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Ryogoku Kokugikan
Ryogoku Kokugikan
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
About
Duration: More than 3 hours
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What is Travelers’ Choice?
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  • Alan K
    Santa Clara, California44 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Surreal
    I know nothing about sumo, but since I was going to be there around the Autumn Sumo Basho I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity. I bought a ticket online, I wanted a grand championship ticket but it was like buying anything else in demand online. Every time I tried to check out there'd be an error. I was able to get a ticket for the second to last day, I printed the e-mail and had it exchanged at a 7-Eleven for a ticket. The arena was huge but good sign lines. A lot of other foreigners so staff directed me to my seat in English. I wish I knew to order the food ahead of time and get the full experience. Matches are quick. Everything wrapped up around 6 pm. As you leave there's people in the towers drumming.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written December 22, 2023
  • ritwikras2gi
    10 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Simply fantastic!
    Well planned and designed building. Do not miss the soup in the basement - delicious! However get there early - around 11:30-12 to avoid the lines. The establishments allow you to bring your own yoga chairs to sit on so you have extra padding if required. Ideally 2 people for 1 box is best but 3 may work if you’ve got skinny / small people. They don’t allow food from outside but there’s plenty to eat inside. Bathrooms are immaculate and well located. We got to the venue around 11 so to experience and familiarize ourselves with the rules. That made for much more fun viewing when the upper echelon matches began. Sumo, in my opinion, is a Highly recommended experience for all!
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written January 20, 2024
  • AMJ
    128 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great experience
    Very glad I attended the New Years Sumo Championship, I stayed for an afternoon watching the matches. I was in the stands, the chairs are comfortable, the stadium is clean. In the hallway is food for sale, plus vending machines, a small gift shop area, and you can get some air in some outdoor areas without leaving the stadium. Bathrooms are predictably clean. I'd love to return someday.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled solo
    Written January 29, 2024
  • Josh D
    New York City, New York910 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very entertaining!!
    I am not a big sports dude and I know a lot of football players are business majors and go out with cheerleader girls!! I may be making that up but it is just an assumption I have!! I enjoy boxing and UFC and I enjoy doing boxing lessons!! I went here today to watch sumo with TUJ!! I am a big fan of fat Japanese guys wrestling in their underwear and if I was crazy I may say I’m taking someone to a basketball game and then they would see something very very different!! I have been here all day today watching the junior division and now the professional division and it is very entertaining!!
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written February 10, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles897 reviews
Excellent
553
Very good
231
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These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.

Alan K
Santa Clara, CA44 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Solo
I know nothing about sumo, but since I was going to be there around the Autumn Sumo Basho I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity.

I bought a ticket online, I wanted a grand championship ticket but it was like buying anything else in demand online. Every time I tried to check out there'd be an error. I was able to get a ticket for the second to last day, I printed the e-mail and had it exchanged at a 7-Eleven for a ticket.

The arena was huge but good sign lines. A lot of other foreigners so staff directed me to my seat in English. I wish I knew to order the food ahead of time and get the full experience. Matches are quick. Everything wrapped up around 6 pm. As you leave there's people in the towers drumming.
Written December 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MasCabron23
Columbia, SC414 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Family
Experiencing sumo Wrestling was one of the best memories.
The tradition behind the wrestling matches takes some getting used to but it's still great to watch.
The day is long, the seats are uncomfortable so be prepared or stay for a couple hours to get your fill. There's a museum near by and other things to see and do.
Written February 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Endoplasmic R
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Family
We've been watching sumo wrestling on NHK TV and later on NHK World streaming for almost twenty years. Getting to attend a sumo tournament has been a bucket list item for us for a long time. We were very fortunate to get Yuri as our tour guide from Japan Wonder Travel. Yuri was very enthusiastic about sumo wrestling, and this tournament in particular. We got to sit next to her and she was a delight to have as our match-by-match commentator. We also discovered that we shared a favorite rikishi, Ura. He's quite the acrobat and always fun to watch. To round out our fantastic sumo experience, we lucked out and attended on the day Onosato won the Emperor's Cup. Thanks to Yuri for making it a great sumo experience!!

A couple of points to keep in mind. The afternoon sumo tour does not leave any time to explore the Kokukigan arena grounds or shops-if you're want to watch all the matches. You'll need to step away during the matches to browse the shops before they close at 5:00pm sharp!! The upper arena chair seating got quite warm the day we attended. Dress light, stay hydrated, and bring a small, battery powered fan. After the last match is over, be aware there will be a crush of spectators all leaving at the same time. Hit the restroom before your exit. Nonetheless, everyone demonstrated patience and politeness leaving the arena so the slow pace of exit wasn't that inconvenient.
Written October 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ritwikras2gi
10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Family
Well planned and designed building. Do not miss the soup in the basement - delicious! However get there early - around 11:30-12 to avoid the lines. The establishments allow you to bring your own yoga chairs to sit on so you have extra padding if required. Ideally 2 people for 1 box is best but 3 may work if you’ve got skinny / small people. They don’t allow food from outside but there’s plenty to eat inside. Bathrooms are immaculate and well located. We got to the venue around 11 so to experience and familiarize ourselves with the rules. That made for much more fun viewing when the upper echelon matches began. Sumo, in my opinion, is a Highly recommended experience for all!
Written January 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

roy v
Traralgon, Australia6,020 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022
When in Tokyo we came to this venue to watch the sumo wrestling .
Very impressive we thought, we were up on the second level but could see all the action clearly.
There was a good gift shop there and a place to buy some food and drinks.
Looked colourful as we approached with all the banners fluttering in the breeze.
Don’t know if this venue is just for Sumo or that other shows perform there as well .
Very nice comfortable venue.
Written September 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

chitomode
Iwate Prefecture, Japan1,041 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Solo
It's been a while since I last watched sumo at the Ryogoku Kokugikan.
The sumo wrestlers were tearing the tickets. There were also sumo wrestlers selling merchandise. There were sumo wrestlers everywhere in the arena. It was great to see them as I knew them when they were active.
Watched from chair seats. It was easy enough to see from above. The arena was packed and the atmosphere was great.
Google
Written September 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

nakamura
Akasaka, Japan1,093 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2024 • Friends
Visit to watch grand sumo. It is located a short distance from Ryogoku Station.
I visited Makuuchi at around 16:00, when his efforts began, but the entrance was almost empty and he was able to enter smoothly.
It's not that big, so it's not that hard to find a seat.
Be careful, the kiosks and toilets may get crowded depending on the time of day.
The masuseki seats are more compact than I thought, so if the only members are large adults, it might be quite squeaky.
The venue is both heated and united, and you can experience something that can only be experienced here.
Automatically translated
Written September 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Soness Stevens
10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022
I'd never watched sumo before on TV let alone in person. This was amazing!!! There's an English interpretation if you want to follow along and a guidebook. Just being in the presence of greatness and experiencing sitting in the tatami box seats is a quintessential "Japan" experience.
Written October 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AMJ
128 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Solo
Very glad I attended the New Years Sumo Championship, I stayed for an afternoon watching the matches. I was in the stands, the chairs are comfortable, the stadium is clean. In the hallway is food for sale, plus vending machines, a small gift shop area, and you can get some air in some outdoor areas without leaving the stadium. Bathrooms are predictably clean.
I'd love to return someday.
Written January 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Chaiyasit R
Bangkok, Thailand17 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
Convenient, lots of food to choose from, near 7-11, near Ryogoku train station. The rooms are not very large in Japanese style. There is a maid who comes to make your room every day. Accommodation is 5 nights, good price.
Google
Written April 28, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Ryogoku Kokugikan - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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