The guide will first explain the origin, history, rules, fun, etc. of sumo.
Sumo wrestlers are working extremely hard to be stronger because their ranking directly affects their income. The morning practice starts before 7:00 a.m. with stretching, warming-up, and a routine of basic sumo movements. We get into the stable around 8:00 a.m. when they start practice matches. You will be overwhelmed by the sounds as you watch wrestlers hit their bodies head-on again and again. By this time, you will realize a huge mass of muscles constitute their bodies. When they stretch to cool down, you are now surprised to see how supple they are, which may be counter-intuitive given their gigantic bodies.
We will mostly have a chance to take photos with them after the practice.
Option: Chanko-nabe lunch
The guide will take you to a chanko-nabe restaurant for lunch. This nutrient dish is in the centerpiece of sumo wrestlers’ diet to gain weight and muscles to build their bodies.
Posted By : BubbleGirl13
We thoroughly enjoyed the practice and seeing how hard the sumo wrestlers work at their sport. To us the only disappointment was that we now have a picture with strangers in it as we were not allowed to take more than one photo. Also our guide Taka’s english is really not fluent enough to explain the sport properly. I speak Japanese and therefore was very conscious that he could not find the vocabulary he needed to engage properly and explain thoroughly. I feel this was even more difficult for the Italian tourists in our group for whom English was also a challenge. These two aspects let down the tour a little for me, especially for the price we paid.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-06-22 21:09:48 
Posted By : ginnydemoulin
The guide was great and clearly passionate about sumo. I leant heaps and it broke most of my preconceived ideas about sumo. Highly suggested for a small group.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-06-21 05:19:48
Posted By : lorenzoe462
Thank you Taka and the stables for a magical experience. I wasn't in town for the Grand Tournament but nothing can replace the intimacy and closeness of viewing the training. You get to see how the rishikis and trainer interact, the small rituals, the sheer dedication involved, the mix of hierarchy and collaboration that make up this unique discipline.
You'd think with modern attention spans sitting in a room watching people spar for 2 hours was boring, but this is far from the case.
Crucially, I didnt feel like we were "intruding" as tourists - the rishikis seemed pretty unphased by our presence and when we took photos at the end actually seemed to enjoy the fact foreigners could express such a deep interest in their craft.
The more senior rishikis certainly don't need the attention, but for the up-and-coming you almost feel you are giving them that extra boost by giving them an audience.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-06-21 05:09:32
Posted By : Carine L
As close as possible to sumos, we witness training where everything is strength and flexibility, an unforgettable moment, it passed too quickly! Sugoi desu. Our guide Taka san was perfect and taught us a lot of things, arigato gosai masu 🙏
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-05-08 23:19:34
Posted By : 425celiaj
Day 4 in Tokyo was a unique experience. We attended a SUMO wrestling training session and learned about the history, training, eating and resting routines of the wrestlers, as well as their ranking system and way of life. Our guide (Jeff) was exceptional, shared detailed knowledge around the topic, friendly and helpful.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-05-02 03:18:23
Posted By : M8291XIingridv
Great tour! Aki is a very friendly and knowledgeable guide. We were early at the sumo stable and could sit front row which was really nice
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-04-25 21:37:14
Posted By : Fred W
Great initial education on sumo, useful especially for someone like me who knew little. Then the chance to watch them practice for a few hours was wonderful. Up close you see how hard they train, what good shape they’re in, how limber and strong they are. Just fascinating. And they huff and puff. And, at the end, most (but not all) were more than willing to take photos with us.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-04-16 04:15:06
Posted By : Z7299HGlisaa
Such a great experience! Our children (14, 10 and 9) were extatic and talked about all the things they saw - and sat still for the entire 2 h which is a great proof of their excitement. Our guide Akimi was really good at explaining and had answers to all our questions.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-04-01 03:24:22
Posted By : Karendx
Great experience. Dawn was very informative as our guide. 100% recommend. Even if you are not a sumo fan it was a cool thing to do.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-02-20 09:49:53
Posted By : adamgQ3015ZZ
We booked this trip on the final day of our stay in Tokyo, right from the comfort of our hotel room using our iPhone. Within minutes, we received a confirmation email specifying the meeting point and introducing our guide, Ms. Yuko. The following morning, Yuko arrived promptly at the scheduled time and immediately took charge of our preliminary sumo education.
Yuko came well-prepared with informative colored booklets and charts, which helped us grasp the intricacies of the sumo ranking system, basic Dojo etiquette, and the morning sumo practice regimen. By the time we stepped into the stable, we felt fully prepared for the experience. Over the next two hours, we were able to fully immerse ourselves in the spirit of sumo, all the while documenting our experience with photos and videos.
Following the sumo practice, we had the privilege to interact with the rikishi and take pictures with them. Yuko continued to assist us in returning to the station, generously offering additional tips about the neighborhood we were exploring. Following her recommendation, we enjoyed a delightful lunch at Asakusa SUMO Club, Chanko & Wanko Restaurant. We highly recommend this experience and commend Ms. Yuko for her excellent guidance. We are planning to book it again for our son's upcoming visit to Tokyo next month.
Rating :
Posted On : 2024-02-18 19:57:14
>
