| QuickTime VR |
Take a look at a typical day's action from the first floor seats.
Click on the photo to open a QTVR window. Quick Time is required to view QTVR. |
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If you do not have Quick Time, you can down load it from here.
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| Click and drag on the open QTVR window to track up, down, left or right. Use the "shift" key to zoom in, the "control" key to zoom out. |
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| Main Entrance |
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This is where tickets are taken and visitors receive a list of the day's matches. (Foreign visitors also receive an English language sumo guide, as well as a list of the day's top matches in English.) Fans with tickets for the Japanese style box seats on the first floor would then proceed to the Sumo Service Entrance. |
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| Sumo Service Entrance |
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Located to the left of the Kokugikan lobby, the large corridor that serves as the Sumo Service Entrance is divided into individual "houses" numbered 1 to 20.
The number of the "house" to be used is printed on the back of each ticket. Presenting it to anyone of the ushers attached to the "house" in question guarantees a quick an efficient walk to the waiting Japanese style box. A stroll down this corridor gives the fan a real sense of what a traditional visit to sumo is all about. |
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| Sumo Museum |
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The Sumo Museum is the official repository for several hundred years of sumo history.
Their Exhibition Room, located to the right of the Kokugikan lobby offers a fascinating and informative rotating display covering various aspects of this rich tradition.
Admission is free but during the three Tokyo Grand Sumo Tournaments limited to actual tournament ticket holders. A look at some of the items on exhibit is available
on the Nihon Sumo Kyokai main page. |
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| Lobby |
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The highlight of a walk through the Kokugikan's lobby is the large display case located at the back. In it a visitor can see the Emperor's Cup, the symbol of the top division championship, as well as the many other trophies awarded to the tournament winner. |
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| Refreshment & Souvenir Stands |
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Refreshment & Souvenir stands can be found in several locations throughout the arena offering a wide variety of items designed to commemorate a day at the sumo.
Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available and the Japanese style box lunches are a complete meal in themselves.
And no trip to the Kokugikan would be complete without trying the venue's famous "yakitori" or barbecued chicken on a stick. |
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| Kokugikan Cafe |
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A new refreshment stand, The Kokugikan Cafe, will be opened for business on the 2nd floor, west aisle from 10:00 to 5:00 each tournament day.
Ice cream, hot dogs, steamed dumplings and a variety of other snacks are available. |
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