Sumo Show & Japanese Food in Sapporo: Challenge the Wrestlers

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.83 (72 reviews) 92% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/13

Duration2h

GroupUp to 6

LanguagesEN · JA

Mobile ticketAccepted

Step into the ring and learn sumo from the athletes who mastered it

A sumo show experience in Sapporo where you watch retired wrestlers demonstrate techniques and compete in a best-of-three match, then challenge them yourself in the ring. The show runs about two hours with an intimate view of the Dohyo from your seat, and includes a commemorative photo with the wrestlers; meal plans add a Japanese cuisine set with chanko-nabe and a drink. A live guide speaks English and Japanese.

The Experience

What makes this different from watching sumo on a screen is that you're standing close enough to feel the impact. The show starts with a deep dive into sumo history—how the sport has evolved over millennia—while you settle into your seat with an intimate view of the Dohyo. You'll see the morning exercises (asa geiko) that real sumo wrestlers perform, learn the specific techniques (kimarite) and the rules that govern the sport, then watch a best-of-three competition between retired wrestlers who still know how to move. The guide walks you through the do's and don'ts before the action starts, so you understand what you're watching.

Then comes the part most people come for: you get to challenge one of the wrestlers to a match in the ring. It's limited to a select few per show—if there are more applicants than spots, challengers are chosen by lottery. This is where the history and technique you just learned become real. You leave with a framed photo of yourself and your group alongside the wrestlers, a tangible reminder of the moment you stepped into the Dohyo.

If you choose a meal plan, a Japanese cuisine set arrives during the show: chanko-nabe (the hearty stew sumo wrestlers eat), wagyu beef sukiyaki, tempura, and a drink. Vegetarian meals are available with at least two days' notice. The whole experience runs about two hours, with a live guide in English or Japanese depending on your group. You'll also take home a gift bag of souvenirs.

What’s included

A two-hour show with sumo history and technique lessons.
demonstrations of morning exercises and wrestling techniques.
a best-of-three match between retired wrestlers.
your own match challenge in the ring (subject to availability).
an intimate Dohyo view from your seat.
a commemorative framed photo with the wrestlers.
a gift bag of souvenirs.
and if you select the Japanese Meal Plan, a set of Japanese cuisine with chanko-nabe, wagyu beef sukiyaki, tempura and one drink.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by 札幌相撲部屋娯楽

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to move beyond watching sumo and actually experience it—the ring, the wrestlers, the rules explained in real time, and a photo that proves you were there. The meal plan makes sense if you want to taste what sumo wrestlers eat; without it, you still get the full show and the photo.