Sports & Sumo · Ryogoku

Ryogoku Kokugikan 両国国技館

The national sumo hall, home to Tokyo's three Grand Sumo Tournaments each year (January, May, September; 15 days each). Outside tournaments there are no bouts, but the small Sumo Museum is free.

HoursTournament days ~8:30–18:00; Sumo Museum weekdays 10:00–16:30

ClosedNo bouts outside Jan/May/Sep tournaments; museum closed weekends/holidays

PriceChair seat C (cheapest reserved): ¥3,800
Masu box seat (4 people): ¥38,000
Same-day general ticket: ¥2,200

Getting thereRyogoku Station (JR West Exit), 2 min; Ryogoku Station (Oedo Line), 5 min

Time needed3–4 hours (tournament)

Best timeMid-afternoon during a January, May or September tournament

Address1-3-28 Yokoami, Sumida City, Tokyo

Websitesumo.or.jp/En

About

The Kokugikan holds 11,000 spectators around a raised clay ring under a suspended Shinto-style roof. Tokyo hosts three of the six annual honbasho: January, May and September (other tournaments are in Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka). Each runs 15 days from a Sunday; lower-division bouts begin around 8:30–9:00 and the top makuuchi division enters at roughly 15:40 with the ring-entering ceremony, finishing around 18:00. Seats range from cheap upper-tier chairs to four-person masu box seats on cushions. Tickets go on sale about a month before each tournament on the official Ticket Oosumo site and sell out fast; a limited number of same-day tickets are sold from early morning. The free Sumo Museum is open on weekdays outside tournaments (only to ticket holders during tournaments).

Highlights

Three Tokyo Grand Tournaments: January, May and September
Top-division ring-entering ceremony around 15:40
Masu box seats on cushions close to the ring
Chanko-nabe stew sold in the basement during tournaments
Free Sumo Museum with banzuke rankings and woodblock prints

Tips

Next Tokyo tournament: January 2027, tickets usually go on sale about one month before
Same-day tickets (~¥2,200, cash) go on sale around 7:45; every person must queue in person
Arrive early to watch wrestlers enter on 'iri-dachi' walkway
Avoid resale sites, buy only via Ticket Oosumo
Outside tournaments, wander Ryogoku for chanko-nabe restaurants and stable practice viewing

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09

Plan it in Tabitomo

Save Ryogoku Kokugikan to your trip, see reviews and photos from travelers, and get directions.

Open in the app

Ryogoku Kokugikan 両国国技館

About

Highlights

Tips

Nearby