Ryogoku, Tokyo - 16 Things To Do Guide + Photos 2024

Ryogoku may not be the first Tokyo neighbourhood you instantly think of, but it has sumo-sized bags of character and is the historic home of Japanese sumo wrestling in Tokyo.

With its riverside setting and direct access to Asakusa and Odaiba by boat (plus cheaper than average hotel rates), Ryogoku is one of the best Tokyo neighbourhoods to stay in.

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Home to the Ryogoku Kokugikan National Sumo Stadium (Tokyo’s main sumo arena) and numerous sumo statues (‘beya’), you’ll even sometimes see sumo wrestlers dining in the local restaurants after a hard day of training.

Home to multiple museums, waterside walks and cool craft beer bars, Ryogoku in Asakusabashi is a really great place to base yourself in Tokyo (or just spend a morning or afternoon exploring the sumo attractions).

From sword museums to sumo, here is our ultimate guide to Ryogoku in Tokyo with photos.

You might like – Plan My Japan’s guide to buying Tokyo sumo wrestling tickets in Ryogoku >

Table of Contents

Recommended accommodation and hotels in Ryogoku

Many travellers to Tokyo base themselves in Ryogoku not only because of its sumo wrestling heritage and stadium but it is also one of the best and cheapest Tokyo neighbourhoods to stay in.

That said, during the Tokyo sumo wrestling championships (held 3 times a year), Ryogoku hotel room rates will likely rocket.

Some recommended hotels in Ryogoku include:

APA Hotel & Resort Ryogoku Eki Tower

One of Japan’s biggest domestic hotel chains, APA Hotels has over 700 hotels in Japan and the APA Hotel & Resort Ryogoku Eki Tower is one of the swankiest – we stayed here on the 28th floor one Christmas in Tokyo and highly recommend it for the money.

The rooms are compact with incredible views of Tokyo on the higher floors plus it has a grand entrance and reception areas, with chandeliers and polished marble interiors – the rooftop pool and spas are also a nice touch

Check Hotel & Resort Ryogoku Eki Tower availability and rates here >

You might like our guide to the highs (and lows) of APA Hotels, Japan’s cheap hotel chain >

Dai Ichi Ryogoku Hotel

Just 15 mins from Tokyo Station with old world elegance, Dai Ichi Ryogoku Hotel has a panoramic restaurant on the top floor (Sakura) plus offers free shuttles to Tokyo Disney Resort.

It is also a 5 minute walk from the National Sumo Wrestling Stadium in Ryogoku.

Check Dai Ichi Ryogoku Hotel availability and rates here >

How to get to Ryogoku

To explore the Ryogoku neighbourhood in Tokyo, the nearest stations are JR Ryogoku Station, accessible by JR Sobu line, and Ryogoku MRT station on the Oedo Line.

If you want to arrive on the water via the Sumida River, there is also the Ryogoku River Center, a 3 minute walk from JR Ryogoku Station.

The Tokyo Mizube River Cruise line stops at Ryogoku River Center and travels between Asakusa and Odaiba via Ryogoku. Please note there are no Tokyo Mizube River Cruises on Mondays or Tuesdays.

Book your Ryogoku Tokyo Mizube River Cruise ticket on Klook >

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Ryogoku, Tokyo – Top 15 things to do

1. Ryogoku Kokugikan National Sumo Stadium

Possibly the number 1 reason to visit Ryogoku, its Kokugikan National Sumo Arena is the home of sumo wrestling in Tokyo.

All of the Tokyo sumo wrestling bouts and Grand Tournaments are held here in the Ryogoku district – you can tell if there is a sumo tournament on by all the brightly coloured flags outside, each of which relates to a specific wrestler (well, that and the huge crowds).

The Ryogoku Kokugikan stadium is used for the national sumo tournaments and is right next door to Ryogoku JR stadium. You can usually buy tournament tickets or to the more regular morning sumo stable training sessions via booking sites:

If not, you can always visit the free sumo museum or sumo Chanko Nabe restaurants at Ryogoku Kokugikan National Sumo Stadium or Ryogoku Edo Noren- more on these later!

