Early Morning Sumo Practice in Tokyo and the Sumo Museum
Walking / Public Transportation Tour ( Contact guide for other options )
In this tour you will be able to:
• observe sumo practice up close in a Tokyo Sumo stable
• visit the Sumo museum in Kokugikan
Itinerary
Feel free to personalize this offer with Kaoruko.
- Observe early morning Sumo practice
- Visit the Sumo museum in Kokugikan
Want to personalize this tour?
- Our tours can be customized according to your needs and preferences
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What to Expect
Overview:
According to Japanese mythology, one of the many theories about the origin of Sumo tells the tale of a fight to the death between two legendary fighters, Nominosukune and Taimanokehaya that took place around 36 BC during the period of the 11th Emperor Suinin.
In ancient times, it was practiced as a part of agricultural and Shinto rituals, so it still includes many traditional ceremonial elements to this day. Sumo was established as Japan's national sport in 1909, and continues to be one of the most popular sports in Japan.
In this tour you will be able to observe sumo practice up close in a Tokyo Sumo stable.
• The practice begins at 8:00 am and finishes at 11:00 am (practice may finish at 10:30 am depending on the stable's schedule).
• We will need to sit on hardwood floor (with thin cushion) for about 2 to 3 hours, and must remain quiet to respect the wrestlers who are practicing.
• Since Japanese people are rather sensitive to noise and manners; we will need to avoid chatting with each other, eating, or drinking during the practice.
• Photos are allowed but no flash.
• Taking videos of training and uploading these videos to the internet is prohibited.
• Only children 11 years and older are allowed.
Information of 2018 〜 2019 Sumo tournament schedules and local tours
Nov. 11 – 25, 2018 in Fukuoka, Kyushu
Jan. 13 – 27, 2019 in Tokyo
Mar. 10 – 24, 2019 in Osaka
May. 13 – 26, 2019 in Tokyo
Jul. 7 – 21, 2019 in Nagoya
Sep. 8 – 22, 2019 in Tokyo
Nov. 10-24, 2019 in Fukuoka, Kyushu
There will be no morning practice in Tokyo stable during (even two to three weeks before) the period of tournaments in Fukuoka, Osaka, Nagoya.
In April, July, September and December after the tournaments, they might not have morning practice every day due to their local touring schedules.
Departure & Return
Inclusions & Exclusions
The price of the tour includes tour guide's fee, her transportation, and hotel pick-up and drop-off.
Other costs, such as gratuity to the Sumo stable (3,300 yen per person including 10% consumption tax as of Oct.1st.) and guest’s transportation fee (approximately 1,000 JPY, which will vary depending on location of the hotel) are not included.
Important
Important messages from the guide:
・Before you book this tour, please contact me so I can ask whether there will be practice on the requested dates, and about availability of seats.
・When you go and observe the practice, please prepare a gratuity to the Sumo stable (3,300 yen per person including 10% consumption tax as of Oct.1st.).
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 30 days prior to meeting date
- 50% Refund - 15 to 29 days prior to meeting date
- No Refund - Within 14 day(s) prior to meeting date
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make changes after I book?
Yes! If you need to make changes such as removing or adding someone to your booking or changing the date or time of your tour, contact us by phone or email
Starting and ending points of the tour.
After you secure your booking, the starting and ending points of your tour can be customized to your convenience (ex.: your hotel, nearby stations, etc.). Don't worry, we will take care of you! Some tours may have an extra fee for this service, make sure to check the tour page.
What happens after I book a tour?
After booking a tour, the guide will accept (or decline) your booking within 24 hours. Then you will be noticed by email from Triplelights.
Is the price per person or per group?
The price is charged per group. Which means that you make a one-time payment for your entire group and the price will not change if it is less or more people.
Can I add more people to my booking?
Some guides accept extra people (more than the specified number) for an extra charge. Please check for the extras on the tour or booking page, or contact your guide directly to clarify.
Will there be other tourists in my tour?
No. Your tour is private, only for you and your family or friends, there will be no other group of tourists together in your tour.
Can the guide pickup me at the airport?
Yes, but there will be additional charge for that and it is not by car. The guide will go pick you up using public transportations. For further details, please contact your guide directly.
I'm travelling alone. Can I book this tour?
Yes, you can and you may be able to get a discount if you are traveling alone. Price depends on which guide you choose.
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“ Visited Sumo Practice ”
I was able to get in touch with Kaoruko and arranged watching Sumo Practice in the morning. She met us at the Ryokan we were staying at and showed us through the stations to get the practice. Normally she would take us to the Sumo museum afterwards, but due to a tournament taking place during the same time, the museum wasn't available. She offered to take us to Old Tokyo, which we agreed to but didn't know what we were in for. While I appreciated going out to check out the location and see the sights, I wasn't briefed on how far it was away from central Tokyo, nor was I really prepared for a museum on a Japanese actor/movie series that I wasn't even aware of. I was told it was a beloved series in Japan, but it was lost on me because I've never heard of it before we walked in to it. All o... read more
I regretted guiding you there. I thought that you might like old Tokyo simply because that you stayed Ryokan. Actually I guided three groups there in the past and they all liked the place. So it has a good reputation. Thank you anyway for your comment and best regards to your mother. Kaoruko
“ Summo practice ”
Kaoruko was very professional and explained us the world of Summo. Very good English and lots of empathy made Kaoruko a very good and enjoyable guide.
Thank you very much for this nice review. I wished that I could communicate with you in Portuguese even in some words! Anyways, I hope you will have a wonderful trip in Japan! Best regards, Kaoruko
“ The sumo practice was a highlight of our trip ”
We learned a lot about the sumo wrestling sport, and about its history on the sumo early morning practice and sumo museum tour. Kaoruko was on time, and she was very informative. She was very nice and made our time together a pleasant experience.
Thank you for this nice review. I'm glad to know that you liked the tour. I enjoyed guiding you too. I hope that you will have a nice time and good experience while you travel in Japan! Thank you again and best regards, Kaoruko
“ A highlight of our short time in tokyo ”
Kaoruko was punctual & a wonderful guide. She speaks fluent English & French. She took us by train to the stables from our apartment in Shibuya. I was surprised how long this took. We did not arrive until around 9am to the stables. There was also NO museum experience as was promoted which was disappointing- However it was an incredible experience being permitted to enter the stable and the training room to see these very big, impressive men dressed only in a loin cloth and smeared with clay from the practice ring, their toes and fingers bandaged, stretching and sparring in turn with each other. We were very disappointed that the sesssion ended only 10 minutes after our arrival. Training had been cut unexpectedly short due to an event. Kaoruku was very apologetic and with her assistance we ... read more
Rosa-san Thank you for this nice review. I realy enjyed quiding you. You are very gentle and yourd children are all so beautiful! I realy felt sorry for the short practice but at least you had chance to see real tournament. I hope that you will have good time in Hakuba! Thank you and best regards, Kaoruko
“ excellent tour ”
Kaoruko was fantastic! she was really helpful when I got of at the wrong stop and even met me at the station I was at. She introduced us to some sumo and even gave us a gift from the sumo. Excellent experience, highly recommend her as a guide.
Susie, Thank you for your nice review!! I loved to see you both who are enjoying to be in Tokyo!! Kaoruko
