Watch the city's average BMI double as sumo comes to town each November
Steeped in culture, sumo is Japan's centuries-old national sport. Six grand sumo tournaments are held in Japan every year, and Fukuoka in Kyushu has the privilege to host November's event.
The tournament lasts for just over two weeks, and takes place in the Kokusai Center, located to the north of Hakata Station.
Don't Miss
- Watching some of the country's best sumo wrestlers face off against one another
- Seeing sumo wrestlers off-duty in town
How to Get There
The Kokusai Center can be reached from Fukuoka Airport by subway or bus, and is only a short walk from nearby train stations.
The Kokusai Center is a 12-minute walk from Gofukumachi Subway Station. Several buses connect Kokusai Center to Tenjin and Hakata Stations. Get off at Kokusai Center/Sunpalace-mae.
November is sumo season
November is sumo season in Fukuoka . If you're in Fukuoka during this time, you'll likely see sumo wrestlers wandering the streets during their time off from the competition. It's rumored many of them become regulars at the city's local bathhouses.
Tickets go on sale the month before the event (in early October) and usually sell out very quickly. There are limited options to get tickets on the day, and you'll need to queue early in the morning.
Come early to spot future champions
Each day's competition is structured by rank, with the best wrestlers performing at the end of the day. If you're a real sumo fan, catch the pre-lunch action to scope out future stars in the junior divisions.
Since the arena is not large, even the cheapest seats offer good views of the action. Plenty of sumo-related memorabilia is on sale in the foyer of the building.
General Info
The event is held for two weeks in every November.
The venue is Fukuoka Kokusai Center which located at 2-2 Chikkohonmachi, Hakata-ku.
* The information on this page may be subject to change due to COVID-19.