At first glance, Ryogoku looks like a normal part of Tokyo. However, once you dig deeper, you will find its many specialities. From the lives of the sumo wrestlers to Michelin-star restaurants, Ryogoku is sure to offer anyone who visits an unforgettable experience.
Sumo legacy in Ryogoku
If you are a wrestling lover, you are sure to enjoy a visit to this charming area. This small village is the center of the Sumo world! Packed with a stadium, stables, Chanko nabe restaurants, and other sumo-related attractions.
But why is this a capital for Sumo? Matches were previously held in Shrines and temples before 1909. The first permanent sumo hall was built in Ryogoku, which made the district known as the sumo capital. These special arena halls are called Kokugikan; the hall in Ryogoku is known as Ryōgoku National Sports Hall. The Kokugikan has been there since 1909. The facility comfortably seats over 10,000 spectators due to its large number of seats, so three of the six annual sumo tournaments are hosted here, in January, May, and September.
Two sumo wrestlers fighting – Photo Credit: J. Henning Buchholz
The living quarters of the sumo fighters, known as stables, are also located here. These stables are where the fighters live, eat, sleep, and practice on an almost daily basis. If you are visiting and you would like to know what it is like to live as a wrestler, you can actually go in and view their early morning practice! Attending one of these practices is likely the closest you will ever get to the wrestles. To be able to attend one of these stable visits, you require advanced booking or a Japanese translator to be present. Therefore, if you want to see it all close up, you will have to make a precise plan, especially because those morning practices start at 5 A.M.!
Sumo practice – Photo Credit: CNN
To be a sumo wrestler, you need to be big and strong. Their strength is attained through their intensive training. However, they also have to eat specific foods. Chanko or Chanko Nabe is a style of hotpot made with vegetables, meat, and seafood. This meal is very healthy, balanced, and aids in weight gain due to its high amount of calories. This makes it the ideal meal for any sumo practitioner, since it helps maintain their health while gaining the needed weight to compete. Since there are many wrestlers in Ryogoku, it is only logical that there are also many good Chanko nabe restaurants. Good examples include Gottsuan Sakaba Ryōgoku or Hibiki, which both serve delicious Chanko fit for a fighter. So if you want to eat like the wrestlers do and get a glimpse of what helps them attain their strength, then it is an absolute must-try meal to add to your travel plans.
Sightseeing, history, and heritage
Aside from all the sumo, there are also many good sightseeing opportunities close to both the station and the stadium. The Edo-Tokyo Museum, a museum focused on history and culture, is currently under renovation and is said to open back up in 2025. Do not fret, there are more museums to enjoy in the meantime, like the Sumida Hokusai Museum. This is one of Japan’s best ukiyo-e museums, which are Japanese woodblock prints. Japanese woodblock prints are characterised by bold colours, intricate patterns, and delicate lines. Making such prints takes years of practice. Woodblock prints are globally famous, so it’s worth going to see these culturally significant artworks.
Under the Wave off Kanagawa (Kanagawa oki nami ura), the great wave woodblock print
Picture Credit: Met Museum
Another good museum is the Japanese Sword Museum, where a large collection of swords is on display. The museum is an ode to the Japanese art of sword making. So it is not so much about war, but more about the artistic value they have. Regardless of being a small museum, it has around 50 swords on display.
Japan has withstood many earthly disasters, one of which is being commemorated in Yokoamicho Park. This park memorializes the two most destructive events in 20th-century Tokyo. The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and the fire bombings of World War II. In this park, there is a museum where you can see things like the original seismographic readings and paintings from the earthquake.
Must-tries for foodies
Though this part of the city is heavily under the spell of Sumo, it is also a good spot for foodies. Starting off with the bougie, Edosoba Hosokawa. A Michelin-star restaurant where the chef uses high-grade buckwheat for his soba. This restaurant is among the most affordable Michelin restaurants in Tokyo. With a meal being around 3,000 and 6,000 yen. Good dishes to try are the chilled kaki soba and anago tempura (battered and fried conger eel). A large part of their menu is seasonal, which means you will have a guaranteed unique and delicious experience every time you come.
Conger eel – Photo Credit: ikidane-nippon.com
Another good place to eat is Momonjiya (ももんじや). This restaurant has Japanese-style decorations. Here you sit on the floor on small pillows and tatami mats. The food itself is something the curious among us are likely to enjoy. Momonjiya specializes in boar hot pot and has been in business for 10 generations. Dinner costs around 6,000 yen, with the must-try dishes being the boar hotpot and their deer sashimi. If you want all the adventure in one, the Wild Beast course is the way to go. In this hotpot, you get venison sashimi, fried venison, and bear soup. In this course, you can either pick wild boar, venison, or bear.
Wild boar hotpot – Photo Credit: hitosara.com
Ryogoku also has many good Japanese comfort food restaurants, and Tonkatsu Hasegawa is a beloved local favorite. This restaurant serves succulent panko breaded pork cutlets, also known as Tonkatsu. If you are not familiar with Tonkatsu, it is quite similar to schnitzel. It is often made from pork filet or tenderloin. Tonkatsu is the most popular of katsu dishes, and this restaurant serves many different variations on the pork Katsu. Although the website of the restaurant is mostly in Japanese, they do offer an English translation of their menu online.
Tonkatsu – Photo Credit: tonkatsu-hasegawa.com
All about Ryogoku
In general, this part of Tokyo is in the grip of sumo and all that comes with it. From the hall where they hold tournaments to the traditional restaurants where they eat. However, it is not just wrestling; Ryogoku also possesses many special exhibits and museums. It all comes down to what type of traditional art you prefer. Finally, there are many good restaurants, ensuring a good time for food lovers. To sum up, Ryogoku has much to offer, so make sure to add it to your next Japan itinerary.
Featured Photo Credit: expedia.com
