jmsvss

Has anyone visited sumo stables or know how to go about it? We will be in Tokyo Apr 21-27. I believe this is before the sumo tournment starts in mid May (unfortunately we will not be in Tokyo then). There is a HIS tour that visits the stable on Tuesdays but it includes lunch and a few other things we are not interested in. Besides, I am always a little leary of tours.

Also, I have not been able to find info regarding Japan baseball season or pre-season. If anyone could point me in the right direction there as well I would appreciate it.

Thanks!

emd

http://www.japanesebaseball.com/teams/index.jsp

jmsvss

Thanks, that is exactly what I needed. It was so obvious - "japanesebaseball" that I feel really stupid, but appreciative.

Sumo anyone?

kbrennan

Where and when can you find out what time a baseball game will be played?
We are hoping to attend the Swallows-Carp game on April 6, but I can not find out anything about start times.
Anybody have experience getting tickets for a Swallows game?

Alec

Visit to sumo stables is normally by appointment. The usual drill is to phone the stable a day or two in advance, to see if they can accommodate you, since the spectator seating area is limited. Absolutely no talking during practice session, which may start around 7-8 am and last a couple of hours. If you don't speak Japanese (and English is rarely spoken by stable staff), get your hotel to phone for you.
Baseball night game ('nighter') starts around 6 pm but I think Swallows home game at Jingu stadium starts at 6.20 pm. Their games only sell out when playing Giants or if they are in contention for play-offs at the end of season, so you can just pay on the day, or a couple of days in advance.

Alec

The reason for late start for Swallows game is that they share ground with uni teams, who play during the day in spring and autumn. During the summer, the game starts at 6 pm as unis are in vacation.

mrwunrfl

The Swallows are in Nagoya on April 6. They host the Hiroshima Carp on April 8-10.

jmsvss

Do most games start at 6:00ish? I am specifically looking at the Chunichi Dragons/Hanchin Tigers game on May 4 or 5 at the Nagoya Dome. The website emd provided does not say anything about times but it does say, as the guidebooks do, that tickets are usually available at the gate. I am concerned because of the hoilday time period -May 4 and 5. Is this an issue?

PS My husband finally got involved in planning this trip when I asked him if he was interested in baseball and/or sumo so thank you very much. He really enjoyed the japanesebaseball website.

kbrennan

You are right, mrwunrfl, about the date!
Thank you Alec, for the start time information.
I have also heard that you can buy tickets at the stadium. Has anyone had experience with this?
Thanks

mrwunrfl

Yes, I have such experience: I went to the ticket window at the stadium and said I wanted to buy a ticket! Might have held up one finger or two fingers, depending. The ticket agent probably showed me a list of ticket prices. Might have asked &quot;doko?&quot; (<i>doe koe</i>? = where?) and was shown a seating chart. Made my choice, paid the money, got the ticket, enjoyed the game.

emd

mrw, rofl.

I did the same thing, it is easy. but I think i wrote down &quot;I want two tickets&quot; in Japanese from a dictionary and handed it to the ticket lady in the booth. She did have a seating chart and wrote out the amt. in yen for each section.

Definitely see the Tigers play, and SIT IN THE FAN SECTION ($10 seats, in outfield). Trust me on this. You will have a BLAST if you sit there. Buy some noisemakers and balloons (uninflated long ones) on the way in and get ready to rock and roll, baby.

japanfreak

We just came back from Japan and have experienced the HIS Sumo stable tour.

It was quite expensive, but very interesting.

The meeting place was easy to find although travelling by train during morning rush hour to get there was very unpleasant &gt;_&lt;

The training was very tough. There are only 7 wrestlers in the stable as it's only been in existance since 2002.

As there was a tournament starting the following week, a neighbouring stable had come over for a combined practice session with them.

Lunch was the highlight of the tour and was cooked and served by the young wrestlers who were very sweet!

My husband was not really interested in sumo before the tour, but now has a better understanding of how it works and was keen to watch the tournament on TV every night afterwards!

jmsvss

Yes, I looked at the HIS Tour and thought it was more than I was willing to spend and more time than I was willing to invest. However, considering you positive experience I will take a look at this again.

Where were you staying in Tokyo?

Thank you!
Suzanne

japanfreak

Suzanne,
We were staying in Chiba and did the tour Jan 8th.

I have to point out that my interest in sumo was from a teacher's point of view. I was thrilled to be allowed to take photos &amp; video to show my students. Can't wait to see their faces when I show them pics of me standing with the wrestlers!

It was a very different and unusual experience.

jmsvss

Thanks for sharing your experience regarding the HIS Sumo tour. This does sound like something that we will enjoy doing.

BTW - For all you baseball fans - I did find another website
www.japanball.com that compliments the site provided by emd.

I used this site to go ahead and purchase tickets. I know many people advise that advance tickets are not usually necessary; however, this has provided a tremendous peace of mind. We wanted to see the Tigers at the Dragons on May 5.

lilipad

we did what the lonely planet book recommended - went in the early morning to the sumo area in tokyo (starts with an R), and tried to find the sumo stable with a green roof. we found it with the help of a japanese neighbor in the area ... he just walked us over from his house. BUT, they wouldn't let us in (we got the crossed arms in our faces when we opened the door ... they may have been finished with their practice) BUT, on the way to this stable we passed a small house where it looked like a less-known sumo stable was in practice ... so we went there and loitered in the window. within seconds one of the wrestlers motioned for us to come in so we did and had a marvelous time. they did not invite us to lunch but they posed for some pictures with us when they were done. we didn't use flash so as not to disturb them, but they didn't really care if we filmed them with our cameras during practice ... there were 3 other students/tourists there and it was marvelous! a highlight of our trip!

jmsvss

Thanks lilpad. Considering how the dollar is doing right now against the yen, your option (free) sounds fantastic against the tour ($180 pp).

I've been considering the Lonely Planet book in addition to my Fodors for this trip. Your comment is yet another refererence and reason to do so.

47 more days to go - yoohooo!

Thanks,
Suzanne