Sumo in Japan 2026 Ticket Guide

How to Watch Sumo in Japan 2026: Complete Tournament Schedule, Tickets & Visitor Guide

2026 Grand Sumo Tournament Schedule

Japan holds 6 Grand Sumo Tournaments (本場所, honbasho) per year, each lasting 15 days. They rotate between 4 cities:

Tournament	Dates	City	Venue	Ticket Sale Date
January (初場所)	Jan 11–25	Tokyo	Ryogoku Kokugikan	Dec 6, 2025
March (春場所)	Mar 8–22	Osaka	EDION Arena Osaka	Feb 7, 2026
May (夏場所)	May 10–24	Tokyo	Ryogoku Kokugikan	Apr 4, 2026
July (名古屋場所)	Jul 12–26	Nagoya	IG Arena	May 16, 2026
September (秋場所)	Sep 13–27	Tokyo	Ryogoku Kokugikan	Aug 8, 2026
November (九州場所)	Nov 8–22	Fukuoka	Fukuoka Kokusai Center	Sep 19, 2026

Tokyo hosts 3 tournaments per year (Jan, May, Sep), making it the easiest city to catch sumo. Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka each host one.

All tournaments run on the same daily schedule: doors open around 8:00, lower-division matches start at 8:30, top-division (makuuchi) bouts begin around 15:30, and the final match ends by 18:00.

Ticket Types & Prices

Ryogoku Kokugikan (Tokyo) Pricing

Seat Type	Price	Notes
Tamari (溜席) — Ringside	¥20,000	Floor cushion, closest to ring. Ages 16+ only (safety). Risk of wrestlers landing on you
Masu A (マス席A) — Box Seat	¥12,500/person (4-person box)	Traditional Japanese-style box for 4. Weekend/holiday price
Masu B	¥11,000/person	Slightly farther from ring
Masu C	¥10,000/person	Upper-tier boxes
Chair SS	¥11,000	Individual western-style seat, great view
Chair S	¥6,500	Good balance of view and price
Chair A	¥5,000	Recommended for budget visitors
Chair B	¥3,800	Upper level, still clear view
Chair C	¥3,500 (weekday)	Cheapest option. Weekday only

Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka have slightly different layouts and prices, but the general structure (tamari → masu → chair) is the same. Non-Tokyo venues are generally easier to get tickets for.

Which Seat Should You Choose?

First-time visitors on a budget: Chair A or S seats (¥5,000-¥6,500). Clear view, comfortable, affordable
Want the authentic experience: Masu A or B box seats. Sit on the floor Japanese-style, share snacks with friends
Once-in-a-lifetime splurge: Tamari ringside (¥20,000). Inches from the action — but no food/drink allowed, and wrestlers may crash into you
Group of 4: Book a full Masu box — it's a private seating area and the most social way to watch

How to Buy Sumo Tickets

Official Channels

Ticket Oosumo (sumo.pia.jp/en) — The official English-language ticket site. Best option for international visitors. Pick up tickets at the venue on match day
Sumo.or.jp — Japan Sumo Association official site. English page available
Convenience store terminals — Lawson/Seven-Eleven/FamilyMart ticket machines (Japanese only)

Key Dates to Remember

Tickets go on sale 4-6 weeks before each tournament. Popular days (weekends, final days) sell out within minutes. Set a calendar reminder for:

Tournament	On-Sale Date
January	December 6, 2025
March	February 7, 2026
May	April 4, 2026
July	May 16, 2026
September	August 8, 2026
November	September 19, 2026

Tips for Getting Tickets

Weekdays are easier — Weekend and final-day tickets sell out fastest. Mid-week (Tue-Thu) in the first week has the best availability
Morning-only tickets — Some venues sell discounted same-day tickets for the morning session (lower divisions). Check the venue box office on the day
Non-Tokyo = easier — Fukuoka and Nagoya tournaments have significantly less competition for tickets than Tokyo
TIXVOY — If official tickets are sold out, check TIXVOY for resale listings or post a Buying Request

Venue Guide: All 4 Sumo Cities

Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo (3 tournaments/year)

The spiritual home of sumo. Capacity: ~11,000.

Access	Details
JR Ryogoku Station	Sobu Line, West Exit → 2 min walk
Toei Oedo Line Ryogoku Station	Exit A3 → 5 min walk

Ryogoku neighborhood: The area around Kokugikan is sumo's heartland — sumo stables (部屋), chanko-nabe restaurants (sumo hot pot), and the Sumo Museum (free entry on tournament days) are all within walking distance.

Must-do: Eat chanko-nabe at a restaurant near Ryogoku Station. This protein-rich hot pot is the traditional sumo diet, and several restaurants are run by retired wrestlers.

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Japan Grand Sumo 2026 Tickets｜All Dates

2026-01-11 ~ 2026-11-22

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EDION Arena Osaka (March)

Access	Details
Metro Namba Station	Walk 10 min, or Metro Namba → Namba Grand Kaiyuu Route
JR Namba Station	10 min walk

Located in central Osaka near Namba. The March tournament coincides with the start of cherry blossom season in Kansai — combine sumo with hanami at Osaka Castle or Kyoto.

IG Arena, Nagoya (July)

Access	Details
Nagoya Station	Bus ~30 min to IG Arena
Meitetsu/JR	Multiple options depending on exact location

July in Nagoya is hot and humid (30-35°C). The arena has air conditioning, but plan your travel accordingly. Nagoya is famous for miso katsu, hitsumabushi (grilled eel), and tebasaki chicken wings.

