Grand Sumo May Tournament (Natsu Basho) 2027
**The Grand Sumo Natsu Basho (Summer Tournament) runs May 9–23, 2027 at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo** — a 15-day honbasho, Sunday to Sunday, and one of only three Tokyo tournaments each year. Tickets sell via the official English site sumo.or.jp/EnTicket; arrive around 14:00–15:00 for the top division (the day ends by ~18:00).
When · Where
- When
- 2027/05/09 08:30 – 2027/05/23
- Where
- Ryogoku Kokugikan（1-3-28 Yokoami, Sumida-ku, Tokyo）
- City
- Tokyo
- Getting there
- A 1-minute walk from the West Exit of JR Ryogoku Station on the Sobu Line; also served by the Toei Oedo subway.
- Price
- Tickets required. Arena chair seats start from around ¥3,000; box (masu) seats and ringside cost more. Purchase via the official Japan Sumo Association ticket site.
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- A 1-minute walk from the West Exit of JR Ryogoku Station on the Sobu Line; also served by the Toei Oedo subway. Open directions in Google Maps ↗
- Booking & entry
- Check tickets and details on the official page (button above).
- Paying
- Tickets required. Arena chair seats start from around ¥3,000; box (masu) seats and ringside cost more. Purchase via the official Japan Sumo Association ticket site.. 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, groups of friends
Highlights
- Top-division sumo at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in pleasant early-summer weather
- The colorful dohyo-iri and the bow-twirling ceremony that closes each day
- Strolling the Ryogoku sumo district, lined with stables and chanko-nabe shops
Background & story
The Natsu (summer) basho is the second of three annual Tokyo tournaments, held each May at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, the sport's principal arena since 1985.
Good to know
Buy tickets the moment they go on sale roughly a month ahead, as Tokyo tournaments sell out fast. Watch the quiet morning matches first, then stay for the makuuchi finale.