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Sumo Tournament Experience in Osaka

By Japan Awaits
Price is S$176 per adult
Features
  • 5h
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation
Overview

The Sumo Tournament Experience in Osaka with Japan Awaits is an experience at the famous Grand Sumo Tournament that occurs only once a year in Osaka(March). The experience allows guests to learn about sumo traditions and culture with an English-speaking tour guide (expert in sumo wrestling) while watching one of the most exciting sports in Japan.

Sumo originated in Japan and is one of Japan’s best-known sports. It is considered as a gendai budo (Japanese martial art) with a history spanning many centuries. The sport is known for its highly regimented rules and strict traditions for its wrestlers. Most sumo wrestlers are required to live in communal heya (sumo training stables) with all aspects of their daily lives, including their meals and how they dress, closely monitored.

Activity location
  • EDION Arena Osaka
    • 3-4-36 Nambanaka, Naniwa-Ku
    • 556-0011, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan
Meeting/Redemption Point
  • EDION Arena Osaka
    • 3-4-36 Nambanaka, Naniwa-Ku
    • 556-0011, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan

Check availability


Osaka Basic Sumo
  • Activity duration is 5 hours5h
    5h
  • English

D-class seats – upper corner balcony
Duration: 4 hours

Language options: English
Starting time: 14:00
Price details
S$176.40 x 1 AdultS$176.40

Total
Price is S$176.40

What's included, what's not

  • What's includedWhat's included
    Premium: A- or S-class seats (front arena section)
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Sumo information and pamphlet
  • What's includedWhat's included
    If selected, Sukiyaki or vegetarian option is available upon request (at least one week in advance).
  • What's includedWhat's included
    English-speaking tour guide (local sumo expert)
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Basic: D-class seats (upper balcony). Binoculars are recommended for a closer view.
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Reserved seat according to selected option:
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Service Fee for Getting the Ticket
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Audio headset
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Banzuke-hyo (a table of rankings)
  • What's includedWhat's included
    If selected, dinner at a local chanko hot pot restaurant to experience what sumo wrestlers eat.
  • What's includedWhat's included
    Standard: B- or C-class seats (main arena). Binoculars are recommended for a closer view.
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Hotel pick-up and drop-off
  • What's excludedWhat's excluded
    Meals and drinks are not included (unless dinner option is selected at checkout).

