🏯 How to Buy Sumo Tickets

🎌 1. About Professional Sumo

Sumo is Japan’s traditional wrestling sport.
There are six Grand Tournaments (Honbasho) held every year, each lasting 15 days.

Tournament	City	Month
Hatsu Basho	Tokyo (Ryogoku Kokugikan)	January
Haru Basho	Osaka	March
Natsu Basho	Tokyo	May
Nagoya Basho	Nagoya	July
Aki Basho	Tokyo	September
Kyushu Basho	Fukuoka	November

🎟️ 2. Ticket Types

Type	Description	Price Range
Masu-seki（Box Seat）	Tatami-style box for 4 people	¥38,000–¥44,000 per box
Pair Seat / Family Seat	Seats for 2–4 people, on chairs	¥10,000–¥20,000
Arena Seats (A/B/C)	Single chair seats	¥3,000–¥9,000
Same-day Ticket (自由席)	Limited tickets sold at the venue morning	around ¥2,000

💡 Tip: Box seats are traditional, but chair seats are more comfortable for foreigners.

💻 3. How to Buy

(1) 🏅 Official Site: Ticket O-SUMO (チケット大相撲)

🔗 https://www.sumo.or.jp/

Official ticket website by Japan Sumo Association
English page available
Payment: Credit card / Convenience store
Tickets released about 1 month before each tournament

(2) 🎫 Ticket Agencies（プレイガイド）

You can also buy tickets through:

Ticket Pia
Lawson Ticket (ローチケ)
e+ (イープラス)

👉 Search “大相撲” or “Sumo”.

(3) 🏢 Same-day Tickets（当日券）

Sold at the stadium around 7:00–8:00 AM (except opening day)
First-come, first-served
Only a few hundred tickets available
Cash only, 1 ticket per person
💡 If you want one, go early! (around 6 AM)

(4) 🧳 Travel Agency Package（旅行会社パック）

Some agencies (e.g. JTB, HIS) offer Sumo + Hotel packages.
✅ Easier for tourists
✅ Good for sold-out days
💰 Slightly more expensive, but guaranteed seat.

🕓 4. When to Buy（購入タイミング）

Timing	What happens
1 month before	Official sale opens
2–3 weeks before	Weekend tickets sell out
1 week before	Only weekday seats left
On the day	Possible same-day tickets (few only)

👀 5. Extra Tips（豆知識）

Arrive early to see sumo wrestlers entering the arena (入り待ち)
Try the “Yakitori” (grilled chicken) sold only inside Ryogoku Kokugikan 🍢
Don’t miss ring-entering ceremony (土俵入り) around 3:30 PM
Take photos before the matches (no flash during bouts)
You can buy souvenirs inside — T-shirts, towels, etc.

🧾 Example of Step-by-Step Purchase（購入手順例）

1️⃣ Go to → https://sumo.or.jp
2️⃣ Click “Tickets (English)”
3️⃣ Choose Tournament → Date → Seat Type
4️⃣ Pay by Credit Card
5️⃣ Print ticket at 7-Eleven or show QR code at entrance

📍 6. Venue Example: Ryogoku Kokugikan (Tokyo)

📍 Address: 1-3-28 Yokoami, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
🚉 Access: 1 min from Ryogoku Station (JR Sobu Line)
⏰ Open: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM during tournaments
🥢 Food: Yakitori, bento boxes, beer inside

✨ 7. English Summary

“Buy early, go early, and enjoy Japan’s most traditional sport.”
– The earlier you buy, the better the seats.
– Even if you don’t understand the rules, the atmosphere is incredible!