Ryōgoku, in Tokyo, is a place deeply connected to sumo, Japan’s national sport. Many sumo stables are located in the surrounding area, and it’s not uncommon to spot sumo wrestlers belonging to these stables while walking around.
Among the many restaurants near Ryōgoku Station serving chanko nabe (a hearty hot pot dish traditionally eaten by sumo wrestlers), “Hananomai Edo Tokyo Hakubutsukanmae ten,” (hereafter referred to as “Hananomai Edo Tokyo”) stands out as particularly unique.
The spacious interior boasts 460 seats and features a special design that includes an actual sumo wrestling ring.
Located conveniently near the Edo-Tokyo Museum (temporarily closed as of May 2025), the restaurant attracts both international and domestic tour groups eager to enjoy a taste of Japanese culture.
A real sumo ring inside the restaurant! A unique experience in Ryogoku
The sumo ring inside the restaurant is occasionally used for events featuring former sumo wrestlers, held irregularly.
On Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:00 PM, guests can enjoy sumo jinku (traditional sumo songs sung by wrestlers during tours), performed live in the ring. During official tournaments at Ryōgoku Kokugikan, performances are also held, but only on select days.
At Hananomai Edo Tokyo, you can get an up-close look at a real sumo ring—a rare opportunity you won’t find at most restaurants..
You can actually step into the ring and take commemorative photos.
If this sounds appealing, be sure to request these seats when making a reservation—they’re quite popular, so early booking is recommended.
Table seating designed to resemble a traditional theater
The restaurant features many other unique seating areas as well.
There’s a spacious room modeled after an Edo-period kabuki theater, complete with a small stage that captures the atmosphere of old Edo.
There’s also an area lined with private rooms designed to evoke Edo-period commoner houses and row houses. Walking down the corridor gives you the feeling of traveling back in time.
At the entrance, you’ll find a figure of Zenigata Heiji, a famous character from period dramas, welcoming you.
The walls are lined with sumo-related memorabilia, including handprints and autographs of wrestlers, as well as Edo-era decorations that help bring the historical setting to life.
Authentic chanko nabe in a casual setting!
The term chanko generally refers to sumo wrestlers’ daily meals, with chanko nabe being a hot pot dish they often eat. For many Japanese people, chanko is synonymous with hot pot.
At Hananomai Edo Tokyo, located in the heart of sumo culture, you can enjoy a special chanko nabe experience that’s unique to this location.
The restaurant offers three types of chanko hot pot: “Yokozuna Chicken Chanko,” “Seafood Chanko,” and “Ryogoku Chicken Chanko.”
“横綱 鶏ちゃんこ,” Yokozuna Chicken Chanko (photo shows 2 servings) 4,378 JPY per person (tax included)
The most popular is “Yokozuna Chicken Chanko.” You can choose from four soup types: the classics “Salt,” “Miso,” and “Soy Sauce,” plus a spicy “Umakara” flavor. If you’re unsure, try the classic soy sauce soup first.
Ingredients include various meats, vegetables like burdock root, mizuna greens, carrots, long onions, shiitake mushrooms, and enoki mushrooms, plus wheat gluten, kamaboko fish cake, and fried tofu.
This chanko nabe features four types of chicken: tsukune (chicken meatballs) with cartilage, thigh and breast meat from shamo (game fowl), and regular chicken thigh — a key highlight of the dish.
To prepare it deliciously, first add the burdock root before heating the soup. Once it starts boiling, add only the shamo thigh meat.
Shamo is firmer than regular chicken and known for its rich umami flavor. By adding it to the soup early, its flavor enhances the broth, and the meat itself becomes more tender and easier to eat.
Next, use a spoon to shape the tsukune into bite-sized portions and add them to the soup. As they simmer in the hot broth, their savory umami flavor gently spreads throughout.
Finally, add the rest of the meat and vegetables. After simmering for 10–15 minutes, the chanko nabe is ready to enjoy.
Since there are so many ingredients, the key is not to add everything to the pot at once. Instead, wait until you’ve finished eating the cooked ingredients before adding the next batch.
The more you chew, the more umami you get from the shamo (game fowl), along with the juicy chicken and flavorful tsukune. The rich taste of various types of chicken blends into the soup, creating a delicious harmony with the vegetables.
In fact, the recipe for Yokozuna Chicken Chanko is said to have been passed down from a real sumo stable. The flavor is truly authentic, and the portion size is impressive.
“海鮮ちゃんこ,” Seafood Chanko (photo shows 2 servings) 1,958 JPY per person (tax included)
The Seafood Chanko features a bounty of seafood including shrimp, oysters, white fish, and scallops. The salt-based broth is recommended.
Add vegetables and seafood to the boiling broth, and once they’re cooked through, it’s ready to eat. The briny flavors of the seafood blend into the salty broth, creating a completely different taste from the Yokozuna Chicken Chanko!
Not just chanko nabe! Enjoy a wide variety of small Japanese dishes
In addition to hot pot, Hananomai Edo Tokyo also offers a wide array of Japanese small plates.
“手作り上州しゃもつくね串 ４種盛り合わせ,” Handmade Joshu Shamo Tsukune 4-kind assortment skewers 1,428 JPY (tax included)
Tsukune skewers using Jōshū Shamo, a chicken breed descended from game fowl, are especially appealing because of their juicy texture.
The platter lets you enjoy four different flavors on one plate: “Grilled Cheese,” “Grated Daikon Ponzu,” spicy “Salsa Sauce,” and “Tsukimi” (literally “moon viewing” in Japanese), which is served with raw egg.
“かにといくらのこぼれ巻き寿司,” Crab and salmon roe sushi roll 1,538 JPY (tax included)
This “Crab and salmon roe sushi roll” is a luxurious roll featuring sushi filled with egg and cucumber, topped with snow crab flakes and salmon roe.
At Hananomai Edo Tokyo, you can enjoy a variety of Japanese flavors while taking in the atmosphere of a sumo stable and the charm of Edo-period Japan. Since there are often reservations from group tours and other parties, it’s recommended to book a table in advance before visiting.
Information
| Store name | 花の舞 江戸東京博物館前店 Hananomai Edo Tokyo Hakubutsukanmae ten |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-1-15 Kamezawa, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
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| Access |
Ryōgoku Station 2-minute walk from Exit A5
Ryōgoku Station 5-minute walk from Ryōgoku Station East Exit
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| Phone number | 03-5619-4488 |
| Reservations | Accepted Phone number, Official website, Tabelog, Hot Pepper Gourmet |
| Payment |
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| Service charge/Table charge | Service charge (including otōshi) 440 JPY (tax included) only when ordering alcohol |
| Hours | 11:30-14:30（last order 14:00）, 16:00-23:00（last order: food 22:00, drinks 22:30） |
| Closed | No holidays |
| Seating | 460 table seats |
| Smoking | All seats are non-smoking A smoking room is available |
| Official website | https://izakaya-hananomai.com/hakubutukan-mae/ |
| Other information |
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※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of May 2025.
