PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Small things to know before you go.

From wetin to pack reach how private booking dey work, these answers go help you arrive ready to enjoy di experience.

Real people, shared questions and private sumo experience.

Na completely private session?

Na for your group we dey arrange di sessions on this website. Di confirmed proposal go specify di activity space and arrangements. Ask separately if na only una must use every facility inside di building.

I need experience or particular fitness level?

Most guests na new people for sumo. Your instructor go introduce di basics and adjust di programme. Tell us if you prefer gentle participation, you get concern about contact or you want advanced session.

Women and children fit participate?

Yes. Women dey welcome for this experience. Children fit join from age two, but we recommend four and above. Children wey be twelve or younger need private booking and parent or supervising adult. Abeg give ages of all participants wey never reach eighteen.

Getting ready for di experience, with help to tie di mawashi.

Wetin I suppose bring?

Bring drinking water (we suggest 500 ml bottle), sweat towel and change of clothes. We dey use mawashi during di experience; suitable trousers fit dey available if needed. Follow di clothing instructions wey we confirm. If you wear glasses, ask about removing dem during practice or wearing contact lenses.

Showers, changing rooms and step-free access dey available?

Facilities depend on di venue wey you book. Showers fit dey available for traditional-ring sessions; abeg confirm di facilities for your booked venue. Request exact access, toilet, seating and changing details before you arrange for guest wey need dem.

Which language dem dey use for di experience?

English support dey available, and you fit enquire for Japanese or English. Demonstrations dey help guests understand movements. For support in another language, ask about interpretation when you enquire.

How early I suppose book?

Enquire at least two weeks ahead for private sessions. Enquiry na request make we check availability. Your booking go confirm only after we agree arrangements and conditions for writing.

How payment and cancellation dey work?

We go send proposal and invoice privately. Normally, payment must come ahead by bank transfer; credit card payment through Stripe dey available too. We go give cancellation conditions before confirmation, using Japan time. Request date, headcount or special-arrangement changes as early as possible.

I fit take photos or keep my visit private?

Yes, personal photography dey welcome with permission from people wey you dey record. We go check publicity preferences for writing. Tell us before di session if you no want make we use your photo or video. Commercial productions should contact Sumo Man.

Wetin we suppose know about safety and insurance?

Follow your instructor directions and join only for level wey suitable for you. Instructors get safety training and first-aid kits dey available. Sumo na physical activity, so small scrapes or bruises fit happen. You fit request insurance information; cover depend on policy terms and exclusions.

WETIN WE DON DO

We dey welcome sumo guests from all over di world.

Travel agencies and online partners

We don work with dozens of big travel agencies and online travel agencies.

Logos of travel agencies and online agencies: JTB, WILLER, GetYourGuide, Klook, Viator and Airbnb — JTB · WILLER · GetYourGuide · Klook · Viator · Airbnb

Countries and regions

We don welcome guests from more than 34 countries and regions.

World map wey show where our guests travel come from — Where our guests travel come from.

See di countries and regions our guests come from

Some of dem na:

United States of America
Canada
France
United Kingdom
Mexico
Australia
Germany
Japan
India
Brazil
Taiwan
Italy
New Zealand
Poland
Singapore
South Africa
Spain
Argentina
Colombia
Democratic Republic of di Congo
Czech Republic
Dominican Republic
Greece
Hong Kong
Indonesia
Israel
Lithuania
Nepal
Norway
Réunion
Romania
Russia
Switzerland
Turkey

YOUR PRIVATE SUMO EXPERIENCE

How di programme go, step by step

From when you tie mawashi reach when you enter di ring: learn sumo movements, rules and traditions with your instructors. You no need any sumo experience before.

Plan for about 90 minutes, including preparation and photos.

Tie your mawashi

Your instructor go help you tie di traditional sumo belt and prepare you for di experience.
Warm up together

Start with stretches and movements wey go prepare your body. Follow wetin di instructor show you at a pace wey you dey comfortable with.
Understand di rules

Learn di basics of sumo history, how person dey win a bout, and di proper behaviour for dohyo, di sumo ring.
Practise di basics — keiko

Try di traditional movements wey form di foundation of sumo training. Your instructor go explain and show you each exercise.

