Book a Sumo Stable Practice Tour Tokyo – Watch Morning Sumo Training (Guide Optional)
Overview
Book a sumo stable practice tour in Tokyo to see the amazing ancient sport all year round!
The Grand Sumo Tournaments are only held six times a year, buy they aren’t the only place to see sumo! For a glimpse into the life and practice of a sumo wrestler, join this sumo stable visit in Tokyo. With the option of an English-speaking guide, watch the wrestlers up-close as they participate in their morning training, then take a commemorative photo at the end. Advance booking is essential!
For another sumo experience in Tokyo, check our the sumo restaurant here!
Highlights
- Book with a Rakuten account to earn and use Rakuten Points
- Take a commemorative photo with sumo wrestlers after the training
- Get an up-close look at a day in the life of a sumo wrestler
- Learn about the history and rituals of sumo from your English-speaking guide (optional)
- Watch sumo wrestlers train at a real sumo stable in Tokyo
Key Information
Important Information
- Ages 0–3 are free of charge; fees apply from 4+ (there is no child price)
- The minimum number of participants is 2
- Solo guests can join by paying the 2-person price
- The images on this page are for illustration purposes only, and are not photos of the actual sumo stable tour
- We will provide joining instructions (the exact meeting point and time, as well as other details) shortly before your tour date.
- Please check your email from Rakuten Travel Experiences on the day of your visit with further instructions.
- We recommend using the restroom before the tour; sumo stables usually do not have restrooms for guests to use Rules and Cautions
- Sumo stables are not tourist facilities. Sumo training is a serious and traditional practice. It is opened especially for sumo fans on the understanding that strict rules will be followed. Please show your respect to the stable master and wrestlers; failure to follow proper etiquette may result in being asked to leave the stable without re-entry or refund
- By booking, you agree to the Rules and Cautions for Sumo Stable Visits, and acknowledge that the sumo stable has the right to refuse guests who do not observe the rules. Please carefully read all the rules (15 points) and cautions (7 points) before booking. This ensures the best possible experience for you, and protects the traditional sumo culture. Click here to view.
Description
See Japan’s national sport in a whole new light! Whether you missed the chance to attend a tournament or loved it so much you want more, a morning training tour at a Tokyo sumo stable is a unique insight into a world-famous practice.
Receive instruction on the location you'll visit shortly beforehand. Then, in the early hours make your way to the stable, called a “heya”. Depending on the day, it may be in the Ryogoku area — home to many of the prestigious heya in Japan — or it could be elsewhere around Tokyo. There, you’ll watch “asa-geiko,” or morning training. In a ring marked as holy ground, these imposing athletes undergo a strenuous regime that’s tightly bound in tradition and ritual.
If you’ve booked a guide, they will explain the intricacies of sumo, including its centuries' worth of history and deep connections with the Shinto religion. You’ll also be instructed on how to behave in accordance with these traditions, and the etiquette involved with watching and practicing sumo.
When training is over, you’ll get a chance to take photos with the wrestlers themselves — a far cry from watching a tournament through binoculars! Book this Tokyo sumo stable visit now for an unforgettable experience!
How it works
1: Once your booking is confirmed, we will connect you with your host. Please wait for them to confirm the exact time and meeting place, which will not be fixed until shortly before the visit. Since a sumo stable is not a sightseeing attraction, the best time and place to visit can change without prior notice. The usual start time is between 08:00–09:00, early in the morning.
2: If you booked the “private guide” add-on, meet your guide at the closest station to the designated stable for your tour. From there, you will walk to the sumo stable. If not, please make your own way to the stable. Please allow plenty of time to find the venue.
3: The training session can last from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the wrestlers’ physical condition and various other factors. Please kneel in the “seiza” style or sit with your knees up and feet together. If unable to sit on the floor, please request a chair in advance (not available at all stables).
4: Visitors are expected to stay for the entire duration of the practice. After the training session is over, you will have a photo opportunity with the sumo wrestlers. Please do not share photos of sumo wrestlers on websites or social media, as it could cause portrait rights issues. If you leave before the end, you will be unable to reenter the stable or take photos with the wrestlers.
To book for groups of more than ten people, please send a request here.