Fukuoka Morning Sumo Practice & Hakata Old Town Walking Tour

Watch morning sumo practice
during the Kyushu Grand Sumo season

This tour runs only during the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament season (about 3 weeks in November). At an authentic practice venue near Hakata Station, watch professional sumo wrestlers practice rituals and techniques as they prepare for the upcoming tournament for about 1 hour. The venue is closer than other practice locations, so you spend less time traveling and more time watching.

This is a real training session, not a staged performance, so the content varies from day to day. Your guide explains the history and traditions of sumo and the dedication needed to succeed in this demanding sport.

Walk through Hakata Old Town
and visit historic sites

After the practice, walk through Hakata Old Town with your guide. Visit Canal City, Kushida Shrine (Hakata's guardian shrine), traditional machiya merchant houses, Shofukuji Temple (known as Japan's first Zen temple), and Tochoji Temple, home to one of the largest wooden seated Buddha statues in Japan. If you only want to see the sumo practice, you are free to leave afterward. The whole tour takes about 3 hours.

Hear the story of Hakata,
the gateway to Asia

Along the way, your guide explains how Hakata has served as a historic gateway to Asia and how this has shaped the area's culture, festivals, and daily life.

※ As this is a real training session, specific techniques, rituals, or session times cannot be guaranteed.
※ Entry times at the practice venue are strict, and if you arrive late you may not be able to watch the practice.
※ The "Hakozaki Morning Sumo Practice & Hakozaki Shrine" option watches sumo practice in Hakozaki and visits Hakozaki Shrine, with different meeting and drop-off points.