OVERVIEW

Experience the weird and wonderful world of Ryogoku, the centre of the Sumo world in Japan. Witness the strict training rituals and day to day lifestyles of these wrestlers who have dedicated their lives to the art of Sumo, a sport that has a history spanning centuries.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Your guide for the morning will meet you at your hotel and take you to the Ryogoku, the center of Japan's sumo world.

As well as the Kokugikan Sumo Stadium, Ryogoku is home to most of Tokyo's sumo heyas.  All rikishi (wrestlers) belong to heyas, or sumo stables, where they live, train and eat.

We will be able to visit one of these heya to get up close and personal with these giant men and watch their asa geiko (morning training).

The day begins in the early morning, when the lowest ranked men wake up and put in some practice before going about their assigned duties, which include cleaning the building and preparing the food for the main meal of the day.

Higher ranked sekitori appear at a more reasonable hour, and they begin a practice session that runs from about 7am until about 10am. After several hours of warm up and technique practice, the wrestlers play an exciting "King of the Castle" game where one wrestler stays in the ring fighting bouts without any rest until he is defeated.

Life in the sumo heya is pretty tough although it is not without its rewards with Yokozuna (grand champions) earning a basic salary of some US$17,000 per month.

PRICING: in JPY per person

Rates are valid until 31 December 2012

Note: You will have to sit on tatami matting whilst watching the practice. Seats    are unavailable

Time: 7:30-11:30

Not available during Sumo tournament time (ask your travel consultant for more details)

Our services include:

• Meals as mentioned (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner).
• English speaking instructor
• Entrance fees for mentioned visits
• Transport to Ryogoku

Our services do not include:

• Other meals than mentioned
• Other services than mentioned
• Return transport to hotel
• International and Domestic Flights
• Laundry, telephone calls and expenditure of a personal nature
• Travel insurance