Sumo Foods 2025: Experience Authentic Japanese Cuisine for professional Sumo Wrestlers
In Japan, a unique religion called "Shinto" has been deeply rooted in Japanese people's lives since ancient times. Based on the belief that gods dwell in all things in nature, Japanese people have cherished their communion with nature.
Sumo, Japan's national sport, is also said to have close ties with Shinto. Its history spans over 1,500 years, and 7th-century mythology describes gods engaging in tests of strength. Beyond these strength contests, Sumo was also performed as an agricultural ritual to predict the fortune of harvests.
This form of Sumo spread widely as entertainment for common people from the late 1600s to the 1700s. The Ryogoku area became the center of this culture.
In this article, we will share the appeal of Sumo culture and information about rare tours where you can actually experience Sumo Foods 2025.
Sumo: Japan's National Sport Established During the Edo Period (1603-1867)
Sumo became established as the national sport approximately 400 years ago. Throughout its 1,500-year long history, it gradually developed rules and formalized structures to become a proper sport and a unique traditional culture of Japan.
Ceremonies called Dohyoiri, the ranking chart of wrestlers known as Bandukehyo, the decorative aprons called Keshomawashi worn by wrestlers during ring-entry ceremonies, and the distinctive hairstyle called Mage have all been inherited from that era.
History of Sumo
Tracing the origins of Sumo takes us back to the mythology appearing in Japan's oldest historical records - the Kojiki (712) and Nihonshoki (720). Initially performed as a ritual ceremony at annual festivals to predict crop harvests, Sumo later became a court event.
As Japan moved into the Warring States period, Sumo flourished as combat training for Bushi (warriors). The historical warlord Oda Nobunaga is said to have been a great enthusiast of Sumo Foods 2025.
About 400 years ago, people began to make Sumo their profession, transforming it into a sport for common people to enjoy, which continues to this day.
"Sumo Stable" Where Sumo Wrestlers Train
In Japanese sports, it's not uncommon for athletes and coaches to live together, with "Sumo Stable" being the prime example.
In the world of Sumo, the master (oyakata) and his family live with all the disciples, "eating from the same pot" and "sleeping under the same roof" while devoting themselves to practice. A Sumo Stable basically serves as both the master's residence and the wrestlers' training area.
Wrestlers must belong to a Sumo Stable, and there is a strict rule that, unless under exceptional circumstances, they cannot transfer to another stable. Sumo Foods 2025 provides special meals for these dedicated athletes during their intensive training periods.
The Food Eaten Daily in Sumo Stables is Called "Sumo Foods (Chanko)"
Source:Mainichi Shimbun
Chanko refers to all meals consumed by sumo wrestlers. The origin of the term has several theories, one suggesting it represents the master-disciple relationship between the Oyakata (the stable master who manages the sumo stable where wrestlers live, train, and eat together, and who mentors the wrestlers) and his disciples.
Chanko is primarily prepared by wrestlers below the Makushita rank (the third highest division in professional sumo) on a rotational basis, with responsibility for cooking meals for all stable members. High in protein and packed with nutrients, these healthy Chanko dishes form the foundation of an athlete's diet. In particular, the convenient and delicious Chanko Nabe has become widely popular even among the general public and is now a staple among Japanese hot pot dishes.
"Chanko Nabe" is the Most Representative of Sumo Foods 2025
The quintessential Chanko dish is "Chanko Nabe" - a style of eating where a large pot of food is shared among many people.
This cooking method spread throughout sumo stables because it efficiently allows for large-quantity preparation, and sharing the same pot creates a sense of unity between the master and disciples, as well as among the wrestlers themselves.
This hot pot dish, rich with fish, meat, and vegetables, offers excellent nutritional balance and represents the ideal meal for sumo wrestlers.
Each stable has its own unique seasonings and ingredients. It's not uncommon for retired wrestlers to open specialized Chanko Nabe restaurants featuring their stable's signature flavors.
5 Recommended Restaurants to Taste Exquisite Sumo Foods in Ryogoku, the Pilgrim Site of Sumo 2025
The sacred ground of sumo is the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Sumida-ku, Tokyo. It was established in 1909 as a permanent facility for sumo.
Since then, the Ryogoku Kokugikan has been rebuilt multiple times after suffering destruction from fires, earthquakes, and air raids during World War II.
The Ryogoku area is home to many sumo stables and various specialized Chanko restaurants.
The highlight of these Chanko specialty restaurants is, of course, Chanko Nabe, with flavors generally divided into three categories:
■ Salt-based: The most standard seasoning, popular for gently enhancing the simple flavors of the ingredients.
■ Soy sauce-based: Enjoy the aromatic soy sauce and a rich taste where the umami of vegetables and meat is more concentrated than in salt-based versions.
