Explore Ryogoku, the center of Japan’s sumo world! Accompany your guide to Ryogoku, home to the Kokugikan Sumo Stadium and most of Tokyo’s sumo heyas, or stables. All rikishi or wrestlers belong to these heyas and you can visit one of them to see how they live, eat and train. Get up close and personal with these giant men and watch their morning training session, also called asa geiko. Watch the less eminent wrestlers, who wake up earliest in the morning, put in some practice before going about their assigned duties, while high-ranking wrestlers practice between 7 and 10 am. After several hours of warm up and technique practice, watch the wrestler’s indulge in a game of ‘King of the Castle’ – one wrestler stays inside the ring and fights with all the others until he is defeated! As the end time for training is in flux, the tour disbands at the stable. You will need to make your own onward arrangements.
(Time of the day: Morning, Duration: 2 hrs; One way transfer included; Please note that you will travel to the area by public transport (subway and local trains); Fitness Level: Moderate. Please note that you will have to sit on tatami matting as seats are unavailable. Small children may not be allowed. Please observe absolute silence so as not to disturb the wrestlers. This tour is not available in March, July and November.)