Tokyo Sumo Wrestling: Chair Seating, Chanko Nabe & Hands-On Training

Inside a Tokyo Sumo Stable: Watch Training, Wrestle, Eat Like a Rikishi

You watch sumo wrestlers train from a chair at ringside, try wrestling yourself, eat chanko nabe with the athletes, and ask them questions in English with your guide translating. Photography happens after practice ends. The whole experience runs about four hours from central Tokyo, with train travel included, and you return by early afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sumo training and dining experience

• Meet at 7:45 AM
• Train to Matsudo station
• Train to Kunugiyama
• Watch sumo training front-row
• Try sumo wrestling firsthand
• Take photos with wrestlers
• Enjoy chanko-nabe stew dining
• Learn sumo rituals and history

The experience

You meet your guide at 7:45 AM near central Tokyo, and within twenty minutes you're on a train heading northeast toward Matsudo. The commute itself is ordinary (salarymen with coffee, the hum of the Chiyoda Line), but the moment you step into Asahiyama beya, something shifts. A wrestler nods at you from across the practice floor. Your guide settles you into a chair positioned right at the edge of the dohyo, and for the next hour you watch men who weigh 150 kilos throw each other across the ring with a sound like thunder. There's no glass between you and them. When one wrestler slips, you hear his feet scrape the clay.

After the session ends, the wrestlers come over. Your guide translates as you ask them questions: why they train so early, how long it takes to reach this level, what they eat besides chanko nabe. Then comes the part that stays with you: you actually step into the ring and try to push one of them. You don't move him. He laughs, adjusts his stance, and shows you where you went wrong. A photographer captures it. You're sweating, grinning, and suddenly you understand why sumo training is not a performance. It's a life.

Downstairs in the dining room, you sit at a low table with two or three of the wrestlers and eat chanko nabe, the hearty stew they cook every day. It's chicken, vegetables, tofu, all simmered in a broth that tastes like home cooking, not restaurant food. The wrestlers eat fast and a lot. Your guide explains the rituals: why they salt the ring, what the hand gestures mean, how a wrestler's rank determines everything from which door he enters to where he sleeps in the stable. If you're vegetarian, they've prepared a separate pot. The whole thing takes about four hours from pickup to when you're back on the train heading south.

This isn't a performance or a museum exhibit. It's a working stable, and you're there because the wrestlers and the stable master have decided to let you in. Bring your phone for photos. You'll want them. Wear clothes you don't mind getting a little dusty, and eat breakfast before you go, because the chanko nabe comes late in the morning and you'll be hungry by then.

What’s included

Your tour includes hotel or central Tokyo pickup at 7:45 AM, train fare to Matsudo and Kunugiyama stations, comfortable chair seating during the sumo training session at Asahiyama beya, a hands-on wrestling experience where you try to push a professional wrestler, photography with the athletes after practice, an authentic chanko nabe lunch eaten with the wrestlers (vegetarian option available with 3 days' notice), a personal Q&A session with the athletes in English, and a comprehensive English-speaking guide who explains sumo rituals, history, and the stable's daily life. Return to central Tokyo by early afternoon.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:45Last departure this season: 28 Dec

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 26

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Omotenashi-Japan

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see real sumo training without arranging transport, timing yourself, or figuring out how to enter a stable. The guide handles the logistics and the wrestlers' hospitality makes you feel like you're part of their day, not observing it from outside.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What time does the tour start?

Meeting is at 7:45 AM. You then take two train rides (19 minutes to Matsudo, then 15 minutes to Kunugiyama station) before arriving at the stable.

Can I take photos with the wrestlers?

Yes. Photography is allowed after the training session ends. You can also take photos during the chanko nabe meal.

What if I'm vegetarian?

A vegetarian version of chanko nabe is available. You must notify the tour operator at least 3 days before your booking.

How long is the entire tour?

About four hours total, including train travel from central Tokyo, the training session, wrestling experience, and the chanko nabe meal.

Do I need to be fit to wrestle?

The hands-on wrestling is brief and playful: the wrestler shows you the basics and you try to push him. It's not competitive or strenuous.

Is the stable wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the stable is wheelchair accessible, and public transportation to the site has accessible options.

What's included in the price?

Chair seating at practice, the hands-on wrestling experience, chanko nabe lunch, photos with wrestlers, a personal Q&A session, and an English-speaking guide throughout.

What should I wear?

Wear comfortable clothes you don't mind getting dusty. Avoid formal wear. You'll be sitting and moving around a working training space.

Can the tour be cancelled due to weather?

The itinerary may change due to weather, transportation, or scheduling reasons. Check your confirmation message for details and the stable's contact information.