Sumo Museum

The Sumo Museum is a small museum located in the sumo stadium in Sumida. Located next to the famous Edo-Tokyo Museum, the Sumo Museum's mission is to gather and preserve a wide range of materials related to the history and traditions of sumo. Opened in 1954 and catering to sumo fans ever since, this museum contains exhibits ranging from woodblock prints and banzuke (official listings of rank) to the ceremonial aprons worn by the great rikishi of the past. The museum rotates their exhibits every two months to provide guests with a unique experience during each visit. The museum also functions as a research center, continuously studying and reviewing sumo history as an integral part of Japanese culture.

The museum itself is located near many sumo-related shops and it wouldn't be a surprise to see a sumo wrestler walking around. If you're lucky, you just might get a photo with the warriors before they're off for practice. The Sumo Museum is a great place to stop if you plan to watch a Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo or after a visit to the nifty Edo-Tokyo Museum next door. Don't forget, because the museum is part of the sumo stadium, you may even get to watch sumo wrestlers practice their moves. If you've wanted to see how big sumo wrestlers can get, or just want to know more about the ceremonial tradition turned sport, we highly recommend stopping by the Sumo Museum during our Japan tours in Tokyo. You can also arrange the Sumo Museum as a part of your itinerary during our a private Japan tour vacation.

Note: photography is not allowed inside the Sumo Museum.