Tickets and company for Hatsu 2019, Day 2 or 3

[Kyokuhagyo 528]

I haven't been active here lately, but I'll be attending a conference in Kyoto the week before Hatsu Basho, and I was pondering coming to Tokyo afterwards for a few days to attend the basho. I believe I can buy tickets online, is it still possible to buy cheap tickets and sit near the dohyo during the lower divisions, or are the tickets checked for that?

 

I was also hoping to meet some other forumers to chat during the day and/or get some local advice, or if possible maybe even attend a keiko session. I am somewhat flexible, but Monday/Tuesday of the first week would probably work best for me.

 

Let me know if you have any pointers, or plan to be around at that time.

Thanks!

 

(Mods: please move the topic if it should go somewhere else.)

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

Guide to Seeing Sumo in Tokyo

Quote

Along with geisha, Mount Fuji, bullet trains and tentacle porn, nothing epitomizes the outside image of Japan quite like the ancient sport of Sumo. Despite its honored position as the national sport, in recent times it has suffered from scandals and a dearth of Japanese wrestlers in the top ranks. This really only matters if you’re a hardcore fan, though. If you’re living in Tokyo or you’re fortunate enough to be here when there is a sumo tournament, then it’s still well worth checking out. Here’s how to see sumo in Tokyo, for cheap(ish)...

https://tokyocheapo.com/entertainment/tokyo-sumo-cheap/

 

[since_94 650]

My experience with attending at the Kokugikan for Hatsu in both of the past two years is that no one checks tickets for the lower level in the morning. You can sit in the good seats without being bothered 

[Kyokuhagyo 528]

Thanks, that's reassuring to hear. I'll give getting jiyuseki a shot on either Tuesday or Wednesday (probably Wednesday). Anyone else going to be there?

It's weekday early during the tournament, so is queuing up around 7 am or 6:30 am sufficient?

[Otokonoyama 2,735]

1 hour ago, Kyokuhagyo said:

Thanks, that's reassuring to hear. I'll give getting jiyuseki a shot on either Tuesday or Wednesday (probably Wednesday). Anyone else going to be there?

It's weekday early during the tournament, so is queuing up around 7 am or 6:30 am sufficient?

In the midst of a sumo boom, and possibly one of the last chances to see Yokozuna Kisenosato as an active rikishi...0600 ought to be the latest one shows up for open seating.

[Kyokuhagyo 528]

Thanks, everything worked out in the end, on the day Kisenosato retired of all days!

I had been looking for some data points for recent Tokyo basho before going, so just for future reference for anyone trying to get jiyuseki (same-day/general admission tickets in the last row): There are 400 tickets on sale, and here are (too few) stats that might or might not help estimate what time they'll be sold out:

• Hatsu 2018 day 4: still tickets available at 11 am: reference
• Hatsu 2018 day 8 (weekend): 384 tickets accounted for at 7:30 am: reference
• Probably Natsu basho 2018, unknown day: about half of the tickets accounted for by 7:15 am: reference
• Hatsu 2019 day 4: I arrived at 6:10 am and got ticket number 76

Once the Kokugikan is open, people will be rushing in to reserve the seats in the main section (from where you can look the gyōji in the face). I managed to get a seat on the very right of the main section, next to where the TV commentators (one of whom former Hōmashō on that day) are once the sekitori bouts start, and where I could occasionally peek on their screen to catch slow-mo replays.