EDION Arena Osaka
EDION Arena Osaka
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- Nannba • 4 min walk
- Namba • 6 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
49 reviews
Excellent
17
Very good
17
Average
13
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Jeff K
Pittsburgh, PA2,364 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
My wife and I spent several hours watching sumo wrestling here. We bought our tickets in advance from Buy Sumo Tickets and got seats on chairs in the stands. There were a lot of seats in the arena where you sit on the floor - i.e not in chairs. We were very happy with our seats - sitting on the floor for hours would have gotten old quick.
We saw a lot of matches as many of them are over in a matter of a few seconds. They have about 15-20 matches an hour. It was very interesting to watch, partly for the sport and partly for the ceremony.
The concessions were unusual compared to what I’m used to. They sold soft drinks, beer and a few snacks but no hot dogs or anything hot. There were a lot of souvenirs being sold.
I can’t say that I’ve become a die hard sumo fan but I had a good time and was glad I went.
We saw a lot of matches as many of them are over in a matter of a few seconds. They have about 15-20 matches an hour. It was very interesting to watch, partly for the sport and partly for the ceremony.
The concessions were unusual compared to what I’m used to. They sold soft drinks, beer and a few snacks but no hot dogs or anything hot. There were a lot of souvenirs being sold.
I can’t say that I’ve become a die hard sumo fan but I had a good time and was glad I went.
Written March 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen T
Toronto, Canada30 contributions
Mar 2017 • Family
My husband, 14-year-old daughter and I attended the Sumo Wrestling Tournament held at the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium on our recent trip to Japan in March. We were actually staying in Kyoto but took a day trip to Osaka for this experience and we were really pleased that we did. Although we are not especially interested in wrestling, we thought attending a sumo tournament in Japan would be a unique cultural experience and it certainly met our expectations. We were impressed by the various rituals surrounding the bouts (for example, the symbolic purification of the ring with salt, the entrance processions, the singing of the names of the contestants, etc.) and the clear enthusiasm and reverence of the fans. We wondered if we would get bored since all the commentary is in Japanese, which we don’t understand, and there is a repetitive nature to the bouts, which are actually very short (roughly 30 seconds to a couple of minutes). However, all of the sights and sounds held our attention. The way the tournament is structured, the higher-ranking athletes appear later in the day, which means that the event gets more exciting and the stadium more full as the day progresses. Although the tickets are valid for the full day, it was recommended that we arrive around 2 pm and stay until the end (around 6 pm) and this schedule was perfect. Note that the sumo tournaments in Osaka are extremely popular and require advance ticket purchase. In fact, the tickets sold out on the very first day that they went on sale, so if you are interested in attending mark the first sales date on your calendar (making sure to note the time zone difference between Japan and your home city). We were initially concerned that our seats would be too far back but the gymnasium is very well designed and we had a good view from our balcony arena-style seats (we did not score ringside or box seats, the later of which would have required sitting cross-legged for the whole time). All in all, we had a wonderful day and would highly recommend this experience to tourists of all ages visiting Japan.
Written April 23, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter M
Sydney, Australia63 contributions
Mar 2015 • Couples
I went to Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium also known as Bodymaker Colosseum in late March 2015 to see the Grand Sumo Tournament and my partner and I had a great time. This was one of the best few hours of my whole trip to Japan.
The venue is a multi purpose venue that is used for all types of sports at all levels of competition. The venue seating is well laid out with good views of the 'ring'. There are no internal columns to block the view which helps.
The venue is a short walk from Namba station, no more than 10mins from memory. While there is not a lot of signage (well not that I could read anyway) it isnt too difficult to find.
There are plenty of food options available as long as you like Japanese food and there are plenty of drink and ice cream sellers coming round much like at a baseball or football game.
There are plenty of souvenir sellers and stalls scattered around and you never have to walk far for the toilets, well unless you are sitting close to ringside of course.
For the Sumo event that we attended there was a choice of several types of seating all at various prices. These ranged from ringside Japanese style seating (sit on a stepped floor on a cushion), Japanese style box seats (basically an area of floor fenced off and big enough for 4 people to sit on floor cushions - its a tight fit though) and then there is the traditional Western style seating (these are further away from the ring but to a Westerners bottom they are the only way to go if you are staying for a while). Prices vary of course according to how close you are to the action and can be many hundreds of dollars or less than 50 dollars. But really even the back row seats always have a good view, though may be a fair way from the ring.
