train station before making your way to the sumo stable. Get ready to get some amazing insight into this unique Japanese sport that originated from the religion of Shintoism. Learn from your guide about how the origin of sumo dates back at least 1500 years, and about how it preserves rituals and traditional aspects of Shinto while also being a major spectator sport in Japan. Before you take your seat on the ground in the sumo stable, learn about the six annual Grand Tournaments that all go on for 15-days. Three of them are in Tokyo, and one in Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka respectively.
- Sumida - Watch quietly and respectfully as the sumo wrestlers go through their daily routine. You are sure to be in awe as you see them going through their rigorous training, and you will gain a newfound insight into this ancient art.
At the end of the practice, your guide will walk you back to the train station where you will part ways.
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Sumida - Take a photo with the sumo wrestlers and finish the tour
*Please note that the practice may end earlier than usual, meaning the tour will be shorter than mentioned depending on the day
- Sumo stable entrance
- Local Professional guide
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Other personal expenses
If you desire to experience Sumo wrestling intimately, this opportunity offers one of the closest encounters possible!
Experience the wrestler’s morning training session right beside the sumo ring where the action happens, immersing yourself in the raw and earnest ambience. Hear the sounds of the sumo wrestlers crashing into one another, their breathing, and even catch the aroma of the fragrance they adorn, which cannot be replicated through video footage.
Join your well-informed guide at the train station and take a 15 to 20-minute stroll to the sumo stable. Before entering, your guide will provide an insightful overview of Sumo, including its origins, rules, and cultural significance. As you observe, learn how this unique sport doubles as a series of religious ceremonies, originally performed to amuse the Shinto gods.
If fortune smiles upon you, there might even be a chance to snap pictures with the wrestlers post-practice!
*During the tournament season, the schedule for tours may change. Please refer to our direct messages for updates.
- NO CHAIRS in the sumo stable. Please note, if sitting cross-legged on the ground for approximately 1.5-hours is not doable for you, we recommend you not booking this tour
- Please be at the meeting point at 7:10am. We will leave at 7:30 AM sharp, so please make sure to be there on time!
- In the case that you are late and will not make it to the meeting place on time, please send us a message. Then please go to the sumo stable by yourself. You will not be able to enter the stable without contacting us.
- No shoes on the raised wooden floor in the stable. Please take your shoes off as soon as you get into the stable.
- Please sit on the floor (cross-legged) and do not stretch your legs toward the ring. It is considered impolite to show the soles of feet to the wrestlers.
- No food, No chewing gum and candies, No smoke. You can bring and drink water.
- Please do not step down on the ring or the sandy ground. The ring is a sacred place for the wrestlers.
- Sunglasses and hats are not allowed in the stable
- Cellphones must be on silent. Photos are OK but only without the flash or shutter sounds
- You may take videos, but you cannot upload photos and videos on any social media platforms
- The practice/tour may be a bit shorter or longer than expected depending on the content of the practice
- For tournament season, the tour time would be different. So please check our direct message.
- Please watch the practice silently and respectfully
- Modest clothing only
- Do not stand up or move around during the practice.
- Minimum age is 6 years old(If your kids are noisy, move around, or cannot watch the practice quietly, you will be asked to leave the sumo stable during the tour.)
- Please follow the guide’s instructions during the tour.
- Please try to use the restroom before joining the tour.
- It is about a 15 minute walk to the stable from the meeting point, so please bring a towel to wipe off your feet if you think your feet will get wet in the rain on the way there.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.