Neighbourhood in Sumida
Ryogoku
両国
The home of professional sumo, with the national sumo arena, training stables and chanko nabe restaurants on the east bank of the Sumida River.
- places to see
- 8
- walk past the highlights
- 1.1 km
- Tokyo
- Sumida
Photo: Guilhem Vellut (opens in a new tab), CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab), from Wikimedia Commons
Ryogoku is regarded as the heartland of professional sumo. Most of the training stables are based here, and the Ryogoku Kokugikan hosts three of the sport's six annual grand tournaments, in January, May and September. Even out of season you may pass wrestlers in their robes on the street.
Eat chanko nabe, the protein-rich hot pot wrestlers live on, in one of the restaurants near the station, many run by former wrestlers. Then see Hokusai's prints at the Sumida Hokusai Museum. See our Sumida guide for Tokyo Skytree and more.
Don't miss in Ryogoku
Start with these, then wander the side streets.
1. Ryogoku Kokugikan
両国国技館The national sumo arena. Tickets for January, May and September tournaments sell fast.
Photo: Steve Cadman (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 2.0 (opens in a new tab), from Wikimedia Commons
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)2. Sumo Museum
相撲博物館Small free museum inside the arena, on sumo history.
3. Sumida Hokusai Museum
すみだ北斎美術館Hokusai's prints in the area where he was born.
Photo: Kakidai (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab), from Wikimedia Commons
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
4. Former Yasuda Garden
旧安田庭園Small stroll garden around a pond, a quiet stop beside the arena.
Photo: bethom33 (opens in a new tab), CC BY-SA 2.0 (opens in a new tab), from Wikimedia Commons
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)5. Japanese Sword Museum
刀剣博物館Fine Japanese swords and fittings, next to the garden.
Walk Ryogoku in order
The highlights as one easy walk, about 1.1 km in all.
Stop 1
Ryogoku Kokugikan
Start here
Stop 2
Sumo Museum
1 min walk
Stop 3
Former Yasuda Garden
2 min walk
Stop 4
Japanese Sword Museum
1 min walk
Stop 5
Sumida Hokusai Museum
10 min walk
More around Ryogoku
Other places within walking distance. Each shows its Japanese name for maps and taxis.
Honjo Matsuzakacho Park
本所松坂町公園A park in Tokyo, Japan.
Tokyo Memorial Hall
東京都慰霊堂A museum in Tokyo, Japan.
Nomi no Sukune Shrine
野見宿禰神社A Shinto shrine in Tokyo, Japan.
Ryogoku on the map
Every place on this page. Tap a pin for directions.
Questions
Can I see sumo outside tournament months?
Yes, by watching morning practice at a stable, usually through a booked tour. The Sumo Museum is open most weekdays.
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.
More areas in Tokyo
- Oshiage (Tokyo Skytree)The old downtown area at the foot of Tokyo Skytree, with its shopping complex, an aquarium and a riverside walk to Asakusa.
- AsakusaOld Tokyo around Senso-ji temple, with the Kaminarimon gate, the Nakamise shopping street and the Sumida River on its east side.
- AkihabaraTokyo's Electric Town: the centre of anime, manga and game shopping, with electronics stores, arcades, maid cafes and the old Kanda Myojin shrine nearby.
- NihonbashiTokyo's old merchant quarter around the bridge where the Edo-period highways began, with Japan's first department store and long-running shops.
- UenoTokyo's museum quarter around Ueno Park, with national museums, the zoo, temples, a lotus pond and the Ameyoko market street by the station.
- MarunouchiThe business district between Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace, with the red-brick station, palace gardens and a tree-lined street of shops.
- GinzaTokyo's classic upmarket shopping district, with department stores, flagship boutiques, the Kabuki-za theatre and a main street that closes to cars at weekends.
- YanakaOne of the few corners of Tokyo where the old low-city atmosphere survives: temples, wooden houses, small shops and a large, leafy cemetery.