Shiko
Raise and lower each leg one after di other to practise balance and di special sumo leg stamp.

Koshiwari
Spread your feet wide, lower your hips and practise how to control your posture.

Suriashi
Practise sliding steps and keep your feet close to di ground as you move.

Teppo
Learn how to push forward and how your arms and feet work together.

Butsukari-geiko
If your instructor decide say e dey suitable, try controlled pushing practice with a level of effort wey suit you.
Try a bout — torikumi

Learn di order: bow, do chirichozu, put both fists for ground, start di bout, then bow again. Learn wetin chirichozu mean and wetin kinjite, di techniques wey dem ban, be. Di instructor go adjust each supervised bout to suit di people wey dey take part.
Take photos to remember di day

Finish with photos beside di sumo wrestlers so you go remember your time inside di ring.

Na example of di programme be this. Exercises, order and duration fit change because of di venue, group or conditions that day. Na di instructor go decide which contact exercises and bouts to offer. You no need take part in every activity. Tell us wetin your group need when you send enquiry.

An instructor dey help a guest tie mawashi.

We dey learn di koshiwari stance together for dohyo.

SEE WETIN DI EXPERIENCE BE LIKE

Look inside one session

Watch a sample session to understand di atmosphere and how you go take part yourself. We fit adjust your private programme to suit your group, interests and venue.

This video na example. We go confirm activities, instructors, venue and times for your own booking.

Watch am for YouTube

DI PEOPLE BEHIND YOUR EXPERIENCE

Instructors and support team

Meet di sumo instructors, interpreter, photographer and organiser behind Sumo! Sumo! Sumo!

Toru Shimakura

Na im dey run am · E dey represent Backrub LLC

Na im dey run Sumo! Sumo! Sumo!
Representative of Backrub LLC.

Sitara Matsumoto

Interpreter · Help for English language

Dey speak English like native speaker and don live abroad.
Don study for Sophia University.

Sota Kohara

Sumo instructor

Win di Chiba Prefecture High School Sumo Championship two years back to back.
Take third place for di team category of di All-Japan Student Sumo Championships.
Get competitive sumo experience from Hosei University.

So Miyaue

Sumo instructor · Training for English language

Get 25 years of competitive sumo experience.
Dey provide professional sumo training for English language.
Take second place for di under-85 kg category of di All Japan Intercollegiate Sumo Weight-Class Championships.

Kyosuke Sata

Professional photographer

Professional photographer wey dey speak English well.
Get experience for high-end photography, including work for international luxury cruise ships.

Shinnosuke Takemasa

Sumo teacher · E bin be professional wrestler

Champion for di team category of di National Sports Festival of Japan.
Champion of di All Japan Junior Sumo Championships.
Former professional wrestler for di Makushita division, wey compete with di ring name Genki.

We go arrange your session team based on di programme and who dey available. Tell us if you get any instructor or language request when you send enquiry.

SOMETHING EXTRA FOR YOUR PRIVATE SESSION

Train with person wey bin be sekitori.

Former sekitori — wrestlers wey reach Jūryō or Makuuchi divisions — fit join your private training experience for extra fee. Tell us di wrestler you prefer, your city and dates. We go check who dey available and confirm di arrangements inside your proposal.

Hidenoumi 英乃海

Highest rank wey e reach: Maegashira 6

Former Makuuchi wrestler from Kise stable and Jūryō champion. E specialise for right-hand inside grip and techniques to force opponent out of di ring.

Profile for Sumo Man Ask about training

Daishoho 大翔鵬

Highest rank wey e reach: Maegashira 9

E come from Ulaanbaatar for Mongolia, train for Oitekaze stable and compete for nine Makuuchi tournaments. E specialise for right-hand inside grip and techniques to force opponent out.

