Toyko 3-day Itinerary
Japan
Where to go and what to see in Tokyo to get the most from your trip – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and Japan travel writer Rob Goss.
Bucket list experience:
Tokyo, Kanto, Japan
Credit Shutterstock.com/J. Henning Buchholz
Nothing quite says Japanese sport like large, semi-naked men trying to wrestle each other to the ground.
Sumo has been around for at least 1,000 years, initially performed to appease the Shinto gods before eventually becoming the major sport it is today. From the brief, yet hard-hitting bouts to the Shinto-influenced pomp that surrounds them, it’s a brilliant spectacle – and Tokyo’s Ryogoku neighbourhood is the centre of it all.
There are three 15-day sumo tournaments a year at the Kokugikan arena in Ryogoku, but if you miss those you could take a morning tour to one of the sumo training stables to watch the rikishi (wrestlers) go through gruelling practice routines.
Any time of year, Ryogoku is also worth a night-time visit for a chanko nabe dinner. This protein-heavy hotpot of fish, meat, vegetables, and tofu, is what rikishi eat to stay supersized.
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Destination Guide >Recommended itineraries by our writers that include this experience
Japan
Where to go and what to see in Tokyo to get the most from your trip – a 3-day itinerary from destination expert and Japan travel writer Rob Goss.
Morning tours of the sumo training stables to watch the practice routines are only accessible as part of on organised tour.
To see the Grand Tournament at Kokugikan, book well in advance via the official website.
The Grand Tournaments are held over 15 days every March, May and September at the Kokugikan.
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
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Uber-hip Scandi-inspired boutique hotel with great access to Tokyo Station, Ginza, and key business districts. A chilled-out base for hipsters.
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Uber lux, five star hotel with a prime location in central Tokyo for all travellers who can afford it. One of Tokyo’s swankiest addresses.
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A recently-opened boutique hotel with just 6 rooms, each a unique art installation, in a convenient location in Akihabara.
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A high-rise, high-end contemporary take on the traditional ryokan with a great central location.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Kanto, Japan
A dizzying mixture of old ways and modern style, crowds and calm, and arguably the best food scene on the planet.
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Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
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