Know before you book

  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Public transport options are available nearby
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Chanko nabe, also known as “sumo stew”, is a Japanese stew (hot pot) that contains chicken stock as the soup base with various vegetables. Chanko originated from the Ryokoku area and sumo wrestlers are known to eat a lot of it because a large amount of chanko can be cooked at once and many people can eat at the same time, perfect for sumo wrestlers who are hungry from training.
  • If dinner option is selected at checkout, the chanko hot pot dinner without drinks will be the default meal (please let us know if you would prefer sukiyaki, vegetarian, or if you have any other special dietary requirements on the “Special Requirements” field at checkout. Please note that traditional chanko nabe broth is typically made with pork or chicken, but the restaurant may substitute the broth for those who prefer vegetarian option. Please understand that once we have accepted your dinner request, changes cannot be made one week before the tour date.
  • There is no age requirement. Children must be accompanied by adult (18 or older). Adult pricing applies to all guests of any age, except infants and toddlers between age 1 and 3, which are free of charge, as long as they do not occupy a seat (infants must sit on parents’ laps).
  • Before the tour, please notify us if you or someone in your group will be in a wheelchair. Please note that there is a wheelchair storage area on the ground floor of the stadium; however, your seats will be on the second floor. Guests must be able to climb up the stairs on their own (or with the help from a family member) as staff from Edion Arena will not be able to assist guests.
  • No outside food or drinks are allowed in the arena, but food is available for purchase from vendors within the arena.
  • Please note that there may be a wait prior to seating, as we must wait for all sumo matches to end before entering. There may also be congestion at the Sumo Museum, in which the tour guide may ask guests to visit on their own since it would be difficult to walk around with a large group in a congested area.
  • When do the sumo tournaments take place in Japan?
  • The official basho (tournaments) take place six times a year at various locations with each tournament lasting 15 days (start date and end date both land on Sundays). The exact dates vary, but takes place on the same months each year:
  • January Tournament: Tokyo
  • March Tournament: Osaka
  • May Tournament: Tokyo
  • July Tournament: Nagoya
  • September Tournament: Tokyo
  • November Tournament: Fukuoka
  • Sumo originated in Japan and is one of Japan’s best-known sports. It is considered as a gendai budo (Japanese martial art) with a history spanning many centuries. The sport is known for its highly regimented rules and strict traditions for its wrestlers. Most sumo wrestlers are required to live in communal heya (sumo training stables) with all aspects of their daily lives, including their meals and how they dress, closely monitored.
  • How far in advance should I book?
  • Preparing an event requires some time, especially if reservations for restaurants or other venues are required. We recommend making a reservation as early as possible. Ideally, it should be 3 months before your travel date, or 1 month before the travel date at the very least. We may not be able to arrange your event in time so your booking request may be cancelled and you will receive a full refund.
  • Why am I charged a service fee if I make a cancellation after you started planning the trip?
  • Organising and planning a trip or event requires a lot of time and if we have made reservations on your behalf, it may be very challenging to cancel some booking requests. Once we receive your booking and will start arranging your tour guide, buying tickets, making reservations at venues for your tour, etc.
  • Please also note that group tickets are released by the Sumo Association about 4 – 7 weeks before the tour date; if we are unable to obtain the tickets, we will notify guests within 4 weeks before the tour and will offer an alternative tour date or full refund.
  • Using audio headsets, you’ll clearly be able to hear the expert guide explain the history and culture of sumo wrestling, as well as learn about some of the most famous sumo wrestlers throughout history and today in Japan. Enjoy the intense matches with explanations from your expert guide and cheer on your favourite sumo wrestlers along with dedicated local fans.
  • What if I’m late?
  • We ask that all guests arrive at the location at least 10 minutes before the designated meet-up time. Since this is a group tour, we may not be able to wait for you if you are late. The tour will begin without the late guests and you can meet the rest of the group at the next location. Guests are provided with the tour guides’ phone number before the tour and you can call the tour guide if you need to meet the group in the next location.
  • The meeting point will be included in the tour details sent to your email at least one week before the tour date.
  • Seat Information:
  • Basic (D Seats): Located in the upper corners of the arena with a full but distant view of the ring. The arena is compact, so visibility remains clear. Binoculars are recommended for a closer view.
  • Standard (B/C Seats): Comfortable chair seats with good visibility of the ring and atmosphere. Binoculars are recommended for the best experience.
  • Premium (A/S Seats): Front arena seats closest to the ring, offering the most immersive and exciting view of the matches.
  • Seat type is assigned based on the option selected. All seats are reserved in advance by Japan Awaits.
  • Japan Awaits is a licensed tour operator in Japan, with hundreds of registered and vetted tour guides nationwide. We offer tours in any location in Japan and manage all details, including transport and tickets. Visit Japan Awaits to learn more about our tours or enquire about a custom experience today.

Activity itinerary

EDION Arena Osaka
  • Admission ticket included
The Sumo Tournament Experience is a 4-hour experience at the official basho (sumo tournament) with a group of up to 24 people (minimum of 15 people is required to operate this tour) On this tour, not only will you learn about many ancient Japanese traditions that have been preserved in sumo, including ritual elements such as the use of salt purification, you’ll also get to cheer on and greet the most famous sumo wrestlers in Japan as they are entering the stadium for their big match. Once you are inside of the stadium, you’ll be seated at B or C-class reserved seats, which has the best view of the match with chair seating in the stadium. You’ll learn about the history and culture of sumo wrestling, as well as learn about some of the most famous sumo wrestlers throughout history and today in Japan. Enjoy the intense matches with explanations from your expert guide and cheer on your favourite sumo wrestlers along with dedicated local fans.

Location

Activity location
  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    EDION Arena Osaka
    • 3-4-36 Nambanaka, Naniwa-Ku
    • 556-0011, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan
Meeting/Redemption Point
  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    EDION Arena Osaka
    • 3-4-36 Nambanaka, Naniwa-Ku
    • 556-0011, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan

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