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Sumo Show with Experience and Photo in Kyoto

Top rated
4.8
Activity provider: Japanese Craft Workshop
Sumo Show with Experience and Photo in Kyoto
Sumo Show with Experience and Photo in Kyoto 2
Sumo Show with Experience and Photo in Kyoto 3
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Tour in Kyoto, including Sumo demonstration by real wrestlers and Live sumo matches. Run by Japanese Craft Workshop, booked direct rather than through a reseller.

Highlights

  • Runs 70 minutes
  • Sumo demonstration by real wrestlers
  • Live sumo matches
  • Opportunity for selected guests to challenge a sumo wrestler
  • Meet and greet with wrestlers
  • Photo opportunities with wrestlers

Sumo Show with Experience and Photo in Kyoto: Key Facts

PriceFrom $83.5 per person
Duration70 minutes
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Full description

This is a 70-minute experience in Kyoto. It is run by Japanese Craft Workshop, an operator we book with directly rather than through a reseller, which is why we can hold your place with them before we treat your booking as final.

Kyoto was Japan's capital for over a thousand years until 1868 and has 17 UNESCO-listed sites among some 2,000 temples and shrines. The big three are Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, covered in gold leaf and best in morning light; Kiyomizu-dera, the wooden stage on the eastern hills with the Higashiyama lanes of Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka below it; and Fushimi Inari's gates. Nijo Castle has the nightingale floors that squeak against intruders, and Ryoan-ji the rock garden. Temples open around 8:00 or 9:00 and close at 17:00, and the city bus is slow; a day with a driver or a guide who orders the stops against the crowds is the difference between four sights and seven.

The price covers Sumo demonstration by real wrestlers, Live sumo matches, Opportunity for selected guests to challenge a sumo wrestler, Meet and greet with wrestlers and Photo opportunities with wrestlers. It does not cover Meals and Transportation to and from the venue, so budget for those separately. Everything included is listed in full on this page; if something is not on that list, assume it is not in the price.

Japanese Craft Workshop sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed. We need at least one day's notice, and we confirm the date with Japanese Craft Workshop before treating your booking as final. If they cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.

Includes

  • Sumo demonstration by real wrestlers
  • Live sumo matches
  • Opportunity for selected guests to challenge a sumo wrestler
  • Meet and greet with wrestlers
  • Photo opportunities with wrestlers
  • Hands-on calligraphy activity

Excludes

  • Meals
  • Transportation to and from the venue

Important information

Meeting point

Japanese Craft Workshop sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed.

Know before you go

  • Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more
Duration 70 minutes
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $83.5
$83.5
Need a custom booking or have a larger group?Contact Support via WhatsApp
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more

Traveler Reviews

4.8/5
based on 91 reviews
Guide
4.9/5
Value for money
4.9/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
v
vicky
September 16, 2026

So much value for money, so funny and informative, never laughed so much. Highly recommend.

Review photo 1
5
H
Hannah-Lola
September 14, 2026

It was such a great way to spend our first night in Kyoto. Everyone was so friendly, learnt some great knowledge of the history, had a laugh and then we also enjoyed the humour involved. It was cool to see that they are retired but they are still sharing their love and passion for the sport. Recommend to anyone!

Review photo 1Review photo 2
5
K
Kristi
September 17, 2026

Great experience! The staff was very nice and you could also take pictures.

5
A
Adam
September 15, 2026

Most enjoyable activity we did in Kyoto. Very informative and entertaining.

5
B
Balram
September 15, 2026

The sumos were very playful and made the whole experience extra fun

5
S
Sinan
September 15, 2026

If you’re visiting Kyoto, you should do this. It was extremely fun. You get to wrestle with the torn too. It was the most fun experience I’ve ever done.

5
t
taylor
September 15, 2026

We had an amazing time here! We learned so much about the history and traditions of sumo, and all of the staff were incredibly friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable. The sumo wrestlers were absolutely hilarious and made the experience even more fun! It was such a unique and interesting experience, and we would 100% recommend coming here for a great day out. Thank you so much to everyone who made it such a memorable experience! 🇯🇵❤️

5
E
Elies
September 15, 2026

Absolutely nice staff! All spoke English and also the moderation was in english so very easy to understand! Learned new things about Sumo’s history and was also able to try it out once. Nice activity to go to and definitely a must do in Kyoto !

5
J
Josiah
September 14, 2026

Incredibly fun, lively, and interactive sumo demonstration. Would recommend for anyone who wants to learn and experience Sumo in Japan.

5
C
Cassius
September 14, 2026

what a fantastic night. the sumo wrestlers were amazing and the stuff were very informative with sumo history it was really interesting. the atmosphere was the best and I will be returning with more friends and family in the future. its a must visit if you were considering and being in japan u got to do it

5
S
Sarah
September 14, 2026

It was amazing!!!! Really nice, learned a lot about the rules of sumo and had a sumo wrestling with a sumo as well!! Really enjoyed it and thanks a lot!

