You Can Watch Sumo Practice in Tokyo – Here’s How

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If you’re visiting Japan outside of tournament season, you might be wondering how to still experience sumo. One of the best options is to watch sumo practice in Tokyo, where you can watch wrestlers go through their morning training at a working sumo stable. It’s not a performance, and it’s not set up for tourists – but that’s exactly what makes it such a unique experience.

We joined a sumo stable tour on a recent trip. What we found was a quiet, focused training session just metres from the ring. No commentary, no announcements – just the daily routine of drills and practice bouts that shape every sumo wrestler’s day.

In this article, we’ll walk you through how to watch sumo practice in Tokyo – how to book, what it’s like to attend, and what you need to know before you go.

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What Is Sumo Practice?

Sumo practice, or keiko, is a daily training session where wrestlers work on their strength, technique, and discipline. These sessions usually take place early in the morning, often starting between 6.30 – 8 am, and run for a couple of hours depending on the stable.

During a typical keiko session, wrestlers perform a series of warm-up drills, stretching exercises, and stomping movements known as shiko, followed by sparring rounds. The atmosphere is highly structured, and everything runs according to a strict hierarchy.

A sumo wrestler is mid-fall during a training session, his body flipped sideways with arms outstretched as he lands on the ring’s dirt surface. Another wrestler stands nearby, indicating a controlled practice scenario focused on safe falling techniques.
Falling Practice at Sumo Training

Booking a Sumo Stable Tour in Tokyo

We booked our sumo stable tour in advance through an online travel agency. The process was straightforward. Of note is that each online travel agent that we recommend below has multiple sumo stable tour options. Each provider has the option to filter the search results by the date you are planning to visit. Do that first, and you will then see options available for your preferred date and choose your preferred option from there.

After completing our booking, we received an instant confirmation voucher with all the details we needed, including where and when to meet and what to wear. Our guide also reached out to us directly a couple of days prior to the tour and reaffirmed the tour requirements and meeting point.

Click here to book your sumo stable tour through Klook, Viator, GetYourGuide, TripAdvisor or KKDay. Book early as they regularly sell out!

What to Expect When You Visit

On the day of the tour, we met our guide and the rest of the group at the train station closest to the sumo stable. Our guide introduced herself and checked everyone in. Once the group had assembled, she walked us to the stable and gave a short briefing along the way about what to expect and how to behave. She also asked who may have a requirement to sit on a chair instead of on the floor.

Exterior view of the Oguruma Sumo Stable, a modern multi-story building with a gray tiled facade, large windows, and a black entryway. A group of visitors stands outside, some checking phones or chatting, as part of a sumo training session tour.
Oguruma Sumo Stable Exterior

When we arrived, we left our shoes, hats, sunglasses and larger bags at the entrance and were led into the sumo practice seating area, which is a section of wooden flooring at the side of the sumo ring. The wrestlers were already training when we entered. Our group sat cross-legged on the floor along one side of the room, with a clear view of the ring just a few metres away. A few group members were able to sit on western-style chairs.

When we took our seats at the edge of the training area, it was made clear that the ring and the space around it were off-limits. The ring is considered sacred, and guests aren’t allowed to step into it at any point during the visit. We were asked to sit cross-legged on the floor, and to avoid pointing the soles of our feet towards the ring, as it’s considered disrespectful.

Once the training had started, no one was allowed to leave the room. Guests were expected to stay quietly seated until the end of the session, which helped maintain the focused and respectful atmosphere throughout. You are allowed to take photos, as long as you do not use a flash or loud camera.

A group of people sit cross-legged on the floor inside a sumo stable, attentively watching a practice session. The room is decorated with large calligraphy artworks and a framed image of a sumo wrestler’s face, giving a traditional Japanese aesthetic.
Sitting on the floor to watch Sumo Practice

What We Observed During the Sumo Practice Session

Our guide passed around laminated cards throughout the training session with the names and descriptions of each exercise we observed. This helped us follow along and understand what we were watching without needing verbal explanation during the practice.

Close-up of a printed information card held by a hand, explaining the sumo training exercise called “Suriaashi.” The card reads: “The exercise they are doing now is ‘Suriaashi’, shuffling walk, a training to master the feet movement during a bout.”
Sumo Stable Tour Exercise Information Card

The first exercise was shiko, the leg stomps. Each wrestler raised one leg high and brought it down forcefully. The movement was deliberate and repeated many times. Shiko is rooted in Shinto ritual, but it’s also practical – it helps strengthen the lower body and improve balance. Watching the repetition up close gave us a good sense of how much control and focus the movement requires.

Sumo wrestlers perform the “Shiko” leg stomp exercise inside a wooden training room, each raising one leg high before stomping it down to the ground. Their feet are dusty from the ring, and some wear bandages or knee supports during the intense practice.
Shiko Leg Stomp Practice at Sumo Training Session

Next was matawari, a stretching routine focused on flexibility. Wrestlers sat on the floor with their legs stretched wide – some nearly flat – and slowly leaned forward until their chest and cheek touched the ground. They also twisted left and right while holding the stretch. It was one of the more impressive parts of the session. Despite their size, many of the wrestlers were incredibly flexible.

A sumo wrestler performs the “Matawari” stretching exercise inside the training ring, seated on the ground in a full straddle split while reaching toward his foot. His back and limbs are dusty from training, and his feet are wrapped in tape for support.
Matawari – Sumo Training Flexibility Exercise

After that came suriashi, a shuffling movement where the wrestlers stayed low to the ground and moved across the ring without lifting their feet. It’s designed to train balance and footwork, and although the movement looked simple, it clearly required strong legs and steady control.

