Putting together a somewhat spontaneous Tokyo/Kyoto trip May 23 – June 5 and I’m trying to make an itinerary. 2 things I absolutely want to do is go see a Sumo match and a Japanese baseball game.
**Sumo**: There’s a summer basho tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan from May 14-28, but all the tickets are sold out on the only site I could find that sells them ([PIA/Ticket Oosumo](https://sell.pia.jp/inbound/selectTicket.php?eventCd=2307491&rlsCd=025&langCd=eng)). Is there a secondary market for these events? Or, where is a reputable site to purchase tickets to the morning practice rounds if I can’t get a proper ticket? Is it worth doing any of those Rakuten tours?
**Baseball**: I think I figured out how to buy tickets for the Tokyo Giants, but my options are either a 2pm day game against the Nippon-Ham Fighters on Friday 6/2 or one of their 10pm night games on that Friday (doubleheader) or Saturday. I have to assume the night game has a better atmosphere but I’m not sure if I want to spend one of my last weekend nights at a baseball game. Has anyone been to a night game for the Giants, what’s the atmosphere like at night?
Would also appreciate any other tips/etiquette I should know about attending a sumo/baseball match!
Thanks in advance!
2 comments
I have never heard of a game starting at 10pm you should double check that time. Are you sure it isn’t giving you your local time?
Tickets for giants can be bought online. Also on the same date you could visit the Swallows which in my opinion is a much more fun experience.
Wherever you watch baseball in Japan is good though.
Re: Baseball – I am pretty sure all the afternoon games start at 2 or 3pm and the evening games start at 7pm. I could be wrong but I have never heard of a 10pm game as the finishing time would be problematic due to the subway (Tokyo Metro) closing time.
Re: Sumo – Pre-COVID, you could go to the Kokugikan early in the morning and get cheap seats. However, I don’t know if this is still the case.