Kyoto Sumo Club
Retired professional wrestlers meet in a best-of-three bout on a real dohyo, set at the centre of the dining room.
See dates for this show ↗What this show is
What a sumo show in Kyoto is
A light-hearted show, not a tournament
Kyoto Sumo Club says so itself: this is not a formal tournament or a training session, but a light-hearted entertainment show for adults and children. Expect a geisha dance, live commentary, demonstrations and one best-of-three match, with a hot pot on the table. Some guests say they would have liked clearer expectations up front, so here they are.
The ring sits in the middle of the room
A professional tournament ring is a circle 4.55 metres across, edged with partly buried rice-straw bales. At Kyoto Sumo Club a real dohyo stands at the centre of the restaurant, and every seat, the club says, gets a close view of it. The two seat types differ by how near you are, not whether you can see.
Why the rituals matter
Wikipedia says prehistoric wall paintings suggest sumo began as an agricultural ritual dance, and its oldest written mention, from the year 712, has two kami, or gods, wrestling for the land of Izumo. Salt purification is one of the Shinto customs the sport still keeps. In the Heian period, when Kyoto was the capital, wrestling matches called sumai no sechie were regular events at the imperial court.
Why a hot pot
Chanko-nabe is the stew sumo wrestlers eat in vast quantities, and tournament versions are made only with chicken, so a wrestler stays on two legs, never four. At the club, chanko-nabe is the signature dish of an all-you-can-eat, all-you-can-drink table, and the show's title on GetYourGuide promises chicken hot pot.
Running order
The show, in order
This is the order of play on the booking page. Starting times come with your booking.
The venue asks you to arrive at least 20 minutes before the show starts. Places in the ring challenge are limited and are drawn by lottery if there are too many volunteers, and the contents of the souvenir gift bag change with the season.
- 01 Arrive
The elevator to the fifth floor
The show is on the fifth floor of the building that has an Animate store. Come early and settle in before the show starts.
- 02 First
The geisha's dance
Geisha in kimono open the show with a traditional Japanese dance, before anyone has touched the ring.
- 03 Then
Morning routine, rules and techniques
The show includes live demonstrations of the morning exercises that start a sumo day, the classic techniques and the do's and don'ts of the ring, explained in English commentary for people who have never watched a bout.
- 04 Bout
A best-of-three match
Retired professional sumo wrestlers meet in a best-of-three match on the dohyo at the centre of the room.
- 05 Your turn
The ring challenge
Volunteers step into the ring and challenge a wrestler. Spots are limited at each show, and a lottery decides when there are more volunteers than places.
- 06 All through
The hot pot keeps coming
The table is all you can eat and drink, built around the chanko-nabe, with a wide range of other dishes.
The sport, up close
These photographs show sumo at professional tournaments and a dance on a Kyoto stage, so you can see the sport and its costumes. They are not pictures of the club's dining room.
What the ticket puts in front of you
What the ticket puts in front of you
Seats, food, a souvenir and a few house rules.
A standard seat
Comfortable seating with a clear view of the ring, which is the starting option.
A front-row VIP seat
Front-row places for an up-close view of the action, plus a printed souvenir photo frame.
All you can eat and drink
The meal is built around the chanko-nabe and a wide range of dishes, with the drinks unlimited too.
A souvenir gift bag
Every guest takes home a souvenir gift bag, and what is inside varies with the season.
Special menus on request
Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free meals come as a limited menu and must be requested at least 2 days before your visit.
Cameras are welcome
You can take photos and videos during the show. Live-streaming it, or posting the whole show online, is not allowed.
