A Day At the K’Kan

[Gaijingai]

Excellent! I had this in another forum, but was urged to bring it here. Enjoy!

https://soranews24.com/2022/09/30/can-you-enjoy-a-day-at-tokyos-kokugikan-sumo-stadium-if-you-know-nothing-about-the-sport【pics】/

[since_94]

Does anyone know if same-day tickets are being sold for 2200 yen currently? They suspended those ticket sales due to COVID but I’m curious what the situation was in September and what people think the situation will be for Hatsu. Fortunately, visa free entry resumes and no quarantine or package tour nonsense are required as Japan reopens after Oct 11, 2022. My flight ticket and hotel are already booked for January 2023. I usually like to buy a few days sumo tickets in advance and line up early mornings for other days.

Please, anyone who knows the score, let us all know. Thanks in advance.

[rhyen]

2 hours ago, since_94 said:

Does anyone know if same-day tickets are being sold for 2200 yen currently? They suspended those ticket sales due to COVID but I’m curious what the situation was in September and what people think the situation will be for Hatsu. Fortunately, visa free entry resumes and no quarantine or package tour nonsense are required as Japan reopens after Oct 11, 2022. My flight ticket and hotel are already booked for January 2023. I usually like to buy a few days sumo tickets in advance and line up early mornings for other days.

Please, anyone who knows the score, let us all know. Thanks in advance.

In January, it would be better to buy the tickets beforehand. Lining up in subzero temperatures starting at 6am is not funny. 

[Akinomaki]

2 hours ago, since_94 said:

Does anyone know if same-day tickets are being sold for 2200 yen currently? They suspended those ticket sales due to COVID but I’m curious what the situation was in September and what people think the situation will be for Hatsu.

There were no tickets for the day at the Aki basho, Haru till Nagoya had them, but for Natsu they were not sold at the kokugikan, but at convenience stores, like the other tickets. So far there were tickets available till the day before the day at the basho itself, but of course not at that price.

Kyushu again has no tickets for the day. https://sumo.or.jp/Admission/ticket/Sep/seat/613/

[since_94]

7 hours ago, rhyen said:

In January, it would be better to buy the tickets beforehand. Lining up in subzero temperatures starting at 6am is not funny. 

I’ve done it before, it’s not so bad if you’re a morning person and enjoy cold. It’s dark, to start at least, and the temperature is usually hovering around zero. There can be a biting wind. The key is to keep your body moving and have a supply of coffee and those pocket hand warmers 

[Seiyashi]

14 hours ago, since_94 said:

22 hours ago, rhyen said:

In January, it would be better to buy the tickets beforehand. Lining up in subzero temperatures starting at 6am is not funny. 

I’ve done it before, it’s not so bad if you’re a morning person and enjoy cold. It’s dark, to start at least, and the temperature is usually hovering around zero. There can be a biting wind. The key is to keep your body moving and have a supply of coffee and those pocket hand warmers 

Doesn't hurt to bring some portable collapsible camping equipment either. When I did it in Nagoya (much better conditions admittedly and I had residual heat from a half-hour walk), a lot of people had foldable stools, picnic mats, and I swear I saw some sleeping bags. 

[since_94]

A collapsed cardboard box scavenged from the recycling pile at the nearby family mart can be a game changer, too. A double layer of cardboard keeps the cold from transferring from the freezing pavement to the soles of your shoes or your butt. Indispensable, really. And some calisthenics at intervals, as needed. Really.