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Osaka sumo
Visit Osaka for the spring sumo tournament which takes place in the city's Nanba district
Seeing the sumo really is an "only in Japan" experience. The wrestlers are seeded into different categories with the new recruits and lower ranks competing in the morning. The stadium is pretty empty at this time so it's a good chance to leave your designated seat and creep down to the ringside to take photos. Many wrestlers wander freely around the stadium, so don't be shy to get your photograph taken with a sumo giant!
Later in the day the stadium seats fill up to watch the top makuuchi division who make a ceremonial entrance to the dohyo ring around 4pm. This is followed by the purification ritual performed by the Yokozuna, the highest ranking wrestlers where they stamp out the evil spirits from the dohyo.
When to go: The Osaka sumo tournament takes place in March.
For more information email us: [email protected] or call: + 44 117 244 3380
A quick note about our experiences: Our experiences are designed to be part of a complete, tailor-made travel package and are not available to book individually. This allows us to ensure every detail – from accommodation to transport – is perfectly coordinated for you. If you're interested in one of these experiences, we'd love to help you build a full itinerary around it!
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