Japan holds six Grand Sumo Tournaments (honbasho) each year, each lasting 15 days. Attending a tournament is one of Japan's most distinctive sports experiences — the combination of ancient ritual, athletic competition, and the specific atmosphere of the Kokugikan arena makes it memorable even for visitors with no prior sumo knowledge.
The Six Annual Tournaments
January (Hatsu Basho): Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo. Second and third week of January. The new year tournament with ceremonial opening atmosphere.
March (Haru Basho): Edion Arena Osaka (BODYMAKER Colosseum). Second and third week of March. The only major tournament outside Tokyo on the main island — Osaka has a passionate sumo following.
May (Natsu Basho): Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo. Second and third week of May. Often considered the tournament with the best ticket availability for advance planning.
July (Nagoya Basho): Dolphins Arena, Nagoya. Second and third week of July. The summer tournament in intense heat — the arena can be hot.
September (Aki Basho): Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo. Second and third week of September. Autumn attendance, comfortable temperatures.
November (Kyushu Basho): Fukuoka Convention Center. Second and third week of November. The southern tournament in Fukuoka — a city known for excellent ramen and hakata cuisine.
Buying Tickets
The Japan Sumo Association website (sumo.or.jp) sells tickets in English. Tickets go on sale approximately one month before each tournament. Popular options:
Box seats (masu-seki): Traditional floor seating in groups of four on tatami. The most atmospheric experience — food and drinks vendors circulate. ¥8,500–¥16,000 per box (covers four people). Individual box seats available on resale platforms.
Chair seats (isu-seki): Stadium-style upper level seating, ¥2,200–¥9,800 per person. Easier to purchase individually. The upper tiers give excellent views of the ring from above.
Day-of (torikumi-mae): Remaining tickets sold at the venue from approximately 8am on the day. Lines form early; unreserved tickets for the cheapest sections are sometimes available. A risk — not guaranteed.
The Tournament Day Structure
Matches begin at 8am with the lowest divisions; the highest-division (Makuuchi) bouts start around 3pm, with the final match at approximately 6pm. You can arrive at any point — most visitors come for the Makuuchi bouts from 2–3pm. Arriving earlier gives access to the atmosphere of lower-division matches and a better chance of seeing the full ritual ceremonies.
What to Bring
The full tournament day is long — bring food and drinks (buying at the venue is expensive). Cushions (zabuton) can be rented or purchased at the Kokugikan. When a yokozuna (top-ranked wrestler) loses, the crowd traditionally throws their cushions into the ring — a spectacular visual that requires a cushion to participate in. Cash for in-arena merchandise and food vendors.