Sumo Tickets in Tokyo: How to Get Them (and What to Do If They're Sold Out)
Planning to see sumo in Tokyo? This is an honest, up-to-date guide to grand tournament tickets — the 2026 dates, where to buy officially, what seats cost, when they go on sale, and which days sell out. And if your trip doesn't line up with a tournament, or tickets are gone, there's a way to see real sumo — and even step onto the ring yourself — any day of the year.
Quick facts
2026 Tokyo tournaments: 11–25 January, 10–24 May, 13–27 September (all at Ryogoku Kokugikan)
Official tickets: Ticket Oosumo (sumo.pia.jp/en) — the only official English seller
Price range: from about ¥2,500 (upper chair seat) to about ¥20,000 (ringside)
On sale: roughly one month before each tournament
No tournament during your trip? You can watch and try real sumo year-round at a hands-on experience (details below)
When are the sumo tournaments in Tokyo?
Tokyo hosts three of the six grand sumo tournaments (honbasho) each year, all at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, and each runs for 15 days. In 2026 the Tokyo dates are:
Tournament | Dates (2026) |
Hatsu Basho (January) | 11–25 |
Natsu Basho (May) | 10–24 |
Aki Basho (September) | 13–27 |
The other three tournaments are held in Osaka (March), Nagoya (July) and Fukuoka (November) — so if you're in Tokyo outside January, May and September, there's no grand tournament in the city.
Where do you buy official sumo tickets?
The official seller for international visitors is Ticket Oosumo (sumo.pia.jp/en), run through Ticket Pia for the Japan Sumo Association. You can also buy at Seven-Eleven stores in Japan and by phone. Tickets are sold first-come, first-served, and seats are assigned by random draw rather than by who pays first.
Be careful with resellers. The Japan Sumo Association warns against third-party resale sites (such as Viagogo, StubHub and "Buy Sumo Tickets"), where prices are inflated, scams happen, and refunds are unlikely. Always start with the official Ticket Oosumo site.
How much do sumo tickets cost?
Prices vary by seat type. Approximate 2026 prices at the Ryogoku Kokugikan:
Seat | Approx. price | Notes |
Ringside (tamari) | around ¥20,000 | Closest to the action; hardest to get |
Box seat (masu) | about ¥8,500–15,000 per box | Japanese-style boxes, seat up to 4 people (price is per box) |
Chair seat (arena) | about ¥3,500–9,500 | Western-style chairs, by row |
Upper chair (cheapest) | from about ¥2,500 adult / ¥500 child | Highest tier; best value |
Because the box seats are sold per box (not per person), they can be good value for small groups, while the upper chair seats are the cheapest way in for a single visitor.
When do sumo tickets go on sale?
Tickets generally go on sale about one month before each tournament. For example, tickets for the September 2026 tournament went on sale on 8 August 2026. For the exact on-sale date for the tournament you want, check the Ticket Oosumo site — and set a reminder, because the best days sell out quickly.
Which days sell out, and how fast?
Not every day is equally hard to get. The toughest tickets are:
Day 1 (the opening day)
The final day (senshuraku), when the championship is often decided
Weekends across the 15 days
These can sell out within hours of going on sale. Weekday afternoons in the middle of the tournament are the easiest to get. If your dates are flexible, aim for a mid-tournament weekday; if you want an opening or closing day, be ready the moment tickets go on sale.
What if tickets are sold out — or your trip isn't during a tournament?
This is the situation for most visitors: the tournament is sold out, or your trip simply doesn't fall in January, May or September. The good news is you can still see real sumo in Tokyo — any day of the year.
At Sunamachi Ginza Sumo Stable, former professional wrestlers perform real bouts up close, and — unlike a tournament, where you watch from the stands — you can put on a real mawashi and step onto an authentic ring yourself. It runs almost every day, year-round, with English support, and it's family-friendly (children aged 4 and up can take part; under-4s free). For many travellers this is actually more memorable than a tournament: you're meters from the action, it's interactive, and no scramble for tickets.
Tournament or hands-on experience — which is right for you?
Both are great; they're just different.
Choose a grand tournament if your dates match (Jan/May/Sep), you can get tickets, and you want the full spectacle: 15 days of top-division wrestlers in a packed arena.
Choose a hands-on experience if your trip is outside those months, tickets are sold out, you're travelling with kids, or you want to actually take part rather than only watch.
For a full comparison of all the ways to see sumo, see our guide on how to watch sumo in Tokyo, and if you're deciding when to go, see the best time to see sumo in Tokyo.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy official sumo tickets in Tokyo?
Through Ticket Oosumo (sumo.pia.jp/en), the official English seller, as well as at Seven-Eleven stores in Japan and by phone. Avoid third-party resellers, which the Japan Sumo Association warns against.
How much are sumo tournament tickets?
Roughly ¥2,500 for the cheapest upper chair seat (¥500 for children), rising to around ¥8,500–15,000 per box seat and about ¥20,000 for ringside.
When do sumo tickets go on sale?
About a month before each tournament. Check Ticket Oosumo for the exact date, and book early — popular days sell out within hours.
What are the 2026 sumo tournament dates in Tokyo?
11–25 January, 10–24 May, and 13–27 September 2026, all at the Ryogoku Kokugikan.
Can I see sumo in Tokyo if the tournament is sold out?
Yes. A hands-on sumo experience lets you watch real sumo and try it yourself almost any day of the year, with no tournament ticket required.
Is it better to see a tournament or a hands-on experience?
A tournament is a large-scale spectacle watched from the stands; a hands-on experience is close-up, interactive, and you can take part. If your dates don't match a tournament — or you want to actually try sumo — the experience is the better choice.
See real sumo in Tokyo — any day of the year
Don't let the tournament calendar (or a sold-out day) decide your trip. Watch real sumo up close, learn from former professionals, and step onto an authentic ring yourself — year-round, in a local Tokyo neighbourhood.
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