We attended the second last day of the tournament and although your ticket allows entry for all day most people dont arrive until after lunchtime when the top Sumo champions come out. We arrived at 2pm and we stayed until the end of the days tournament around 6pm.
Ok, now for the downside of this venue but first I must say that I dont speak Japanese and whilst the Japanese attendants were very helpful I could not understand anything they were saying. Additionally the tickets were printed in Japanese and I could not read them either. It was only that my partner speaks Japanese that meant we did not get lost.
So unless you can read Japanese there is little to no signage that is meaningful to you or of any use. Once you walk in the front doors I suggest you find one of the helpful attendants and ask them to take you as far as they will to your seat. The venue is an absolute rabbit warren of stairways, corridors, rooms and doors and it is very easy to get lost. We had to go up and down several stairways, along several corridors and past several areas where shops meant people were blocking the walkway and then up what looked like a fire escape to get to our seats. This is by far the most confusing and complicated venue to get in and out of that I have ever visited.
However, all in all I had a great day at the venue and I would visit again if there was something on that I was interested in seeing.
The venue is a multi purpose venue that is used for all types of sports at all levels of competition. The venue seating is well laid out with good views of the 'ring'. There are no internal columns to block the view which helps.
The venue is a short walk from Namba station, no more than 10mins from memory. While there is not a lot of signage (well not that I could read anyway) it isnt too difficult to find.
There are plenty of food options available as long as you like Japanese food and there are plenty of drink and ice cream sellers coming round much like at a baseball or football game.
There are plenty of souvenir sellers and stalls scattered around and you never have to walk far for the toilets, well unless you are sitting close to ringside of course.
For the Sumo event that we attended there was a choice of several types of seating all at various prices. These ranged from ringside Japanese style seating (sit on a stepped floor on a cushion), Japanese style box seats (basically an area of floor fenced off and big enough for 4 people to sit on floor cushions - its a tight fit though) and then there is the traditional Western style seating (these are further away from the ring but to a Westerners bottom they are the only way to go if you are staying for a while). Prices vary of course according to how close you are to the action and can be many hundreds of dollars or less than 50 dollars. But really even the back row seats always have a good view, though may be a fair way from the ring.
We attended the second last day of the tournament and although your ticket allows entry for all day most people dont arrive until after lunchtime when the top Sumo champions come out. We arrived at 2pm and we stayed until the end of the days tournament around 6pm.
Ok, now for the downside of this venue but first I must say that I dont speak Japanese and whilst the Japanese attendants were very helpful I could not understand anything they were saying. Additionally the tickets were printed in Japanese and I could not read them either. It was only that my partner speaks Japanese that meant we did not get lost.
So unless you can read Japanese there is little to no signage that is meaningful to you or of any use. Once you walk in the front doors I suggest you find one of the helpful attendants and ask them to take you as far as they will to your seat. The venue is an absolute rabbit warren of stairways, corridors, rooms and doors and it is very easy to get lost. We had to go up and down several stairways, along several corridors and past several areas where shops meant people were blocking the walkway and then up what looked like a fire escape to get to our seats. This is by far the most confusing and complicated venue to get in and out of that I have ever visited.
However, all in all I had a great day at the venue and I would visit again if there was something on that I was interested in seeing.
Written June 4, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dr. Shibuyakko
California46,728 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
Yes, Sumo was great as usual, but the arena is old and the seats are very small. The worst is the bathroom! They only had Japanese-style squat toilets on the third floor. Unlike anywhere else in Japan, the bathroom stunk. The line was a mile long, too. I'll still go to watch sumo but I'll have to dehydrate myself before going, lol.
Written April 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
phantomrose101
Perth, Australia281 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
We went to the Osaka tournament today with tickets we bought online. We have nothing but praise for this company. The tickets were waiting for us at our hotel when we arrived in Osaka, our seats were great and the Set A lunch was delicious. We couldn’t find the arena at first but a short email and phone call to the owner and all was clarified for us. Many thanks for an unforgettable experience! It would be one of the best things we have done and we have seen a lot in our travels. We are in our seventies and we watched for 9 hours today. Not a boring moment.
Written March 12, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JT-Alberto
50 contributions
Mar 2017 • Couples
Watching Sumo live is an amazing experience! I recommend bringing material (we used a kindle) to read about sumo while watching. There is a lot of "downtime" between matches (more like repeated ceremonial stuff), and its a good time to learn the rules, history, etc.
I was a bit confused about where the food was, but outside of the seating area (not the box seats) there are souvenir stands, the food is in the boxes in the front that look like souvenirs (there are hot sandwiches and chicken-on-the-sticks in there!)
