Sumo Practice & Sumo Wrestler’s Lunch/Japanese Garden, Sword & Hokusai Museum in Ryogoku Sumo Town

Join us on a one-day trip through Ryogoku, Tokyo — the sacred ground of sumo and a place full of traditional Japanese culture!

We start with a free morning training session at Arashio-beya, where you can experience the powerful presence of real sumo wrestlers up close. After that, we stroll through historical spots like Ekoin Temple and the Site of Kira’s Residence, soaking in the Edo-era atmosphere.

We enjoy the beauty of the Kyu-Yasuda Garden, then visit the Japanese Sword Museum, where even the free exhibition area is worth a look. For lunch, we head to Edo Noren, a restaurant with a real sumo ring in the middle, and enjoy some authentic chanko hotpot!

After lunch, we explore the streets of Ryogoku while snacking on taiyaki, and also introduce some lovely local shops.
To finish the day, we stop by the Sumida Hokusai Museum gift shop. Although we didn’t visit the exhibitions this time, we had a great experience there before, so we highly recommend seeing the actual artworks for yourself!

📍Main Spots Visited:

Arashio-beya (Morning Sumo Practice)
https://arashio.net/tour_e.html
📍https://maps.app.goo.gl/SgTZ4ATsfMn3stEk6

Ekoin Temple
📍https://maps.app.goo.gl/5NYM9H6T6Kr6TGkX8

Site of Kira’s Residence
📍https://maps.app.goo.gl/v71Ntmmz39vSJTEQ8

Kyu-Yasuda Garden
📍https://maps.app.goo.gl/zU1JNNhfy6cE2eUp6

Japanese Sword Museum (Free Area)
📍https://maps.app.goo.gl/KwRFH1Qc2YXteWi48

Chanko Hotpot Lunch at Edo Noren
📍https://maps.app.goo.gl/f2p1MyH37Som5UM78

Taiyaki Street Snack
📍https://maps.app.goo.gl/R3VYxv3e8EcQUPpj8

Edo Noren
📍https://maps.app.goo.gl/xfThA1GjfyxxDUwTA

Sumida Hokusai Museum (Gift Shop Only)
📍https://maps.app.goo.gl/BZihnUyCwhP1esUK7

🎥 On “Onigiri Stroll Japan”, we casually explore places all around Japan, sharing new discoveries and cultural charm in a relaxed and friendly style. Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more strolls and stories!

We came to Arashio-beya to watch a sumo morning practice. Sorry, view was unclear through wire mesh. This was how crowded it was at 8:30 The glass on the right is clear—no mesh. Now we get why the right side was crowded. If you’re coming to watch, go for the right side! This practice is not held every day. Please check out the link in the description! It’s amazing to see real sumo wrestlers up close — and it’s free! Photo time with sumo wrestlers😊 Thanks to the sumo wrestlers for the great fan service! Sumo wrestlers clean up too. A sumo goods shop across from Arashio stabel. This T-shirts (3,500 yen) looks really cool! We had breakfast at this shop. Big breakfast for one person, but tasty. Made with the shop’s original jam—rich and delicious! Dogs are also welcome! The cherry blossoms are in full bloom. Strolling riverside to Ryogoku — sumo town. Ran into Minions and Pikachuw😄 Bye bye👋 Momonjiya: A long-established restaurant with rare wild boar dishes. The Nio statue wards off evil and guards the temple. Built by the shogun to mourn the 100,000 lives lost in the Great Fire of 1657. Before today’s sumo stadium, tournaments were held here. That’s why there’s a memorial for past sumo wrestlers here. Grave of Nezumi Kozō, a famous thief from the Edo period. He stole from the rich and gave to the poor. People scrap his gravestone for luck, success, and wealth. This is the setting of the famous Japanese story “Chushingura.” The 47 ronin avenged their master’s honor by killing Kira. Lord Kira Even Hollywood made a movie based on it: “47 Ronin.” Now let’s explore Sumo Town! Their pick: sumo ring-shaped cookies (Dohyo Sablé) Sumo tournaments are held here. Our favorite restaurant in front of the Kokugikan. This is a waterbus station. You can ride to Asakusa or Odaiba from here. You can visit for free. The contrast between skyscrapers and an Edo-period garden is beautiful. It’s a stroll garden with a large central pond. We step across stones placed in the pond, called “tobi-ishi.” Next door is the Japanese Sword Museum. The first floor is free to enter. Sword-shaped scissors from Seki, Japan’s blade town. They show videos about sword-making. This scene reminds us of the ironworks in “Princess Mononoke.” Sword parts and the making process are on display. This used to be the old Ryogoku Station, renovated into a shopping complex. Famous yakitori grilled in the basement of Ryogoku Kokugikan The original sakura mochi — famous since the 1700s shops. Bought sumo cookies for my sumo-loving sister! Now we enter the restaurant area. There’s a real sumo ring right in the middle. From the monja mecca of Tsukishima—this has to be good! The okonomiyaki looks great! Not open yet — opens at 5 PM​ This is a sugidama — a cedar ball. It once signaled new sake, but now it’s displayed year-round. Café & bakery — popular for pudding! Miso ramen specialty shop Nihonbashi’s famous soba, now in Ryogoku! We go up to the second floor. From here, you can see the entire sumo ring perfectly. Seafood izakaya They offer sashimi, deep-fried tuna, and seafood bowls at reasonable prices. Chanko nabe is the everyday meal for sumo wrestlers. So many ingredients! It’s flavored with soy sauce and miso. They cook the chanko hot pot right at the table. Looks delicious! The meal also comes with sashimi, fried chicken wings, and pickles. Now, it’s ready to eat! Rich umami from the ingredients — it’s so tasty! At the end, we add udon noodles into the leftover soup. Perfect lunch – We’re full and happy! The outer crust is crispy and delicious. Currently closed; reopening scheduled for spring 2026. Our favorite chai shop You can enjoy food and massages at this spa. Cloth zōri (Japanese sandals) shop They were holding a zōri-making workshop. Cute brooches! Rice cracker specialty shop Their top recommendation is “Hokusai Age” crackers. Decided to stop by the museum’s lounge (free). Hokusai, a famous ukiyo-e artist from the Edo era, is especially known for “The Great Wave.” A must-visit spot for Ukiyo-e lovers. The gift shop has lots of Great Wave items. You can even build the “Great Wave” with LEGO! We skipped the exhibit today, but we saw it before－totally worth seeing the real artworks!