Tokyo May Sumo Tournament (Natsu Basho) 2027 Confirmed
大相撲五月場所（夏場所） — Tokyo (Kanto)
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- Dates
- Sun, May 9 – Sun, May 23, 2027
- Venue
- Ryogoku Kokugikan (両国国技館)
- Tickets
- 2027 prices not yet published. For reference, the 2026 Tokyo tournaments charged ¥3,500–9,500 for chair seats, ¥8,500–15,000 per person for box seats (sold per box) and ¥20,000 for ringside tamari seats. On sale April 10, 2027.
- Official site
- www.sumo.or.jp
The Natsu Basho ("summer tournament") brings 15 days of grand sumo to Ryogoku Kokugikan each May. Every rank competes each day, from the youngest wrestlers in the morning to the ozeki and yokozuna in the late afternoon. It is the second of three Tokyo tournaments a year and a good fit for a spring trip, after the cherry blossoms and before the rainy season.
Background
Grand sumo holds six official tournaments a year, each lasting 15 days: three in Tokyo (January, May, September) and one each in Osaka (March), Nagoya (July) and Fukuoka (November). The Japan Sumo Association sets the dates years in advance. Ryogoku, the neighborhood around the Kokugikan, is home to many sumo stables and to the Sumo Museum inside the hall.
Getting there
2 min walk from JR Ryogoku Station (West Exit, JR Sobu Line). 5 min walk from Ryogoku Station on the Toei Oedo Line. There is no parking — come by train.
Getting around Japan
- 🚄 Japan Rail Pass — unlimited JR travel, including most shinkansen. Cheapest bought before you fly
- 🚇 Tokyo subway pass — unlimited rides on Tokyo's subway lines, cheaper than single tickets on a busy day
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Tips
- Tickets go on sale on April 10, 2027 (the banzuke rankings are announced on April 26). The May tournament overlaps with a busy travel season, so buy on release day if your dates are fixed.
- The Japan Sumo Association's English site links to the official ticket seller, Ticket Oosumo, which has an English version. A handling fee is added to the ticket price.
- Bouts run all day: the lower divisions start in the morning, the juryo ring-entering ceremony is around 2:15 PM and the top-division (makuuchi) ring-entering ceremony around 3:40 PM, with the last bout around 6:00 PM (the Association's approximate guide for Tokyo).
- Box seats (masu-seki) are sold per box and you sit on cushions on the floor — tight for four adults. Chair seats on the second floor are cheaper and easier for a long day.
- Ringside tamari seats are for ages 16 and over only. Anyone aged 4 or over on the day needs their own ticket.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Tokyo May Sumo Tournament (Natsu Basho) 2027?
- Tokyo May Sumo Tournament (Natsu Basho) 2027 runs Sun, May 9 – Sun, May 23, 2027 at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
- How much are tickets for Tokyo May Sumo Tournament (Natsu Basho), and when do they go on sale?
- 2027 prices not yet published. For reference, the 2026 Tokyo tournaments charged ¥3,500–9,500 for chair seats, ¥8,500–15,000 per person for box seats (sold per box) and ¥20,000 for ringside tamari seats. On sale April 10, 2027. Tickets go on sale on April 10, 2027 (the banzuke rankings are announced on April 26). The May tournament overlaps with a busy travel season, so buy on release day if your dates are fixed.
- What time should I arrive at Tokyo May Sumo Tournament (Natsu Basho)?
- Bouts run all day: the lower divisions start in the morning, the juryo ring-entering ceremony is around 2:15 PM and the top-division (makuuchi) ring-entering ceremony around 3:40 PM, with the last bout around 6:00 PM (the Association's approximate guide for Tokyo).
- How do you get to Tokyo May Sumo Tournament (Natsu Basho)?
- 2 min walk from JR Ryogoku Station (West Exit, JR Sobu Line). 5 min walk from Ryogoku Station on the Toei Oedo Line. There is no parking — come by train.
Last verified against the official source: Fri, September 25, 2026
Plan your trip
- 📱 Get a Japan eSIM (Airalo) — install before you fly, connect the moment you land, no SIM swap needed
- 🏨 Hotels in Tokyo — search is pre-filled with the event dates
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