The ideal seat at Ryogoku Kokugikan depends on your priorities: proximity to the action, comfort, viewing angles, or budget. Here's a breakdown to help you choose the right option for your needs.
🥇 Premium Choice: Ringside Seats (Tamari)
Tamari seats are the gold standard for sumo viewing. Located directly adjacent to the dohyo (clay ring) on cushions, these ringside seats cost ¥20,000 per person and offer an incomparable immersive experience - you'll feel like you're practically in the ring itself. For complete pricing details and booking methods, see our ticket buying guide.
🎎 Best Value for First-Time Visitors: Box Seats (Masu Seats)
If you want the classic sumo experience without ringside exclusivity, masu seats (box seats) are the quintessential choice. These traditional cushioned box areas accommodate 1-4 people and cost ¥14,000-¥15,000 per person on weekdays and weekends respectively.
They provide excellent proximity to the action and an authentic Japanese atmosphere with cultural immersion.
Considerations for Masu Seats:
- Comfort trade-off: Sitting cross-legged on the floor for four hours may strain your legs if you're not accustomed to it
- View obstruction: People sitting in front of you can block your sightline, especially if they're enthusiastic supporters
- Space constraints: If you buy fewer than four tickets through a broker, you'll share the box with strangers, making it cramped
💡 Pro Tip for Enhanced Comfort
Book a 4-person box for just two people, creating a "business class" sumo experience with plenty of space, or bring a portable cushion for back support.
⭐ Best Overall Recommendation: Chair Seats (S or A Class)
For most visitors, S-class or A-class chair seats on the second floor offer the best combination of comfort, view quality, and value. These Western-style seats with back support cost ¥9,000-¥9,500 per person and provide several advantages for the full tournament day experience (typically 4-6 hours of viewing):
Superior Comfort
Sit upright for extended periods without leg strain
Excellent Viewing Angles
Elevated position creates panoramic view of entire ring
Fewer Obstructions
No one blocking your view from in front
Food & Drinks Welcome
Enjoy refreshments at your seat freely (see our food guide)
A-class seats (typically rows 4-6 on the 2nd floor) are particularly valued, offering a front-row perspective from the upper level with an unobstructed, panoramic view of the action.
📸 Photography Considerations
If you're capturing images of the tournament, East or West side seats offer dramatic profile shots of the bouts and excellent opportunities to photograph the wrestlers' grand entrances (dohyoiri).
The elevated position of upper-level chairs also provides better angles for photography than floor-level boxes, where low sightlines are challenging.
📊 Seating Comparison Table
| Seat Type | Price | Proximity | Comfort | View Quality | Photography | Accessibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tamari | ¥20,000 | Excellent (ringside) |
Low (floor) |
Intimate | Excellent | Difficult (nearly impossible for public) |
| Masu Box S | ¥14-15,000 | Very good (near ring) |
Low (floor, cramped if shared) |
Good (prone to blockage) |
Good | Moderate |
| Chair S-Class | ¥9,000-9,500 | Good | Excellent (with backrest) |
Excellent (panoramic) |
Very good | Excellent |
| Chair A-Class | ¥8,000-8,500 | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Very good | Excellent |
| Chair B-Class | Lower | Moderate | Excellent | Good | Good | Excellent |
❌ Seats to Avoid
Steer clear of C and D category chair seats, which may have limited views of the dohyo and are positioned too far back for optimal enjoyment.
Similarly, avoid box seats in the back rows, which require binoculars to see clearly.
✅ Our Final Recommendation
🏆 Best Choice: A-Class Chair Seats
A-class chair seats strike the ideal balance:
- ✅ Comfortable enough for a full tournament day
- ✅ Professional-grade viewing and photography opportunities
- ✅ Cost considerably less than box or tamari seats
- ✅ Unobstructed panoramic views of the action
🎎 Want the Traditional Experience?
If you want the traditional experience despite the comfort sacrifice:
- Book a 4-person box for two people to have adequate space
- Bring a portable cushion for back support
- Consider attending for half-day only to minimize discomfort (arrive around 2-3 PM for top division matches - see our daily schedule)
Once you've selected your perfect seat, prepare for your visit by checking our transportation guide for directions and our seasonal clothing recommendations for optimal comfort during your tournament experience.