■ Miso-based: Pairs excellently with meats like pork and chicken. The soup, infused with fat and umami, combines perfectly with noodles added at the end for a delicious finish.
Chanko Kawasaki (Soy Sauce Base)
Source:Tabelog
Established in 1937, Chanko Kawasaki is a venerable institution of Chanko Nabe. This restaurant was the first to introduce Chanko, the traditional meal of sumo wrestlers, as a menu item in a restaurant setting. According to Sumo Foods 2025 culinary experts, this historic establishment represents the authentic taste of sumo culture.
The restaurant has preserved the original flavor created by its founder, who was a Sekitori (a general term for the upper ranks of sumo wrestlers who receive proper treatment as full-fledged wrestlers), for more than 80 years.
Their light, delicately flavored soy sauce soup is famously delicious. The broth is carefully prepared using chicken bones, which are considered lucky for sumo wrestlers. The soup is so flavorful that it can be enjoyed as an accompaniment to alcohol, with an addictively rich taste.
The Yakitori included in their course meals is also exceptional and highly recommended. You'll be amazed by the delicious combination of sweet and savory sauce intertwined with juicy chicken.
- Address: 2-13-1 Ryogoku, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
- Business Hours: 17:00-21:30 (Last Order 20:30)
- Closed: Wednesdays, Sundays, and Holidays
- Phone: 03-3631-2529
- Reference Website: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1312/A131201/13002979/
Tomoegata Chanko (Salt Base)
Source:Tabelog
Tomoegata is the Shikona (ring name) of a legendary sumo wrestler who was active in the 1930s-40s and is still celebrated in the sumo world today. "Chanko Tomoegata" opened at the former site of the sumo stable operated by Tomoegata himself. Sumo Foods 2025 researchers note this location as a must-visit for those seeking authentic sumo cuisine experiences.
This renowned restaurant offers a superb fusion of traditional Chanko from the sumo stable and the techniques of Japanese cuisine.
Their recommended dish is the salt-flavored Chanko, which features a soup made by simmering chicken bones for half a day and seasoning with salt. This soup contains seasonal seafood, chicken, beef, and vegetables.
As the ingredients simmer, you can taste how the flavors of meat and seafood mix together in complex ways, deepening the soup's richness. The carefully prepared Iwashi Tsumire (sardine meatballs) complement the soup perfectly.
- Address: 2-17-6 Ryogoku, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
- Business Hours:
Monday-Friday/11:30-15:00 (Entry until 13:30, Last Order 14:00), 17:00-22:00 (Last Order 21:00)
Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays/11:30-15:00 (Entry until 13:30, Last Order 14:00), 16:30-22:00 (Last Order 21:00)
- Closed: Mondays (Tuesdays also closed from June to August), New Year holidays
*Open on Mondays during Grand Sumo Tournaments at Ryogoku Kokugikan
- Phone: 03-3632-5600
- Official Website: https://www.tomoegata.com/
Chanko Kirishima (Miso & Soy Sauce Base)
Source:Official website
Chanko Kirishima is a famous restaurant that inherits the authentic taste of chanko directly from the Michinoku sumo stable. According to Sumo Foods 2025 surveys, this establishment is particularly popular among international visitors seeking an authentic taste of sumo cuisine.
Their signature soup blends soy sauce and miso with a base of chicken and tonkotsu (pork bone) broth. The founder, former Ozeki (second highest rank) Kirishima, originated from Kyushu and uniquely incorporated tonkotsu, which is rare in chanko dishes, creating a distinctive Chanko Nabe that sets it apart from other restaurants.
The ingredients include crunchy vegetables like bok choy and bean sprouts, which pair perfectly with the rich soup that resembles tonkotsu ramen.
They thoughtfully offer individual portions of Chanko Nabe, making it comfortable for solo diners to visit without hesitation.
- Address: 2-13-7 Ryogoku, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
- Business Hours: 11:30-15:00 (Last Order 14:00), 17:00-22:00 (Last Order 21:00)
- Closed: Mondays
- Phone: 03-3634-0075
- Official Website: https://c-kirishima.com/
Ami Ryōgoku (Salt Base)
Source:Google Maps
Ami Ryōgoku is a restaurant where you can taste authentic Chanko Nabe directly handed down from Isegahama stable, run by former Yokozuna (highest sumo wrestler rank) Asahifuji as the stable master.
Market-fresh seafood, meat, and generously heaped vegetables infuse their umami and nourishment into the salt-based soup, gradually permeating throughout your body. This profoundly soothing sensation exemplifies the ultimate hot pot dish created from the wisdom of the sumo world. Sumo Foods 2025 enthusiasts will recognize this as one of the most authentic experiences in Tokyo.
