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Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo hall and its drum tower

Culture & history

Sumo & traditional theater

The roar around the sumo ring, a kabuki actor's frozen pose, puppets that seem alive in bunraku, the stillness of noh. See Japan's stages live.

Travel tips

  • Grand sumo tournaments run six times a year for 15 days: Tokyo in January, May and September, Osaka in March, Nagoya in July and Fukuoka in November. Tickets can sell out on the day they go on sale.
  • The National Theatre in Tokyo has been closed for rebuilding since October 2023.

9 places to go

Tap a pin to jump to that place's description.

Kanto

  1. 1

    Ryogoku Kokugikan (Sumo Hall)

    Attraction

    Venue of the January, May and September tournaments, right by JR Ryogoku Station.

    Go hereDetails
  2. 2

    Higashi-ginza

    Station

    Kabukiza theater sits right above Higashi-ginza Station. Single-act seats let you watch just one act.

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  3. 3

    Yoyogi

    Station

    The National Noh Theatre, about 5 minutes' walk from Sendagaya Station, with seat-back subtitles including English.

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Chubu & Hokuriku

  1. 4

    Nagoya Castle

    Attraction

    Since 2025 the July tournament has been held at IG Arena, just north of Nagoya Castle and right outside Meijo Koen subway station.

    Go hereDetails

Kansai

  1. 5

    Namba

    Station

    The March tournament is held at EDION Arena Osaka (Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium), within walking distance of Namba.

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  2. 6

    Gion-Shijo

    Station

    Minamiza, Kyoto's kabuki theater, right by Gion-Shijo Station.

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  3. 7

    Gion / Yasaka Shrine

    Attraction

    Gion Corner shows maiko dance, tea ceremony, kyogen comedy and more in about an hour.

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  4. 8

    Dotonbori

    Attraction

    The National Bunraku Theatre is a walk east from Dotonbori, next to Nippombashi Station in Osaka.

    Go hereDetails

Kyushu

  1. 9

    Nakasu-Kawabata

    Station

    The November tournament venue, Fukuoka Kokusai Center, is about 15 minutes' walk from Nakasu-Kawabata. Buses also run from Hakata Station.

    Go hereDetails

From people who went

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Event dates, operating days, reservation rules and opening hours can change. Please check the official information before you go.

Photo and data credits

Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo hall and its drum tower 江戸村のとくぞう (CC BY-SA 4.0) / The green-roofed main keep of Nagoya Castle against a blue sky Syced (CC0) / The vermilion west gate of Yasaka Shrine facing Shijo Street DXR (CC BY-SA 4.0) / Dotonbori canal at night, lined with illuminated signs Kristoffer Trolle (CC BY 2.0) / Nakasu food stalls by the river at night, busy with diners ｍｍｒｙ0241 (CC BY-SA 3.0). Cropped and resized.