Sumo wrestling in Japan with kids? Iconic, right?
But please be careful what you promise before you have considered the time of year of your holiday AND the age of your children.
Seeing a real Sumo match is a big deal and a full day experience
This makes it an expensive (and sometimes boring day for little kids.) So, for small children I recommend a sumo stables experience instead. I speak about that more below.
PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
For an actual Sumo tournament though, please be aware that sumo season is Jan, May and Sept for Tokyo, March for Osaka, July for Nagoya and in November for Fukuoka.
I recommend buying sumo tickets for a sumo tournament in Tokyo on Trip Advisor here.
Other great sites include buysumotickets.com or via the official Japan Sumo Association here.
There are three types of seats to choose from.
Box Seats
Please don’t get confused. This doesn’t mean what it means in many countries overseas. It means your little seating area is square like a box.
A “box” seats 4 people but you can buy a box for just 2 people (but the price doesn’t change.) If you can’t sit or kneel on the floor easily – I don’t recommend this style of seating. Box seats are usually 15,000 yen but to buy 4 tickets to have a box it will be that amount x 4.
Ringside Seats
Super expensive and the hardest to get. So if someone ever offers you these – jump on it but only if you don’t go with kids (you’re actually so close that you may have a wrestler fall on you!) Seating is on the floor on cushions.
Balcony seats
These are western style seats on the second floor balcony.
There are food options sold at the sumo as well as drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic.)
Why is sumo hard with small children?
Mostly as you pay for a full day and even the most excited of kids get sick of seeing wrestlers pushing each other about after about 30 mins or so. There isn’t that much else to do there. I suppose if you have a box seat you can bring colouring etc for children but it’s not great for kids that need lots of wriggle time.
I recommend buying sumo tickets for a sumo tournament in Tokyo on Trip Advisor here.
So what is a better alternative for seeing Sumo with kids?
It’s kind of touristy but it’s so good for kids that it doesn’t matter but I highly recommend a Sumo Stables Experience. This is where Sumo Wrestlers train (or some of those in training or retired sumos take part in as another job) and kids can see up close and some volunteers can even take part and try to be a sumo opponent!!).
Many of the Sumo Stable packages offer a chanko nabe ((hot pot) meal as part of the ticket. Chanko Nabe is a hearty meal that many sumos famously enjoy often. There is also this kind of “Sumo Show” while you eat chanko nabe – but this is VERY VERY VERY touristy and I don’t recommend it as much (but I know some families who do.) Please note that Chanko Nabe is not the kind of dish that you can change in order to cater to those with different dietary requirements.
I recommend booking a Sumo Stable Tour through Trip Advisor here.
PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
