As soon as you enter this restaurant, your eyes are immediately drawn to the sumo wrestling ring.
What unfolds from there is a vibrant sumo show filled with laughter, intense matches, and an immersive atmosphere!
“Asakusa Sumo Club” opened in Asakusa in January 2024 as a restaurant where guests can enjoy meals while watching sumo shows performed by former sumo wrestlers.
The interior of Asakusa Sumo Club
Most visitors to the restaurant are tourists from outside Japan, and the restaurant has been featured in numerous international media outlets.
Shows are held three times daily at 12:00, 15:00, and 18:00, with each performance drawing large crowds.
Chanko nabe with vegan options
Guests are first welcomed with a chanko nabe set, an essential meal in the sumo world. Chanko-nabe, a hot pot dish traditionally eaten by sumo wrestlers, is so popular in Japan that there are even restaurants specializing in it.
Chanko nabe set at Asakusa Sumo Club
While chanko nabe typically uses chicken broth, Asakusa Sumo Club uses kombu kelp broth. The pot is filled with ingredients including chicken, chicken meatballs, vegetables, wheat gluten, and fried tofu. The broth, enriched by the umami from each ingredient, has a clear yet rich taste.
The set also includes fried chicken, inari sushi (sushi rice wrapped in sweet fried tofu), edamame, and cake.
All of these items are all-you-can-eat and included in the viewing fee-a generous offering!
Among the side dishes, the inari sushi is particularly exquisite, releasing sweet juices when bitten into.
It pairs perfectly with the vinegared rice, making you want to order seconds!
Inari sushi
Additional orders can be placed through a QR code menu system. The menu is available in both Japanese and English, making it quite easy for international visitors to order.
For vegans, there is a chanko-nabe set available that uses a soy milk-based broth and all plant-based ingredients. If you want the vegan option, be sure to inform the staff when making your reservation.
The show opens with a maiko dance
As guests enjoy their meal, the venue lights dim, and a maiko (apprentice geisha) appear to perform elegant dances.
After that, it’s time for the main sumo show!
Former sumo wrestlers demonstrate basic sumo moves and training routines, often adding a humorous touch.
I loved how the MC taught the audience how to cheer in Japanese! It made everyone feel like part of the event and really added to the excitement of the show!
Audience members can actually participate in sumo wrestling matches!
There’s even a segment where audience members can experience sumo wrestling! Selected audience members put on costumes and can wrestle with the sumo wrestlers in the ring.
Eight to ten people can participate per show. The MC calls for volunteers between segments, so raise your hand if you’re interested! You might get lucky and be chosen.
Don’t worry—the wrestlers will go easy on you. It’s a rare chance to experience the strength of sumo wrestlers firsthand, as they can effortlessly lift a grown man!
I never thought I’d get to experience a sumo match in Japan! It was such a fun and unique experience to watch sumo up close and actually feel the wrestlers’ strength.
The grand finale of the show is a serious sumo match between wrestlers, bringing a tense atmosphere to the venue compared to the previous comedic performances.
As the match begins, the intensity is palpable, and the crowd’s excitement reaches its peak. You’ll be so captivated that you might even forget to take pictures!
Photo opportunities for a satisfying finale!
After the matches, there’s time for commemorative photos with the wrestlers and maiko. Photos are given as gifts when leaving the venue.
I highly recommend Asakusa Sumo Club to international visitors to Japan. It’s easily accessible and you can experience sumo food culture and matches. Even if you don’t understand Japanese, you can learn so much about sumo and have a great time!
Before heading out, you can also buy sumo-themed souvenirs. There’s a wide variety of Japanese-themed items available.
So, what are the prices at Asakusa Sumo Club?
There are three types of viewing seats available. For the best position to watch the wrestlers’ intense matches up close, the V-VIP seats are recommended at 60,000 JPY (tax included) per person.
These seats are right in front of the ring, making you feel like you have an exclusive view of the matches.
VIP seats are 20,000 JPY (tax included) for adults and 12,000 JPY (tax included) for children under 12.
These seats are also close to the ring and recommended for those who want to watch comfortably with extended legroom.
View from the VIP seats
The most standard seats are 16,000 JPY (tax included) for adults and 12,000 JPY (tax included) for children under 12.
While further from the ring, these seats offer a good overall view. The price includes the chanko nabe set and commemorative photo, making it a great value!
Asakusa Sumo Club is the perfect place to experience Japanese culture in one go, making it a great spot for tourists. Since it’s a popular attraction year-round, early reservations are recommended!
Asakusa Sumo Club’s exterior
Information
| Store name | 浅草相撲部屋 Asakusa Sumo Club |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-10-12 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
|
| Access |
Asakusa Station 2-minute walk from Exit A1
Tawaramachi Station 8-minute walk from Exit 3
Asakusa Station 8-minute walk from Exit 6
|
| Phone number | 03-5246-3344 |
| Reservations | Accepted Official website |
| Payment |
|
| Service charge/Table charge | None |
| Hours | 12:00-20:00 |
| Closed | No fixed holidays Unscheduled holidays |
| Seating | 76 table seats |
| Smoking | All seats are non-smoking |
| Official website | https://asakusa-sumo.com/ |
| Other information |
|
※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of October 2024.
