The September Grand Sumo Tournament - known in Japanese as Aki Basho - returns to Ryōgoku Kokugikan in Tokyo from 13 to 27 September 2026. This is one of three Tokyo-based tournaments in the annual six-basho calendar and typically draws the largest crowds of any sumo event held in the capital.
Key Details
Dates: 13–27 September 2026 (15 days)
Venue: Ryōgoku Kokugikan, 1-3-28 Yokoami, Sumida City, Tokyo
Getting there: Ryogoku Station on the JR Sobu Line - the arena is a two-minute walk from the East Exit. Edo-mae is also accessible from Ryogoku Station on the Toei Oedo Line (Exit A2).
Daily schedule: Bouts begin at roughly 08:00 with lower-division wrestlers; the top-division (Makuuchi) action starts around 16:00 and the day closes by 18:00.
Ticket Situation
Weekend sessions and the final few days of the tournament are sold out. Weekday seats remain available at the time of writing. Tickets are sold through the Japan Sumo Association’s official channels, and same-day standing tickets (unreserved) are sometimes available at the venue from around 08:00 on match days.
If you’re in Tokyo during this window, a weekday session offers the same atmosphere and the same calibre of wrestling without the weekend pricing premium. Masu-seats (traditional box seats on the floor of the arena, designed for four people) provide the closest view of the dohyo ring. Upper-level arena seats are a cheaper alternative with a full overhead view of the action.
What to Expect Inside
A sumo basho is structured as a round-robin: each top-division wrestler (there are 42 in Makuuchi) competes once per day across the 15 days. The wrestler with the best record at the end of the tournament wins the Emperor’s Cup. Controversially - and part of what keeps it compelling - form can swing dramatically across a fortnight.
The atmosphere inside Kokugikan is distinct from any other sporting event in Japan. Vendors sell traditional snacks (yakitori, beer, sake) from roaming carts in the arena. The ceremonial elements - the ritual salt throwing, the referee in formal Edo-period dress, the gyoji announcements - are as much a part of the experience as the bouts themselves.
Visiting Ryōgoku
The Ryōgoku district in Sumida City is worth spending time in beyond the tournament itself. The area has several sumo stables (heya) where morning practice sessions are sometimes open to visitors when arranged in advance. The Edo-Tokyo Museum sits a short walk from the arena and covers the city’s history from the Edo period through to the post-war era.
For background on planning a Tokyo visit around this event, see our Tokyo city guide and our Japan itineraries for suggested schedules. Practical matters - transport IC cards, cash versus card, and communication - are covered in our Japan practical guide. If you’re planning activities beyond the tournament, the things to do in Japan section includes the sumo experience and dozens of other options. For bookable tours and experiences in Tokyo during the tournament - including sumo viewing packages and cultural experiences - browse tours in Tokyo.