Which seat to pick
Two seats, one ring challenge and a few special menus
| Option | What it gives you | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Standard seat | Comfortable seating and a clear view of the ring, with the full show, the meal and the souvenir gift bag. | First-timers, larger groups and anyone happy to watch from a table. |
| Front-row VIP seat | Front-row places for an up-close view of the action, plus a printed souvenir photo frame. | Birthdays, couples and families who want to be near the wrestlers. |
| The ring challenge | Optional. Volunteers step into the ring against a wrestler, and a lottery picks them when spots run out. | Anyone who fancies a go at the ring, and groups with a volunteer or two. |
| Special menus | Vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free, as a limited menu requested at least 2 days ahead. | Anyone whose plate needs planning before the day. |
| A shorter show from another operator | About 1.5 hours with two drinks, a group photo with the wrestlers and no meal. First-come seating, and doors open 30 minutes before. | Travellers who want the show without the hot pot, at a lower price. |
Compare standard and front-row VIP seats on this same listing ↗
Reserve on GetYourGuide
The Kyoto sumo shows
The Kyoto Sumo Club show below, a shorter sumo show run by a different operator, and more to do around Kyoto.
A shorter show from another operator
About 1.5 hours with two drinks, a group photo with the wrestlers and no meal. First-come seating, and doors open 30 minutes before.
See dates for this show ↗More to do in Kyoto on GetYourGuide
Finding the room
Finding the room
Getting in
The venue is on the fifth floor of the building with an Animate store. Go to the ground floor, walk toward the Montbell store and the elevators are on your left.
Arrive early
Aim to be there at least 20 minutes before the show starts. Your booking shows the start time for the date you choose.
Your ticket
It is a mobile ticket, available in the GetYourGuide app and on the website straight after you book, so nothing needs printing.
Strollers and wheelchairs
Strollers and wheelchairs cannot go in the show area. There is a storage area, and wheelchair users should contact the club before they come.
Booked separately?
If friends or family booked on their own, add their name or booking number in the comments and arrive together. The club will try to seat you in the same area, though you may share a table with other guests.
Little ones
Children are welcome. Babies under 1 year do not get a seat, a meal or a souvenir.
Short reads before you go
Short reads before you go
the show in order
The Kyoto sumo show, from the geisha's dance to the last bite
The order of play, with what to do before the show and between each part.
Read the short guide → what to expectA sumo show, not a tournament: what to expect in Kyoto
Where the club's show sits next to professional sumo, so you arrive with the right picture in your head.
Read the short guide → your turnThe ring challenge: how stepping in works
How volunteering works, how the lottery decides and who can have a go.
Read the short guide → choosingStandard, VIP or the shorter show: choosing in Kyoto
The seat types at Kyoto Sumo Club, and how the second, shorter show from a different operator compares.
Read the short guide → the mealChanko-nabe: why sumo wrestlers eat hot pot
The stew behind the all-you-can-eat table, according to Wikipedia and Kyoto Sumo Club.
Read the short guide → groupsFamilies, school groups and friends booking separately
What is allowed for children, mixed groups and parties that did not book together.
Read the short guide →FAQ
Questions before you book the show
Do I have to step into the ring?
No. The ring challenge is optional. Places are limited at each show, and if more guests volunteer than there are spots, the club picks by lottery.
What does all you can eat and drink cover?
The meal is built around the chanko-nabe, the hot pot sumo wrestlers eat, with a wide range of other dishes. Food and drink are both unlimited.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. The show is made for adults and children. Babies under 1 year are the exception, with no seat, meal or souvenir for them.
Can I have a vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free meal?
Yes, as a limited menu. You need to request it at least 2 days before your visit, so do it when you book.
What is the difference between standard and VIP seating?
Standard seats have a clear view of the ring. VIP seats are in the front row, for a closer look at the action, and come with a printed souvenir photo frame.
Can our group sit together if we booked separately?
Add each other's names or booking numbers in the comments and arrive together. The club will try to seat you in the same area, but you may be seated with other guests.
Can I film the show?
Yes, photos and videos are welcome. Live-streaming the show, or posting the whole thing online, is not allowed.
Is there a shorter, cheaper sumo show in Kyoto?
A different operator runs a show of about 1.5 hours with two drinks and a photo with the wrestlers, and no meal is part of it. Doors open 30 minutes before the show and seating is first come, first served. It is the second card in the booking section.
Sit beside a real dohyo, watch the bouts up close and keep the hot pot coming.
Reserve your seats for the sumo show ↗The price shown is the lowest per person. Pick your date and seat type on GetYourGuide and it adds up the total in your own currency before you pay.