Profile for Sumo Man Ask about training

Daikiho 大喜鵬

Highest rank wey e reach: Maegashira 16

Masahiro Yamaguchi, wey be member of Miyagino stable before, reach di Makuuchi division. Im experience also cover international sumo shows, television and film.

Profile for Sumo Man Ask about training

Shiden 紫雷

Highest rank wey e reach: Jūryō 2

Former Jūryō wrestler from Kise stable, wey people know for left-hand inside grip and force-out style. Im friendly manner suit demonstrations and activities wey guests dey join.

Profile for Sumo Man Ask about training

We go only confirm di wrestler you request after we agree on availability and di extra fee. For sumo shows, media appearances or choosing wrestlers for events, contact Sumo Man. Shows and event casting with Sumo Man

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Every day of di week dey possible

We fit arrange private sessions any day, including Mondays and weekends, if space and team dey available.

Normal start times · Japan time

10:00
13:30

If these times no fit your travel plan, ask us about changing di start time.

You dey visit Tokyo area on Monday?

We no fit use di Heiwajima / Heiwanomori Park venue for Tokyo on Mondays. Instead, we fit arrange Monday sessions for one of these places:

Soka, Saitama
Kawasaki, Kanagawa
Ginza, Tokyo — extra fee dey apply

We go check availability and confirm di venue and start time with you before booking.

AN EXPERIENCE WEY SUIT YOUR GROUP

Choose an experience wey suit your group.

Our sumo experiences start for 2020. We establish di operating company, Backrub LLC, for August 2023.

From small private group reach large group

Traditional ring · We recommend am for up to 20 guests

For independent travellers and small groups, we recommend real dohyo. We fit arrange for groups of up to 30 for di Tokyo ring, but we must confirm di venue and participation plan.

Mat programme · Normal groups of 10–30

Mat programme give more flexibility for group travel plans. Bigger groups need separately arranged venue and instructor team.

Mat training places for Tokyo · 20–50 people for one group

Venue options include Takadanobaba and Shibuya. We go choose di location and programme based on your group and which venue dey available.

Mat training places for Tokyo · 50–200 people for one group

For large groups, one option na venue about 10 minutes by car from Ikebukuro. We go confirm capacity, transport arrangements and staff for each booking.

Different guests fit join in different ways

Families, school groups and events

We welcome company groups for meetings, incentive trips, conferences and exhibitions, families, middle-school and high-school groups, and special-event bookings. Most guests never try sumo before; you no need previous knowledge or experience.

Women and children

Women dey welcome to enter di dohyo and take part. We recommend participation from age four; children fit also follow di group and watch without taking part. Tell us di ages and numbers of participants and observers.

Older guests and gentle participation

We don welcome plenty guests wey dey their 60s and above. Gentler programme dey for people wey prefer less physical activity. Experienced athletes fit request more intensive training.

Modest clothing and privacy

Muslim guests fit take part with hijab or other modest clothes. You fit request female instructor well in advance, depending on who dey available. Private sessions also give LGBT+ guests and anybody wey need privacy space to enjoy di experience with their own group.

Sessions for English language, with demonstrations to guide you

We dey run sessions for English language, with help for English and Japanese. Demonstrations and physical practice also help guests wey no speak English understand di movements.

Tell us wetin your group need when you send enquiry. We go confirm di venue, instructors, participation arrangements and meeting instructions before your visit. Also confirm your travel arrangements together with your booking details.

Plan your group experience

PREPARE FOR YOUR VISIT

Insurance and safety

Our sumo experience get business insurance with Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. We join this with safety training for instructors and clear guidance for participants.

Business insurance

Di policy wey our service information describe include liability for bodily injury, liability for property damage and theft of guests’ belongings. Wetin insurance cover depend on di policy terms, conditions and exclusions.

Care during your session

Instructors dey receive safety training and first-aid kits dey for di venue. Follow di instructor directions and tell us about any participation needs before your visit.

