Grand Sumo Hatsu Basho 2027 (Tokyo) | Dates, Venue & Tickets
**The Grand Sumo Hatsu Basho 2027 runs January 10–24, 2027 at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo** — the New Year tournament that opens the sumo calendar. It runs 15 straight days (Sun→Sun); **tickets are required** (buy via the official English site). Arrive by ~14:00–15:00 for the top-division bouts, which always finish by ~18:00.
When · Where
- When
- 2027/01/10 08:00 – 2027/01/24
- Where
- Ryogoku Kokugikan（1-3-28 Yokoami, Sumida-ku, Tokyo）
- City
- Tokyo
- Getting there
- 2 min from West Exit of Ryogoku Station (JR Sobu / Toei Oedo).
- Price
- Tickets required (no free entry). Prices vary by day and seat tier; 2027 prices are released with the tournament — confirm on sumo.or.jp. As a rough guide (approximate 2026 prices, as of July 2026): ringside tamari-seki ~¥20,000/person; masu-seki tatami boxes ~¥9,000–15,000/person by tier and day; Western chair seats from ~¥3,500 (tier C, weekday) up to ~¥11,000+ (SS). On-sale is typically 5–8 weeks before — check the official site for the exact 2027 date.
- Organizer
- Japan Sumo Association
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- 2 min from West Exit of Ryogoku Station (JR Sobu / Toei Oedo). Open directions in Google Maps ↗
- Booking & entry
- Check tickets and details on the official page (button above).
- Paying
- Tickets required (no free entry). Prices vary by day and seat tier; 2027 prices are released with the tournament — confirm on sumo.or.jp. As a rough guide (approximate 2026 prices, as of July 2026): ringside tamari-seki ~¥20,000/person; masu-seki tatami boxes ~¥9,000–15,000/person by tier and day; Western chair seats from ~¥3,500 (tier C, weekday) up to ~¥11,000+ (SS). On-sale is typically 5–8 weeks before — check the official site for the exact 2027 date.. Smaller venues in Japan are often cash-first — carry some yen (cards/IC not guaranteed).
- Language
- Mostly in Japanese — a translation app on your phone helps.
- Good for
- culture seekers, families, groups of friends
Highlights
- **New Year opener**: the first of six honbasho, held over 15 straight days from Jan 10–24, 2027 at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo.
- **Full-day drama building to the top division**: lower-division bouts from ~8:30, juryo ring-entering ~14:15, and makuuchi (top division) from ~16:00, ending with the bow-twirling ceremony (yumitori-shiki) ~18:00.
- **Three ways to sit**: ringside tamari-seki cushions (closest, 16+, no food/drink), tatami masu-seki boxes for up to 4 (ekiben allowed), or Western-style isu-seki chair seats (cheapest, most accessible).
- **Just 2 minutes from the station**: Ryogoku Kokugikan is a ~2-min walk from JR Ryogoku West Exit — pair it with a bowl of chanko-nabe in the Ryogoku sumo district.
Background & story
Hatsu Basho (初場所, literally "first tournament") is the New Year grand sumo tournament and the opening act of the professional calendar's six honbasho. Held every January at the sport's spiritual home, Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, it sets the tone for the wrestling year and carries the celebratory air of a fresh start. Each of the fifteen days climbs from the newest recruits in the morning to the top-division makuuchi wrestlers — and any yokozuna — in the late afternoon.
Good to know
Buy tickets through the JSA official English site sumo.or.jp/EnTicket, which accepts international cards; advance sale typically opens 5–8 weeks before the tournament, and Tokyo weekends and the final days sell out first — check the site for the exact 2027 on-sale date. If seats are gone, a limited number of same-day chair tickets (tojitsu-ken) are sold at the box office each morning, first-come. For the full ticket walkthrough see our Sumo Tickets guide, and read our Sumo Etiquette guide before you go (keep your zabuton cushion on your seat — throwing it is prohibited for safety). Come hungry: chanko-nabe, the wrestlers' hotpot, is sold in the Kokugikan basement and at Ryogoku restaurants a short walk from the arena.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Grand Sumo Hatsu Basho 2027?
- January 10 to 24, 2027 -- 15 straight days at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo. It's the New Year tournament that opens the sumo calendar.
- How do I buy tickets for Hatsu Basho 2027?
- Through the Japan Sumo Association's official English site, sumo.or.jp/EnTicket, which accepts international cards. Advance sale typically opens 5-8 weeks before the tournament -- check the official site for the exact 2027 on-sale date, since Tokyo weekends and the final days sell out first.
- What seat types are available and what do they cost?
- Three types: ringside tamari-seki cushions (closest, 16+, no food or drink, ~¥20,000/person by 2026 pricing), tatami masu-seki box seats for up to 4 people (ekiben allowed, ~¥9,000-15,000/person), and Western-style chair seats (cheapest and most accessible, roughly ¥3,500-¥11,000+ depending on tier and day). 2027 prices are released with the tournament -- confirm on sumo.or.jp.
- What time should I arrive at Ryogoku Kokugikan?
- Arrive by around 14:00-15:00 for the top-division (makuuchi) bouts, which run from about 16:00 and always finish by around 18:00 with the bow-twirling ceremony (yumitori-shiki). Lower-division bouts start from around 8:30 for those who want the full day.