Ryogoku — Kokugikan and the Sumo District
About the Ryogoku — Kokugikan and the Sumo District Camera
Ryogoku sits on the east bank of the Sumida River in Sumida ward, and it is the centre of professional sumo in Japan. The Ryogoku Kokugikan, the sport's main arena, opened on this site in 1985 and seats around eleven thousand.
Three of the six annual grand tournaments are held here, in January, May and September. During those fifteen-day runs the district changes character completely: banners go up along the approach, and wrestlers in yukata walking to and from their stables become an ordinary sight on the street.
Outside tournament season it is a quieter, low-rise neighbourhood. Many sumo stables are based in the surrounding blocks, and the chanko restaurants along the streets — often run by former wrestlers — stay open year round.
Highlights & Nearby
- •Watch for: the streets around the Kokugikan, tournament banners, foot traffic on match days
- •Nearby: Ryogoku Kokugikan, Edo-Tokyo Museum, Sumida River, Ryogoku Station
- •Note: tournaments run in January, May and September; the area is busiest then
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ryogoku camera live?
Yes. Ryogoku in Sumida ward, Tokyo streams live 24 hours a day.
What can I see on this camera?
The streets of the sumo district around the Ryogoku Kokugikan, including tournament banners and the heavier foot traffic on match days.
How is this different from the other Ryogoku camera?
This one is framed on the Kokugikan and the surrounding sumo district rather than a general view of the neighbourhood.
When are sumo tournaments held in Ryogoku?
Three of the six annual grand tournaments are held at the Ryogoku Kokugikan, in January, May and September. Each runs for fifteen days.
