Sumo is a traditional Japanese style of wrestling and is Japan's national sport. Six official tournaments (basho), which last 2 weeks each, are held every year: three in Tokyo at the Ryogoku stadium (January, May and September) and one in Osaka (March), Nagoya (July) and Fukuoka (November). But if you are not in Japan during one of these periods, you can still watch sumo wrestlers and catch one of their early-morning training sessions. 

Rakutabi, a brand new private guide service in Japan which provides fully customized and private escort guiding services, explains where and how to watch the “ sumotori “ practicing their masterful art.

At Rakutabi, we are not pretty far from believing that seeing sumo in action is one of the best cultural experiences you can have in Japan and watching a grand tournament should definitely be on your list. But we also think that there’s a way to experience this centuries’ old sport up close and personal – as in twenty feet away personal – by visiting a sumo stable and watching the morning training session, known as asageiko.

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