Fukuoka Kokusai Center (November)

Access	Details
Subway Gofukumachi Station	Hakozaki Line, 5 min walk
From Hakata Station	Subway ~10 min

The November tournament in Fukuoka is the coziest — the smallest venue creates an intimate atmosphere. November weather is comfortable (10-15°C), and Fukuoka's food scene (Hakata ramen, yatai stalls, mentaiko) makes it a great travel destination.

Regional Tours (巡業, Jungyo)

Beyond the 6 official tournaments, sumo wrestlers travel across Japan for exhibition tours (巡業):

Spring Jungyo (春巡業): March-April, after the Osaka tournament
Summer Jungyo (夏巡業): August, between Nagoya and September tournaments
Autumn Jungyo (秋巡業): October, after the September tournament
Winter Jungyo (冬巡業): December, after the Fukuoka tournament

Jungyo events are single-day shows held at local arenas, sports centers, and even temples across Japan. They're more relaxed than official tournaments — wrestlers sign autographs, pose for photos, and perform exhibition matches.

Why attend a Jungyo:

Easier to get tickets than honbasho
More interactive — wrestlers are approachable
Held in smaller cities tourists rarely visit — a unique Japan experience
Cheaper tickets (typically ¥3,000-¥10,000)

Check TIXVOY for Jungyo tour tickets.

Wrestlers to Watch in 2026

Rank	Wrestler	Style & Story
Yokozuna	Hoshoryu (霧島)	Nephew of former yokozuna Asashoryu. Technical, aggressive sumo
Yokozuna	Onosato (大の里)	Youngest active yokozuna. Explosive power, rising star
Ozeki	Kotozakura (琴櫻)	Son of former ozeki. Consistent, strong belt technique
Ozeki	Aonishiki (大関)	Seeking yokozuna promotion. One to watch for historic moments

Yokozuna is sumo's highest rank — only achieved by a handful of wrestlers in each generation. Seeing a yokozuna perform the dohyo-iri (ring-entering ceremony) is one of sumo's most spectacular rituals.

What to Expect: A Day at the Sumo

Daily Schedule

Time	What Happens
8:00	Doors open
8:30-10:00	Jonokuchi & Jonidan divisions (lowest ranks)
10:00-12:00	Sandanme & Makushita divisions
12:00-14:00	Juryo division — top-quality matches begin
14:00-15:00	Makuuchi ring-entering ceremony (dohyo-iri) — don't miss this
15:00-18:00	Makuuchi division — the main event. Top wrestlers compete

Tip: Most tourists arrive around 14:00-15:00 for the top-division ceremony and matches. But if you have time, arriving earlier gives you a quieter experience and a chance to see future stars in the lower divisions.

What to Bring & Rules

Shoes off in Masu seats — you'll sit on cushions on the floor
Food & drink allowed (except Tamari seats) — bento boxes, beer, and snacks sold inside
No flash photography during matches
Cheering is welcome — clap, call out wrestler names (especially during the final bouts)
Cushion throwing (座布団投げ) — if a yokozuna is upset by a lower-ranked wrestler, the crowd throws cushions in celebration. Don't panic — it's tradition

Sumo Customs to Know

Salt throwing (塩まき): Top-division wrestlers throw salt into the ring to purify it before their match
Shikiri (仕切り): The ritualized stare-down and preparation before each bout. Wrestlers crouch, stare, and reset multiple times before the actual clash
Gyoji (行司): The referee in traditional robes. His fan signals the winner
Yobidashi (呼出): The announcer who sings each wrestler's name in a distinctive chant

Combining Sumo with Your Japan Trip

Tournament Month	City	Combine With
January	Tokyo	New Year shrine visits, winter illuminations
March	Osaka	Cherry blossom season, Kyoto day trip
May	Tokyo	Golden Week, pleasant spring weather
July	Nagoya	Summer festivals, Takayama/Shirakawa-go day trip
September	Tokyo	Early autumn, pleasant temperatures
November	Fukuoka	Autumn foliage, hot springs in Beppu/Yufuin

FAQ

Q: Do I need to understand Japanese to enjoy sumo?
A: Not at all. Sumo is purely visual — two wrestlers, one ring, push the other out or make them touch the ground. The rules are intuitive. Kokugikan offers English audio guides (¥100 deposit) that explain matches in real time.

Q: How long should I stay at the venue?
A: The full day runs 8:00-18:00, but most visitors spend 3-4 hours (arrive ~14:00, watch top division). You can come and go freely — re-entry is allowed.

Q: Can I see wrestlers outside the arena?
A: Yes. In Ryogoku, wrestlers walk to and from their training stables in the neighborhood. Arrive early morning near the stables to see them in their yukata. During Jungyo tours, wrestlers are especially accessible.

Q: Is sumo suitable for children?
A: Absolutely — it's family-friendly entertainment. Children enjoy the spectacle. Note: Tamari ringside seats require age 16+ for safety.

Q: Which tournament is best for first-time visitors?
A: May in Tokyo — pleasant weather, Ryogoku Kokugikan (the best venue), and mid-year means plenty of momentum in the rankings.

Q: What should I eat at the venue?
A: Kokugikan's signature dish is yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) made in the venue's own kitchen — a must-try. Bento boxes, beer, and snacks are also available. Outside, eat chanko-nabe at a Ryogoku restaurant.

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