Why Sumo Experience Venues Are So Popular with Foreign Visitors
In recent years, the number of foreign visitors to Japan has rapidly increased, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. According to data released by the Japan Tourism Agency, the number of inbound tourists in 2025 exceeded 30 million and is expected to approach 40 million in the near future.
As inbound tourism grows, interest in “uniquely Japanese experiences” has also increased. Among them, sumo wrestling—Japan’s national sport—has gained renewed attention from international visitors.
However, while sumo is world-famous as a traditional Japanese sport, watching an actual Grand Sumo Tournament is not always easy. Tournaments are held only at specific times of the year and in limited locations, and tickets are often difficult to obtain. For many travelers, schedules simply do not align.
This gap has given rise to a new trend: sumo experience venues—places where visitors can learn about and experience sumo culture in an accessible, entertaining way.
Two venues in particular have become highly popular among foreign tourists:
- Nichirakuza (THE SUMO HALL / SUMO LIVE RESTAURANT)
- Sumoland Ryogoku
Both offer sumo-themed entertainment and hands-on cultural experiences, with programs designed primarily for international audiences and conducted mainly in English.
Nichirakuza: A Pioneer of Sumo Entertainment
Nichirakuza is currently one of the most popular sumo entertainment venues among foreign visitors. To understand its success, it is essential to know the role of Higashiozakura (Mr. Tashiro), a former professional sumo wrestler.
After retiring from professional sumo, Higashiozakura founded SUMO Agency, a talent agency specializing exclusively in former sumo wrestlers. The agency provides retired wrestlers with opportunities in commercials, events, stage performances, and overseas shows—leveraging their unique physiques, movements, and presence.
Overseas, sumo performances gradually gained popularity, particularly after the global success of the Netflix series Sanctuary, which introduced sumo culture to a wider international audience.
Combined with the rapid post-COVID recovery of inbound tourism, these overseas experiences led to a clear idea:
Why not create a permanent venue where visitors can enjoy sumo shows in Japan?
That idea became Nichirakuza.
Sumo Shows with Japanese Cuisine
At Nichirakuza, foreign visitors can enjoy a powerful sumo show performed by former professional wrestlers while eating Japanese bento-style meals. All explanations are provided in English, making the experience accessible even for first-time viewers.
What sets Nichirakuza apart is its inclusivity. In addition to standard Japanese meals, the venue offers:
- Halal bento options
- Vegan bento options
This attention to religious and cultural dietary needs reflects a high level of refinement as an inbound-oriented facility.
The show itself is not simply about watching wrestlers compete. It includes explanations of basic sumo movements such as shiko (leg stamping) and suri-ashi (sliding steps), introductions to kimarite (winning techniques), and live demonstrations of sumo bouts. The program is designed to clearly explain what sumo is and why it matters.
In Osaka, the price for the sumo show and Japanese meal experience starts at 13,200 yen, which is reasonable and transparent for a cultural experience aimed at international visitors.
A Premium Experience in Ginza
From January 7, 2026, Nichirakuza will open its second location in Ginza, Tokyo.
This venue elevates the concept further by combining sumo entertainment with authentic kaiseki-style Japanese cuisine made from seasonal ingredients.
Prices start at 17,000 yen, making it more expensive than the Osaka venue. However, for many international visitors, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience:
Sumo × Japanese cuisine × live entertainment, enjoyed in the heart of Tokyo’s most prestigious district.
The Ginza venue also offers opportunities for hands-on sumo experiences, allowing guests not only to watch but to step onto the ring themselves.
Sumoland Ryogoku: Experiencing Sumo at Its Cultural Heart
Another popular destination for foreign visitors is Sumoland Ryogoku, located in the heart of Ryogoku—Tokyo’s historic sumo district and home of the Kokugikan (National Sumo Arena).
Unlike Nichirakuza, which emphasizes entertainment and dining, Sumoland focuses more directly on sumo culture itself. Its programs emphasize the traditions, rituals, and physical movements that define sumo wrestling.
One of Sumoland’s defining features is that it is supervised by Asahifuji, a former yokozuna (grand champion). His experience at the highest level of professional sumo has shaped programs that explain the meaning behind sumo rituals, etiquette, and techniques.
Visitors can step onto an actual sumo ring, practice basic movements, and learn about the history, ranking system, and techniques of sumo wrestling. All explanations are primarily conducted in English, making the experience accessible to international audiences.
Former wrestlers such as Terutsuyoshi, Chiyodairyu, Irodori, and Itadaki are said to be involved in demonstrations and instruction, giving visitors the rare opportunity to learn directly from those who have lived the sport.
Not Grand Sumo—But a Meaningful Introduction
These venues are, of course, very different from watching a real Grand Sumo Tournament. There are no rankings at stake, no intense championship battles, and no silent tension unique to professional competition.
However, for many foreign visitors, sumo remains a mysterious part of Japanese culture—well known by name, but poorly understood. Grand Sumo tournaments are limited by time, location, and ticket availability, making them inaccessible to many travelers.
In that context, Nichirakuza and Sumoland serve as important gateways into the world of sumo. They provide approachable, educational, and engaging introductions to a complex cultural tradition.
If these experiences inspire visitors to later attend a real tournament or deepen their interest in sumo, they ultimately benefit the sumo world as a whole. There is more than one way to preserve and pass on tradition, and expanding the entry points may be one of the most effective approaches in today’s globalized era.