Attending a Sumo Tournament: Box Seats vs. Chairs

Watching a sumo tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo is a must-do cultural experience, but choosing between box seats and arena chairs can shape how you enjoy this iconic event. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide.

Box Seats: Traditional and Immersive

Box seats, or masu-seki, are small, tatami-floored sections close to the ring that fit up to four people. Sitting cross-legged here feels authentic, evoking the traditional way sumo has been enjoyed for centuries.

• Pros: Unparalleled view of the wrestlers’ intensity and technique; more intimate and immersive.

• Cons: Limited space for larger groups; sitting on the floor for hours may be uncomfortable for some. If you buy on ticket exchange - they will sell all 4 seats. So if you buy only 2, you will be squished together with strangers.

Arena Chairs: Comfortable and Accessible

Located in the upper tiers of the venue, arena chairs are standard seats offering a more relaxed viewing experience.

• Pros: Budget-friendly; no need to worry about seating posture; ideal for solo visitors or casual fans.

• Cons: Farther from the action; lacks the traditional ambiance of box seats.

We did both during the tournament and enjoyed aspects of both of them. We had been lucky in prior tournaments and were able to book tickets live when they were released - not through a broker. This is great because they sell box seats as one price, not per cushion (like they do through ticket agencies). But this year they sold out in seconds.

Next time we will probably use Buy Sumo Tickets - we have had good luck with them buying the tour tickets. That experience is posted here.