Several sumo wrestlers in traditional mawashi belts practice inside a wooden training room with dirt flooring. Their backs are dusty from earlier sparring, and one wrestler has a knee wrapped in white tape, indicating a past injury or added support during training.
Suriashi Sumo Training Exercise

We then observed butsukari geiko, a pushing drill in which one wrestler drives forward into another, who resists without pushing back. The aim is to build strength and endurance through repeated forward motion. The drill looked physically demanding, and it was clear that the wrestlers were working hard through each round.

Two sumo wrestlers engage in “Butsukari Geiko,” a battering practice drill, with one wrestler driving forward into his partner who resists with a strong stance. Both wear traditional mawashi and knee support tape, with a training partner resting in the background near a punching bag.
Butsukari Geiko Battering Practice in a sumo training session

While all of this was happening, the rest of the wrestlers kept training on the side. Some were doing push-ups; others were slamming their open palms against wooden posts – a form of body conditioning. It was a continuous effort, and there was no downtime.

A sumo wrestler in a traditional black mawashi performs push-ups inside a sumo training stable. His hands are gripping a towel on the dirt floor, showcasing his strength and balance. Other sumo wrestlers' bandaged feet are visible in the background, along with kettlebells and wooden walls of the practice area.
A sumo wrestler performing push-ups during training

Towards the end of the session, the stable master entered the room and took his seat in a large, cushioned armchair near the ring. From there, he watched the final section of training closely. Senior wrestlers also stood nearby, observing and offering direction when needed.

A young boy smiles for a photo next to the sumo stable master, who is seated and wearing a black quilted vest over a grey sweatshirt. The picture is taken indoors during a visit to watch a sumo training session, with a wall calendar visible in the background.
Photo with the Stable Master

The last part of the session was a series of practice bouts. Wrestlers squared off in pairs, crouched, and launched into each other to test technique, timing, and positioning. During these bouts, the stable master and senior staff gave direct feedback and instructions to the wrestlers. It was clearly a learning environment, and the wrestlers took the feedback seriously.

By the end, the wrestlers looked physically spent. The session lasted just over an hour, but the level of discipline and effort on display left a strong impression. It gave us a much deeper understanding of what goes on behind the scenes in the world of sumo.

Two sumo wrestlers engage in a practice bout inside a wooden training room, with one wrestler delivering a powerful shove as the other braces for impact. Both wear mawashi belts and joint support tape, emphasizing the physical intensity of the training session.
Practice Bout at Sumo Training Session

After the Training Session

Once the training session had finished, we were invited to take a few photos with the sumo wrestlers and the stable master.

Our family poses for a photo with three sumo wrestlers after their training session in a sumo training facility. The sumo wrestlers, dressed in traditional mawashi, are seated on a wooden bench with bandaged feet, while the family, dressed in casual jackets and warm clothing, stands behind them, smiling. The setting includes blue training mats, a framed Japanese calligraphy piece on the wall, and a warm indoor atmosphere.
Photo with Sumo Wrestlers after training is completed

After we left the stable, our guide stayed with us for another 15 minutes or so to answer questions. It was a good opportunity to learn more about the sumo lifestyle and the traditions we’d just seen, and it gave us some helpful context to round out the experience.

A group of tourists gathers around a woman in a red coat, their sumo stable tour guide, who gestures while holding a folder during a Q&A session on a quiet city street. The group listens attentively before entering the building to watch a sumo training session.
Q&A With our Sumo Stable Tour Guide

Exploring Ryogoku and Trying Chanko Nabe

After the tour ended, we spent some time exploring the Ryogoku area, which is closely tied to the history and culture of sumo in Tokyo. The neighbourhood has a slower pace than other parts of the city, and it’s full of small details that reflect its sumo heritage – from statues and street signs to sumo-themed murals and shops.

We followed part of our own self-guided walking route through the area, which we’ve written about in more detail here: Self-Guided Walking Route Through Tokyo’s Sumo Town. It’s a great way to see Ryogoku at your own pace and take in the sumo stadium, local shrines, and other nearby sights.

To finish the morning, we went to a nearby restaurant for a chanko nabe lunch – the traditional hotpot meal that fuels sumo wrestlers. The version we tried included chicken, vegetables, and noodles. It was yummy and very filling.

Some sumo stable tours include a chanko nabe lunch and a guided walk through Ryogoku, so if this is of interest, you may wish to book a tour with these inclusions.

A bronze statue of a sumo wrestler in a low stance with arms extended is displayed on a round pedestal. This sculpture is located in Ryogoku, Tokyo—Japan’s historic sumo district—celebrating the city’s deep connection to the national sport.
Sumo Statue in Ryogoku in Tokyo

Final Thoughts

Visiting a sumo stable and watching morning training in Tokyo was one of the most memorable and worthwhile experiences of our trip to Japan. It gave us a deeper appreciation for the discipline, structure, and physical demands of the sport – something that’s hard to fully understand from the stands of a tournament or on a screen.

If you’re interested in seeing a different side of sumo, this is a unique opportunity to get close to the action without the crowds. But it does require some planning. Sumo stable tours can book out well in advance, so securing your spot early is important.

Also, be aware that these tours usually aren’t available during sumo tournament periods, as the wrestlers are often away or following a different training schedule. Click here to book your sumo stable tour through Klook, Viator, GetYourGuide, TripAdvisor or KKDay.

Don’t forget to grab our FREE Sumo Experiences in Japan ebook. It breaks down all the options to help you plan a sumo experience that suits your travel style, budget and timing for both Tokyo and Osaka.

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