Understand wetin di insurance cover

Sumo na physical activity, so small scrapes or bruises fit happen. Di insurance wey our service information describe no cover these small injuries. E no guarantee cover for every accident or loss.

Travel professionals and guests fit ask us to confirm di insurance arrangements and di cover conditions wey apply to their visit.

Ask us how insurance go work for your visit

Before you book

Our safety record

We never cause any guest serious injury. We dey adjust activities and intensity to each group, and na di instructor dey decide which contact exercises suit dem.

Watching and taking part

To watch na free, including for children, tour leaders and interpreters. Tour leader wey take part for di experience go pay as participant.

Payment and travel-agency rates

Normally, you need pay in advance through bank transfer. Travel agencies get net wholesale rates without commission, and dem set their own selling prices. Contact us for detailed sales materials and individual terms, including payment and cancellation conditions.

Cancellation conditions

15 days or more before	No charge
10 days before	30%
7 days before	50%
3 days before	70%
Di day before, di same day, or if you no show up	100%

If na we cancel di experience, we go refund all di money.

Wetin to bring and wear

Remove your glasses or use contact lenses for di experience. Bring towel, change of clothes and about 500 ml of drinking water.

Children and other guests wey never reach 18

Private booking dey compulsory if children wey be 12 years or younger dey take part. Tell us in advance how many participants dey under 18 and their ages.

Photos and videos

You fit post your own photos and videos freely for social media. Ask other guests for permission before you record or share their images. We fit use materials wey we film for our official website, social media and sales materials. Tell us before di experience if you no want appear.

SUMO MAN

You dey find performers for show or production?

For sumo shows, film, television, adverts, event appearances and casting, visit our specialist agency, Sumo Man.

Sumo Man

PRIVATE SUMO TRAINING FOR TOKYO & OSAKA

Make we plan your time inside di ring.

Tell us small about your trip. We go check availability and prepare proposal. To send enquiry no mean say booking don confirm.

Tokyo and Osaka

Abeg enquire at least two weeks ahead for private session.

Your name *Your email *Phone numberCompany / agencyCountry / region * I dey ask as City wey you prefer

Date wey you prefer

We never confirm date yet

How many guests *

Tell us about your group and wetin una plan *

Our team dey handle enquiries for English and Japanese. You fit write for any language wey you prefer.

Small things to know before you go.

Na completely private session?

I need experience or particular fitness level?

Women and children fit participate?

Wetin I suppose bring?

Showers, changing rooms and step-free access dey available?

Which language dem dey use for di experience?

How early I suppose book?

How payment and cancellation dey work?

I fit take photos or keep my visit private?

Wetin we suppose know about safety and insurance?

Travel agencies and online partners

Countries and regions

Tie your mawashi

Warm up together

Understand di rules

Practise di basics — keiko

Try a bout — torikumi

Take photos to remember di day

Look inside one session

Instructors and support team

Toru Shimakura

Sitara Matsumoto

Sota Kohara

So Miyaue

Kyosuke Sata

Shinnosuke Takemasa

Train with person wey bin be sekitori.

Hidenoumi 英乃海

Daishoho 大翔鵬

Daikiho 大喜鵬

Shiden 紫雷

Every day of di week dey possible

Normal start times · Japan time

You dey visit Tokyo area on Monday?

From small private group reach large group

Traditional ring · We recommend am for up to 20 guests

Mat programme · Normal groups of 10–30

Mat training places for Tokyo · 20–50 people for one group

Mat training places for Tokyo · 50–200 people for one group

Different guests fit join in different ways

Families, school groups and events

Women and children

Older guests and gentle participation

Modest clothing and privacy

Sessions for English language, with demonstrations to guide you

Insurance and safety

Business insurance

Care during your session

Understand wetin di insurance cover

Before you book

Our safety record

Watching and taking part

Payment and travel-agency rates

Cancellation conditions

Wetin to bring and wear

Children and other guests wey never reach 18

Photos and videos

You dey find performers for show or production?

Make we plan your time inside di ring.