Sumo Experience: Learn and Train with Real Sumo Wrestlers in Tokyo
Train inside a real sumo ring in Tokyo with former professionals and national champions: mawashi, rituals, footwork, and a mock bout.
Overview
Sumo is Japan's national sport and one of its oldest rituals, and a morning or afternoon at Amita Sumo Dojo is the closest a visitor gets to stepping inside it. You change into a real mawashi, help prepare the ring as the wrestlers do, and learn the movements that underpin every bout: shiko foot stomps, koshiwari squats, suriashi sliding steps, and teppo wall drills. The session closes with a mock torikumi against a professional instructor and a photo in the ring.
Your instructors are former professionals: Takeshi Amitani, founder of the dojo and two-time US Sumo Open Champion, and Masahiro Yamaguchi (ring name Daikiho), who fought in Miyagino-beya and reached the top of the Makushita division. Both have appeared in Netflix's Sanctuary and other productions, and both spend their days now passing on the sport to visitors. The experience is held indoors, runs about two hours, and is designed for all ages from seven upwards, all genders, and all fitness levels.
Details
The experience is hands-on and held inside a real sumo ring at Amita Sumo Dojo. Below, a look at the dojo, the meeting point, and the instructors who will guide you through the session.
Two daily slots are available, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The meeting point is Amita Sumo Dojo, located inside Heiwa no Mori Park in Ota City, southern Tokyo.
Meet the Instructors:
Takeshi Amitani
Founder of Amita Sumo Dojo. Mr. Amitani is a former Junior High School Yokozuna and two-time US Sumo Open Champion. He has directed sumo scenes for Netflix's Sanctuary and played Ryuchozan in the series; he also appeared as himself in Disney+'s Sumo Do, Sumo Don't! and is known for his passionate commitment to spreading sumo culture internationally.
Masahiro Yamaguchi
Former professional sumo wrestler (rikishi) under the ring name Daikiho. His achievements include being High School Yokozuna, winning multiple national university tournaments, and rising to the top Makushita division after joining Miyagino-beya. After retiring in 2019, he continues to share his deep knowledge of sumo as a special staff member at Amita Sumo Dojo. He has appeared in Thermae Romae II, Netflix's Sanctuary, and TV Tokyo's Dekamori Hunter.
❖ Welcome, Mawashi Wrap-Up and Ring Preparation
A warm welcome at Amita Sumo Dojo, self-introductions, and a short quiz on sumo history and rules. Then you wrap an authentic mawashi (sumo loincloth) with the instructor's help and assist in preparing the ring as the wrestlers do.
❖ Rules, Rituals, and Basic Movements
An introduction to sumo's rules, etiquette, and sacred rituals, followed by the two movements every wrestler starts with: shiko (the foot stomps that mark the opening of every bout) and koshiwari (the low sumo squat that builds the legs).
❖ Stretching, Footwork, and Wall Drills
Sumo-style warm-up and stretching to prevent injury, then the fundamental training drills: suriashi, the low sliding-step footwork that keeps a wrestler balanced in the ring, and teppo, the two-handed push against a wooden pillar that builds upper-body power.
❖ Battle Practice and Match Experience
Mock battles against an instructor, with guidance on form and technique. You are then walked through a full torikumi (an actual bout) including the flow of the match, the chirichozu hand gestures performed before the clash, and the kinjite (forbidden moves) you must avoid.
❖ Commemorative Photos and Shower
A group photo session in the ring with your instructors to close the session. A shower is available at the dojo for a small coin fee (¥100 per five minutes); bring a towel and a change of clothes if you plan to use it.
What's included:
Exclusive access to an indoor sumo ring
Private lesson with former professional wrestlers and national champions
Rental of authentic mawashi (sumo belt)
Instruction on sumo techniques, rituals, and etiquette
Hands-on training and mock battles
Photo session with sumo instructors
Private session for groups of 5 or more guests
Tax
What's not included:
Food and drinks
Flip flops
Shower amenities (soap, shampoo, shower coins)
Towels and change of clothes
Hotel pick-up and drop-off
Transportation to and from the dojo
OPTIONS
Notes
Free cancellation up to 15 days before the experience starts (local time)
Private experience
1
-
20
Participants
Tokyo
From ¥18,000 /person
2 hours
Meeting Point
Minimum age: 7 years.
Bring a towel and a change of clothes. The session is physical and a shower is available at the dojo (¥100 per 5 minutes).
Glasses must be removed during the session. Contact lenses are recommended.
Loose training pants are provided by the dojo if you prefer not to wear the mawashi directly on bare skin.
Follow the instructor's guidance at all times during the session.
¥ou are welcome to take and share your own photos and videos. Please do not film other guests without their consent.
Our staff may take photos or videos during the session for use on social media or promotional material. Let us know in advance if you prefer not to appear.
For groups of 1-4 guests, the session may be shared with other participants on the same time slot. A private session can be arranged for an additional ¥30,000, with at least 2 weeks advance notice. Contact us to request it.
Traveler Photos
From ¥18,000 /person
2 hours
Tokyo