Ryogoku Kokugikan: Sumo Tournament Dates, Tickets and the Sumo Museum

The Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo arena in Tokyo, a large building with a green tiled roofPhoto: 江戸村のとくぞう (Edomura no Tokuzo) / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Areas
Photo: 江戸村のとくぞう (Edomura no Tokuzo) / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

My List

Researched guide · Checked on Nov 11, 2026

Ryogoku Kokugikan is Tokyo’s sumo arena, a one-minute walk from JR Ryogoku Station. Three of the six grand sumo tournaments each year are held here, in January, May and September, and the free Sumo Museum is on the 1st floor. This page covers the tournament dates, how to buy tickets, what a day at the arena is like and how to get there. For more on sumo, see our sumo in Tokyo guide, and for the area, our Ryogoku guide.

Quick facts

Tournament monthsJanuary, May and September, 15 days each. Next: January 10 to 24, 2027
TicketsSold online on the official Ticket Oosumo English site. Tickets for the January 2027 tournament go on sale December 5, 2026
Ticket prices (approx.)Chair seats about ¥3,500 to ¥5,500 per person. Box seats (masu-seki) about ¥34,000 to ¥42,000 per box for four. A handling fee is added
Sumo Museum1st floor. Free. 10:00 to 16:30 (enter by 16:00) on regular days. Closed Saturdays, Sundays and holidays (with some exceptions). On tournament days 12:30 to 16:00, with a tournament ticket
Nearest stationJR Sobu Line Ryogoku Station, about a 1-minute walk. Toei Oedo Line Ryogoku Station Exit A4, about a 5-minute walk
Address1-3-28 Yokoami, Sumida City, Tokyo
Last checkedNovember 2026
The Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo arena in Tokyo, a large building with a green tiled roof
Photo: 江戸村のとくぞう (Edomura no Tokuzo) / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tokyo tournament dates

Each tournament lasts 15 days. Advance tickets go on sale about a month before the first day.

TournamentDatesTickets on sale
January 2027January 10 to 24, 2027December 5, 2026
May 2027May 9 to 23, 2027April 10, 2027
September 2027September 12 to 26, 2027August 7, 2027

The other three tournaments are held outside Tokyo, in Osaka (March), Nagoya (July) and Fukuoka (November).

How to buy tickets

  • Check the dates first: find the tournament dates and the day tickets go on sale on the Japan Sumo Association’s schedule page.
  • Choose your seat: box seats (masu-seki) are Japanese-style boxes where you sit on the floor, for up to four people. Chair seats are like the seats at a normal stadium and are easier for most visitors.
  • Buy online: the Japan Sumo Association lists Ticket Oosumo English as its English ticket site.
  • Avoid resale tickets: tickets bought on resale sites or through social media may not let you in.

How to enjoy a day at the arena

  • Doors open early. For the January 2027 tournament, doors are planned to open at 8:45 on days 1 to 12, 10:30 on days 13 and 14, and 10:00 on the final day. Check the notes for each tournament, as times can change.
  • Eating: you can eat and drink at your seat (but not in the ringside tamari seats). Bento, snacks and drinks are sold inside, and you are asked not to bring in your own food and drinks.
  • Re-entry: you can leave and come back once a day. Keep your ticket stub.
  • Tickets for children: everyone aged 4 and over needs a ticket.
  • Manners: stay in your own seat, do not move during a bout, do not touch the wrestlers or judges, and never throw seat cushions.
  • Visit the Sumo Museum: on tournament days it is open 12:30 to 16:00 for ticket holders. It shows woodblock prints, ranking lists (banzuke) and ceremonial aprons, and the exhibits change through the year.
  • Around the arena: please do not wait outside to see the wrestlers arrive or leave, as it causes trouble for the neighbors.

Getting there

  • JR Sobu Line, Ryogoku Station: about a 1-minute walk.
  • Toei Oedo Line, Ryogoku Station Exit A4: about a 5-minute walk.
  • There is no parking, so come by train.

The Edo-Tokyo Museum is close by, and Asakusa is just across the Sumida River. See our Ryogoku guide to plan the rest of your day.

FAQ

When is sumo held at Ryogoku Kokugikan?

Three tournaments a year, in January, May and September. In 2027 they run January 10 to 24, May 9 to 23 and September 12 to 26.

How do I buy sumo tickets in English?

Use the official Ticket Oosumo English site listed by the Japan Sumo Association. Tickets go on sale about a month before each tournament; for January 2027 the date is December 5, 2026.

How much are sumo tickets?

As a guide, chair seats cost about ¥3,500 to ¥5,500 per person, and a box seat for four costs about ¥34,000 to ¥42,000, plus a handling fee. Prices can vary.

Is the Sumo Museum free?

Yes. It is open 10:00 to 16:30 on regular weekdays. During a tournament you need a tournament ticket to enter, and the hours are 12:30 to 16:00.

How do I get to Ryogoku Kokugikan?

It is about a 1-minute walk from JR Ryogoku Station on the Sobu Line, or about 5 minutes from Exit A4 of the Toei Oedo Line Ryogoku Station.

Keep reading

Sources

This page is based on the official information below, not on our own visit. Last checked: November 2026. Facts last checked against official sources on November 11, 2026. Dates, prices and rules can change, so please check before you go.