5
J
Jade
September 14, 2026

The guide was very knowledgeable and the sumo wrestlers were very impressive; everyone was friendly. I highly recommend it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Japanese Craft Workshop sends the meeting point and time by email as soon as the booking is confirmed.
The price does not cover meals and transportation to and from the venue. Everything it does cover is listed in full on this page, so if something is not on that list, budget for it separately.
Yes. Sumo runs six fifteen-day tournaments a year, kabuki programmes change monthly, and baseball follows the league schedule, so the operator confirms availability for your date before we treat the booking as final. If there is no event on your date we tell you and refund you.
We confirm your booking with the operator before we treat it as final, and we need at least one day's notice. Once it is confirmed you get the meeting point, the time and a contact number for the day. If the operator cannot take your date we tell you and refund you rather than leave you waiting.
Sumo demonstration by real wrestlers, Live sumo matches, Opportunity for selected guests to challenge a sumo wrestler, Meet and greet with wrestlers, Photo opportunities with wrestlers, Hands-on calligraphy activity
The duration of the Sumo Show with Experience and Photo in Kyoto is typically 70 minutes. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for a smooth check-in. Your guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and ensure the experience runs on schedule while remaining flexible to your pace.
For most experiences, we highly recommend an early morning start. This allows you to avoid the midday heat, bypass the largest crowds, and capture the best lighting for photography. Your guide can advise on the optimal timing based on the season and specific attractions included.
Yes, once your booking is completed via our secure payment gateway, you will receive an instant confirmation email with your tour details, meeting point address, guide's name, and direct contact information. You can also view and manage your booking through your AsiaByLocals account dashboard.
Yes! All our private tours are fully customizable. Whether you want to add extra stops, skip certain locations, change the pace, or adjust the start time — simply let your guide know in advance or on the day. We aim to create a personalized experience tailored to your interests and energy level.
We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may be subject to a partial charge depending on the tour type. Weather-related cancellations for outdoor and boat tours are handled on a case-by-case basis, with full refunds or free rebooking offered when safety is a concern.
Most of our experiences are family-friendly and suitable for children of all ages. However, some tours involving extensive walking, water activities, or early morning starts may be better suited for children aged 5 and above. Please check the specific tour description for age recommendations, or contact us for personalized family itinerary advice.
After booking, you will receive detailed meeting point instructions via email. Most tours include complimentary hotel pickup within the central area. For tours without pickup, your confirmation email will include the exact address, Google Maps pin, and your guide's phone number for easy coordination. Guides typically arrive 10 minutes early and will message you on WhatsApp.
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Razorpay for Indian cards. All payments are processed through a PCI-compliant secure gateway with 256-bit encryption. You can also pay in multiple currencies — the price is automatically converted to your local currency at checkout.
Yes, all AsiaByLocals guides are licensed professionals who have been rigorously vetted through background checks, skill assessments, and customer reviews. Many hold government-issued tourism licenses, university degrees in history or cultural studies, and have years of experience leading tours for international travelers. Every guide maintains a minimum 4.5-star rating to remain active on our platform.
Late March to early April for cherry blossom, or mid-to-late November for peak autumn foliage. Kyoto sits in a basin and runs hotter in summer and colder in winter than Tokyo, even at a similar latitude. Full month-by-month figures are in our best time to visit Kyoto guide.
Kyoto never built an extensive subway — just two lines (Karasuma and Tozai) — so the city bus network does most of the work, especially for Higashiyama, Kinkaku-ji and Ginkakuji. Fushimi Inari and Arashiyama are best reached by JR rail instead. See getting around Kyoto.
Three days covers the essentials well: a day for Higashiyama and Gion, a day for Arashiyama and Kinkaku-ji, and a day for Fushimi Inari plus a Nara or Uji day trip. Our 3-day Kyoto itinerary has the full route with timing.
Arrive by 6:30-7am — the shrine is open 24/7 and free, and most visitors only walk the first 20-30 minutes anyway. Past that point the crowds thin out fast. Full hike details in our Fushimi Inari guide.
Yes — it's a public path with no entrance fee and no set hours. The trade-off is that it gets shoulder-to-shoulder by mid-morning; arrive before 8am for a nearly empty walk. See the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest guide.
Kyoto restricts photography on certain private alleys in Gion after complaints about tourists chasing and blocking geiko and maiko, with fines for violators. Public streets like Hanamikoji-dori remain open, but never chase, touch or block a real geiko/maiko anywhere. Full etiquette in our Gion geisha district guide.
Yudofu (simmered tofu, best near Nanzen-ji or Arashiyama), kaiseki and shojin ryori temple cuisine, and Nishiki Market's stalls of tako tamago and fresh yuba. Uji, just south of the city, is one of Japan's top matcha-growing regions. See the Kyoto food guide.
Starting from$83.5