Grand Sumo November Kyushu Tournament & Hotel Okura Fukuoka Lunch Buffet (Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture)
- This plan includes tickets for the Grand Sumo November Kyushu Tournament (Fukuoka) and a lunch buffet at Hotel Okura Fukuoka!
- Watch the powerful Grand Sumo matches from Masu seats! Enjoy the intensity of the wrestlers' bouts and the excitement of the venue with a sense of immersion you cannot get on TV.
- Includes a lunch buffet at Hotel Okura Fukuoka! Enjoy a leisurely meal of colorful dishes and desserts made with seasonal ingredients at All Day Dining Camellia.
- A special day unique to Fukuoka, from a hotel lunch to watching Grand Sumo! This is a fulfilling plan where you can enjoy both a high-quality hotel lunch and the traditional Japanese culture of Grand Sumo at once.
- A flexible free plan! You will make your own way from the lunch venue to Fukuoka Kokusai Center, and the tour concludes at the venue after the matches. Enjoy the day at your own pace.
Product Info
- This plan includes tickets to the Grand Sumo November Kyushu Tournament (Fukuoka) and a lunch buffet at Hotel Okura Fukuoka!
- Enjoy a wide array of dishes at Hotel Okura Fukuoka's All Day Dining Camellia, featuring colorful appetizers, hot dishes, and desserts made with plenty of seasonal ingredients—a lineup unique to a hotel buffet.
- Grand Sumo Tournament Viewing Tour: Experience the Great National Sport
Sumo is Japan's national sport, and the wrestlers, or rikishi, are far from just being overweight. Beneath the fat lies an incredible, well-trained physique. Despite their massive size, they possess remarkable flexibility, and their legs are as sturdy as tree trunks. Their physical capabilities are truly acrobatic, making rikishi the ultimate athletes with bodies built for combat. In the moments of a serious match, the sound of rikishi colliding echoes throughout the venue. Be sure to witness this clash with your own eyes!
- Highlights of the Tournament
Over 1,500 Years of Sumo History
The origins of sumo, Japan's national sport, date back to the age of mythology, where it is said to have begun as a test of strength. It was performed as a ritual at festivals to divine the year's harvest and continued as a court event for about 300 years. During the Sengoku period, sumo was practiced as training for samurai. Later, in the Edo period, 'Kanjin-zumo' (charity sumo) began, leading to the commercialization of the sport and forming the foundation of today's Grand Sumo. Now established as a sport, Grand Sumo is loved by many. At the venue, you can experience the long history and traditional cultural aspects of sumo up close.
- Dohyo-iri (Ring-Entering Ceremony)
This is a ceremony held before the Grand Sumo matches, where Juryo and Makuuchi division wrestlers enter the ring wearing colorful 'kesho-mawashi' (ceremonial aprons). It serves to introduce the wrestlers to the audience and acts as a Shinto ritual to ward off evil spirits. Wrestlers enter from the east and west sides, climb into the ring in order of their rank, and perform specific movements such as lining up in a circle, lifting the edges of their aprons, and clapping their hands.
- Yokozuna Dohyo-iri
The ring-entering ceremony also serves as a chance for the audience to see the wrestlers. The 'Yokozuna Dohyo-iri,' performed separately from the Juryo and Makuuchi ceremonies, offers a glimpse into a unique and sacred ritual. Accompanied by two wrestlers known as the 'tsuyuharai' (dew sweeper) and 'tachimochi' (sword bearer), the Yokozuna enters the ring through the hanamichi (pathway), claps his hands, and performs the 'shiko' (leg stomping) by lifting his legs high. When the shiko is performed, the audience's shouts of 'Yoisho!' echo loudly throughout the venue. The Yokozuna's ceremonial apron and white rope are also must-see highlights.
- Frequently Asked Questions:
Q&A
Q: Can I eat and drink while watching Grand Sumo?
A: Eating and drinking at your seat is permitted. You cannot bring in bottles, cans, or food from outside, but soft drinks like tea and juice, as well as alcoholic beverages such as beer and chuhai, are scheduled to be sold at the venue's kiosks. Many food trucks will also be available at the Kyushu Tournament.
Q: What souvenirs or food should I buy when watching Grand Sumo?
A: 'Support towels' printed with the wrestlers' names and cute 'rikishi cookies' are popular items.
For the Kyushu Tournament only, Dazaifu's famous 'Umegae Mochi' (plum branch rice cake) is being sold fresh near the first-floor entrance. You can enjoy the fragrant, chewy texture of these freshly baked treats inside the venue.
Q: What is the etiquette for watching Grand Sumo?
A: Sumo matches can end in just a few seconds, so please do not move from your seat during a match. You might block the view of those behind you at the decisive moment. Photography is allowed from your seat, but please do not use a strong flash.
Q: Is there a dress code for watching Grand Sumo?
A: There is no specific dress code, but please avoid wearing large hats or items that might obstruct the view of other spectators.
Purification Salt (Before the match): The salt thrown into the ring by the wrestlers before a bout is called 'purification salt.' It is meant to purify the sacred ring, ward off evil spirits, and cleanse the wrestlers' minds and bodies to pray for safety. This is permitted only for Sekitori (wrestlers in the Juryo division or higher).
Dohyo-iri (Ring Entry): A ceremony held before the Grand Sumo bouts where Juryo and Makuuchi wrestlers enter the ring wearing colorful ceremonial aprons (kesho-mawashi). It serves as an introduction to the audience and a Shinto ritual to ward off evil. Wrestlers appear from the East and West sides, enter the ring in order of rank, stand in a circle, and perform specific movements such as lifting the edges of their aprons or clapping their hands.
Nobori Flags outside the venue: Nobori are colorful flags inscribed with the names of sumo wrestlers, their stables, and sponsors. They add a vibrant atmosphere to the venue and are considered lucky charms that pray for the success of the wrestlers.
Fukuoka Kokusai Center *Image for reference
Hotel Okura Fukuoka (Exterior) *Image for reference
What You Can Expect
Purchase Notice
- This tour does not include a tour guide.
- If you have any food allergies, physical disabilities, or require special assistance, please inform us at the time of booking. Please note that we may not be able to accommodate your request depending on the circumstances.
- If you would like to be seated together with your group, please make your booking under the same reservation record. We will do our best to arrange seats as close as possible, but please note that we may not be able to fulfill your request.
Reminders
The meeting time for lunch is 11:30. Changes to this time are not possible.
Please note that you may be seated with other groups during lunch.
Transportation costs incurred for travel are at the customer's own expense.
Please ensure you arrive within the designated time to pick up your sumo tickets. If you do not arrive within the specified time, you may not be able to receive your tickets. Please note that there will be no refunds for the ticket cost in such cases.
You cannot choose the direction or seat numbers for sumo viewing. We are unable to answer inquiries regarding seat assignments.
Bringing your own food and drinks is not permitted. Light snacks and beverages will be available for purchase at the kiosks. Eating and drinking at your seat is allowed.
Large luggage such as suitcases cannot be placed at your seat. Please make arrangements to store them elsewhere in advance.
Please refrain from moving around during matches, the wrestlers' ring entry (dohyo-iri), or the Yokozuna's ring entry.
Wheelchairs are not available for rent, and it is not possible to watch the matches while remaining in a wheelchair in the group seating area.
We may share the contact information of the representative with the facility for contact purposes on the day of the event.
How to Redeem Your Voucher
How to Use Your Voucher
- Please present the e-voucher on-site