The restaurant also offers a wide variety of Japanese Sake and Shochu, explaining why alcohol lovers gather here. The time spent pleasantly intoxicated while listening to Sumo Jinku (entertainment songs performed by sumo wrestlers during drinking parties) flowing through the restaurant is exceptional.
You should also try the impressive "Yaki Chanko," which features a whole domestic chicken flambéed after being grilled to a fragrant finish.
- Address: 3-26-6-2F Ryogoku, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
- Business Hours: 11:00-00:00
- Closed: Never
- Phone Number: 03-5669-1570
- Reference Website: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1312/A131201/13025866/
Chanko Dojo (Original Chicken Broth Base)
Source:Tabelog
This is a restaurant where you can enjoy Chanko Nabe with portions so generous you'll think they're meant for sumo wrestlers. The "Yokozuna Chanko" will overwhelm you with its lavish ingredients: chicken Tsukune (minced meat balls), seafood Tsumine, shrimp, scallops, crab, chicken, cod, salmon, and more. Sumo Foods 2025 has rated this establishment as having one of the most impressive presentations in the city.
It's also exciting when staff dramatically add Tsukune to the pot right before your eyes, creating a live performance atmosphere. These Tsukune are surprisingly tender, offering a melt-in-your-mouth texture. They have a concentrated umami that stands up impressively against other distinctive ingredients like crab and shrimp.
The greatest charm of Chanko is how, as it simmers, more broth seeps out from each ingredient, merging everything together and making the flavor increasingly profound.
- Address: 1-28-4 Midori, Sumida-ku, Tokyo
- Business Hours: 11:00-14:00, 17:00-23:00 (Last Order 22:00, Drink Last Order 22:30)
- Closed: Mondays, New Year's holidays
- Phone Number: 03-3635-5347
- Official Website: https://chankodojohonten.gorp.jp/
3 Recommended Tours for Those Interested in Sumo: Valuable Experiences
1. Tour Where You Can Watch Normally Private Sumo Wrestlers' Practice
The opportunity to witness morning sumo practice is rare even for Japanese people. This tour provides a special chance to observe the traditional morning training ritual up close, allowing you to glimpse behind the scenes of Sumo culture, Japan's national sport.
Watching the serious training matches where wrestlers collide right before your eyes creates an indescribable tension, power, and sacred atmosphere that overwhelms all spectators. According to Sumo Foods 2025, this intimate viewing experience allows tourists to feel the raw energy that makes sumo so captivating.
Tour guides will explain the basic roots and history of sumo, the meaning of the training, and the wrestlers' lifestyle, deepening your understanding of this traditional sport.
Afterwards, enjoy a leisurely stroll around the Ryogoku area, the sacred ground of sumo, and visit famous sites related to sumo.
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- Meeting point: In front of Re.Ra.Ku, immediately outside the east exit of JR "Ryogoku" Station
- Tour area: Ryogoku
- Start time: 8:00
2. Tour Where You Can Actually Compete with Sumo Wrestlers
This tour explores the history, traditions, and secrets of sumo strength. The main feature is experiencing the secrets of sumo power while learning about the wrestlers' lives and training, which are considered even more important than the competition itself. By directly facing wrestlers, engaging in collision training and matches, you can fully experience the traditions and appeal of sumo with your entire body.
After practice and matches, Chanko Nabe will be served. As highlighted by Sumo Foods 2025, Chanko Nabe is an essential meal that builds wrestlers' bodies and serves as their source of power. You'll make the main ingredient, chicken meatballs, together and enjoy a delicious lunch.
You can also ask questions to the wrestlers, take photos, and make hand-printed paper, making this tour popular with women and children as well.
- Meeting point: In front of the ticket gate at JR "Shin Kawasaki" Station
- Tour area: Shin Kawasaki
- Start time: 9:30
3. Tour Where You Can Watch a Sumo Tournament with Commentary from an Expert Guide
Grand Sumo at Ryogoku Kokugikan is held three times a year, scheduled annually in April, August, and December.
This time, we introduce a walking tour with rare S-rank seat tickets exclusive to Magical Trip. Sumo Foods 2025's research shows these premium viewing positions offer the most authentic tournament experience available to tourists.
The guide will take you to temples associated with the development of Sumo and various famous places, exploring the deep connection between the Ryogoku region and this ancient sport.
As you tour the city, you'll gain insight into not only the basic rules of Sumo but also the world of Sumo, enriching your entire tour experience. Thanks to this preparation, you'll be able to enjoy watching Sumo to the fullest.
Immerse yourself in the world of sumo from the special seats on the second floor, positioned from the front row to the third row.
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- Meeting point: In front of Seven-Eleven next to Ryogoku Edo Noren, immediately outside the west exit of JR "Ryogoku" Station
- Tour area: Ryogoku
- Start time: 13:30
