It could be tricky trying to catch a sumo match in Tokyo, as tournaments are held only three times a year in January, May and September. Outside these months, there’s not a lot of opportunity to witness the action up-close in person – unless you book a table at Yokozuna Tonkatsu Dosukoi Tanaka. This tonkatsu (deep-fried pork) restaurant doubles as a sumo experience centre, where you can get a brief introduction to sumo culture as well as meet some former sumo wrestlers.
The restaurant is built around a sumo ring known as a dohyo. Sumo experiences are held at lunchtime three times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) at 12.45pm. The show costs ¥11,000 per person. It includes a hearty tonkatsu lunch followed by a sumo demonstration and an opportunity to dress up in a sumo suit and challenge one of the former wrestlers. Afterwards, there's a meet and greet session to take photos with the wrestlers and ask them questions. Most importantly, the experience is conducted entirely in English.
Yokozuna Tonkatsu Dosukoi Tanaka is also open in the evening for dinner, but without the sumo experience. Instead, you can just soak in the atmosphere while eating near a sumo dohyo and watching videos about sumo on the big screen behind the ring.