I was a bit confused about where the food was, but outside of the seating area (not the box seats) there are souvenir stands, the food is in the boxes in the front that look like souvenirs (there are hot sandwiches and chicken-on-the-sticks in there!)
Written April 9, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
boymomdfw
Dallas, TX2,471 contributions
Mar 2017 • Family
We got tickets to see sumo in advance. The location is marked well with lots of colorful flags. We had a hard time finding our seats. Just ask for help and they can point you to the right spot. Really every seat had a great view.
Written March 19, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ash_skywalker10
Sydney, Australia305 contributions
Mar 2016 • Solo
Easy to place to walk from Shinsaibashi area, every seat in the whole gymnasium could see the sumo action great, so don't worry about getting the best seat. The only different seat you can get is getting tatami seats to sit down.
The only thing its really confusing to get to your correct seat, as the directions and signage is poor, so perhaps come early so you can find your seat.
The best time to come to Sumo, is around 3pm
The only thing its really confusing to get to your correct seat, as the directions and signage is poor, so perhaps come early so you can find your seat.
The best time to come to Sumo, is around 3pm
Written May 14, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GymJunkie66
Auckland Central, New Zealand136 contributions
Mar 2016 • Couples
Visited the arena to take in the Sumo competition ongoing
Prepaid tickets purchased over the Internet are your best bet to avoid the long lines of people waiting to collect their tickets. Easy to collect from the 2 x machines in the entrance on the right. Just need your confirmation purchase number.
Any relationship between what it says on the tickets and the seating arrangements were lost on me but the staff working the event spoke reasonable English and soon made sense of it, directing us to our seats.
Viewing throughout should be pretty good and our seats were fine to enable us to take in the spectacle that is Sumo.
Would recommend for an authentic Japanese experience.
Prepaid tickets purchased over the Internet are your best bet to avoid the long lines of people waiting to collect their tickets. Easy to collect from the 2 x machines in the entrance on the right. Just need your confirmation purchase number.
Any relationship between what it says on the tickets and the seating arrangements were lost on me but the staff working the event spoke reasonable English and soon made sense of it, directing us to our seats.
Viewing throughout should be pretty good and our seats were fine to enable us to take in the spectacle that is Sumo.
Would recommend for an authentic Japanese experience.
Written March 18, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amanda F
Geelong, Australia87 contributions
Mar 2015 • Couples
This was one of the best things we did in Japan. It was so interesting on many levels and even without any English explanations, we could appreciate the cultural importance of the ceremonies and athleticism of the participants. You can wait near the entrance to see these huge men up close. You can buy tickets on line before you visit.
Written August 15, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Where is best place to see sumo wrestling matches in Osaka, Japan in April
Written October 19, 2024
Hello, my husband and I are in Osaka until Nov. 20 and we would like to watch a sumo match or training if possible!? Or is there ‘just’ the tournament in Fukuoka now???
Regards
Hadassa
Written November 11, 2018
Are there small events here all throughout the year? My friends and I are heading in May and interested in seeing a sumo match!
Written March 11, 2018
how far in advance should Sumo tickets be purchased? (specifically for the March tournament in Osaka) thank you!
Written January 3, 2018
Do you get your tickets? i have purchased a box for 4 persons but we are only with 2. Maybe we can split the cost...?
Written February 4, 2018
I'm not going to be there for a basho, but next best thing is shopping for sumo souvenirs. Is there some nearby?
Written July 2, 2017
I would hit up the Shinsaibashi, its within walking distance of the gymnasium and has everything.
Written July 3, 2017
How do you buy tickets? The website is in Japanese.
Written May 21, 2017
Hi, There are only six sumo wrestling tournaments held per year in Japan and they occur in different cities. Specifically, the tournaments are held in Tokyo in January, May and September, in Osaka in March, in Nagoya in July and in Fukuoka in November. (As such, the Osaka tournament only occurs once a year.) There are two options for buying tickets to these tournaments: the official vendor's website, which does have an English page (here is the link: sumo pia jp/en/) or the English website buysumotickets com, which sometimes has tickets available even after the official website is sold-out but offers them at a small mark-up. Note that I removed the dots and added spaces between the words in the e-mail addresses because for some reason Trip Advisor does not allow website links to be included in messages. Please remove the spaces to visit these links.
Written May 22, 2017
If there are no tournaments for the moment, do they practice everyday and can people walk in and watch?
Written April 20, 2016
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
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