Sumo is one of Japan?s most well-known sports, and a highly authentic Japanese cultural experience in and of itself.
But few would-be travelers to Japan know much about the ancient sport of sumo, so we?ve put together this simple guide to experiencing sumo in Japan.
If you?re interested in seeing sumo, and your travel dates are flexible, it’s worth going out of your way to attend a sumo basho (tournament) during your trip to Japan.
The only problem for travelers is that the tournaments only take place a few times a year, which means that for most travelers attending a basho ends up being impossible.
To help make sure this doesn’t happen to you, we’ve put together information on:

When and where sumo tournaments take place
How to buy basho tickets And where to sit!

When & Where To See Sumo
The best way to experience sumo is by attending one of the official basho (sumo tournaments), which take place just six times each year in locations across Japan. For details read on!
There are other ways to experience sumo as well, such as by going to one of the sumo exhibitions held in between sumo tournaments, or by visiting a sumobeya, where the rikishi (wrestlers) live and train.
Tokyo’s Sumo Tournaments are held in Ryogoku Kokugikan (photo by Guilhem Vellut CC BY)
Morning Sumo Practice
If your travel dates don?t overlap with a sumo basho, attending a morning sumo practice can be a fun and fascinating option.
As you might imagine, sumo wrestlers wake...