Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Group sizeUp to 20 travelers
Overview
Get a behind-the-scenes look at real sumo training during Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament season. Watch wrestlers practice rituals and techniques in an authentic setting, with your guide explaining sumo's history, traditions, and the dedication it demands.
Important Information
This is a genuine training session for professional wrestlers, not a staged event. Wrestlers train daily, but schedules can shift due to weather or tournament timing. If training is cancelled due to something unexpected, you'll still enjoy the rest of the Hakata walking tour, plus a 15% refund.
Explore Historic Hakata Old Town
Stroll through Hakata's old town, where history meets modern life. Discover shrines, temples, and bustling streets, with stories of local festivals and traditions along the way — and learn how Hakata's role as a historic gateway to Asia shaped the region's identity.
Options
Fukuoka: Morning Sumo Practice and Hakata Old Town
Sumo Practice in Hakozaki
Sumo Practice in Hakozaki
What's included
Local Guide
Guided morning sumo practice viewing
Walking tour of Hakata Old Town
Food and drinks
Transportation to or from the meeting point
Gratuities (optional)
What to expect
Sumiyoshi Shrine
45m
Step beyond the ticket booth and into the world of sumo. Before you take your seat to watch a live training session, your guide will walk you through what life is really like for a rikishi (sumo wrestler) — from the strict hierarchy of the stable (heya) to their daily schedule, diet, and the grueling training that shapes their bodies and discipline from a young age.
Canal City Hakata
Pass by
On the way, we'll pass through Canal City Hakata, one of Fukuoka's most distinctive shopping and entertainment complexes, known for its curving pastel-colored buildings and the canal running through its center.
Kushida Shrine
20m
We'll also stop by Kushida Shrine, Hakata's oldest and most revered shrine, founded over 1,000 years ago and known as the guardian shrine of the city. It's the spiritual home of the famous Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival, and you'll see one of the towering, elaborately decorated yamakasa floats displayed on-site year-round.
Tochoji Temple
20m · Admission ticket not included
A stop at Tochoji Temple to see the Fukuoka Daibutsu, Japan's largest seated wooden Buddha, plus its atmospheric "hell and paradise" underground passage.
Meeting and pickup
Meeting point
Next to the Main entrance into Hakata station
End point
Next to the Main entrance into Hakata station
Additional information
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