Try this – Tokyo Sumo Wrestling Experience with Viator >

2. Beer Club Popeyes Craft Beer Bar

Kanpai, Beer Club Popeye’s – this is one of our favourite craft beer bars in Tokyo (possibly because we spent a memorable Christmas Eve here). The staff are warm and welcoming and they often have around 70 different beers available on tap alone.

Beer Club Popeyes Craft Beer Bar Ryogoku Tokyo

Tucked away in Ryogoku’s backstreets since the mid 1980s, Beer Club Popeye’s is known for its smartly dressed serving staff and olde worlde pub style interiors. Better yet, they have a VERY Happy Hour most evenings whereby you get a free hot food snack with every beer purchased.

So for instance, buy a small craft beer and you can get a ‘free’ plate of sausages or a small plate of fried chicken karaage. It is such good value. We were even invited (kind of dragged actually) behind the Popeyes bar one night for a fun photo opportunity. Highly recommended.

Plan My Japan tip – if you are staying in Ryogoku several days and plan to visit Beer Club Popeyes more than once, ask to join their actual beer club. It is free to join and they give you a cool gold membership card that gives you a free beer and discounts on your return visit. Cheers!

You might like our guide to the best craft beer bars and beer halls in Tokyo >

Try this – Top Tokyo bar crawl tours with Viator >

3. Sumo Museum

If your visit to Ryogoku doesn’t coincide with one of the three annual Tokyo national sumo wrestling championships, another sumo-tastic thing to do is check out the Sumo Museum.

Inside the wrestling stadium, it is full of famous sumo wrestling memorabilia and trophies (there are some great photo opportunities inside).

The National Sumo Museum is open all year round to the public with free entry – opening times are Monday to Friday from 12.30pm to 4pm (last entry at 3:30pm).

Try this – Explore Sumo Culture: Tokyo Half-Day Walking Tour >

4. Edo Tokyo Museum (closed until 2025)

May 2024 update: the Edo Tokyo Museum is currently closed for major renovations

One of the best ‘Studio Ghibli Tokyo things to do’, it is said that Studio Ghibli founder Hayao Miyazaki visited Edo Tokyo Museum for inspiration to create landscapes for Spirited Away (they also said that about Jiufen in Taiwan but many doubt that too…but let’s just go with it for now!)

Opened in 1993, the museum celebrates the culture and historic achievements of Edo-Tokyo showcasing over 400 years of heritage with a collection of around 600,000 items (although not all are on display at any one time).

There is a rich mix of permanent collections and temporary exhibitions plus outdoor buildings to explore dating back to the Meiji era (1860s to early 1900s).

The Edo Museum is currently closed until at least 2025.

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5. Ekoin Temple

A very quiet and calm Buddhist temple in Ryogoku, when we visited Ekoin Temple, we were literally the only ones there save for the caretaker.

The temple dates back to the late 1760s and was originally built to commemorate the citizens who died in the Great Fire of Meireki in the 1650s.

Later on it life, it became the home of early sumo wrestling tournaments until around 1910, when they moved up the road to Ryogoku Kokugikan.

We also noticed a rather unique ‘pet cemetery’ where you remember and pray for your forgotten furry ones – very moving.

Try this – Sumida River: Japanese Traditional Yakatabune Dinner Cruise (departs Asakusa) >

6. Yokoamicho Park & Tokyo Memorial Hall

A seemingly pleasant respite from the usual Tokyo hustle and bustle, Yokoamicho park actually has one of the most tragic histories of any place in Japan.

Tens of thousands were killed close by during the Great Kanto earthquake in 1923 due to secondary fire-storms. The main memorial hall to this awful earthquake was subsequently built in the park, said to house the ashes of over 50,000 victims.

A place to reflect, Yokoamicho park is free to visit and also blooms with cherry blossoms during the sakura season.

You might like these Tokyo neighbourhood guides:
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7. Sumida River walk to Asakusa

One of our favourite activities in Ryogoku was to walk over the Sumida River from Ryogoku to Asakusa, and to visit nearby sites like the Senso-ji temple.

The walk from the Samurai Sword Museum in Ryogoku to Asakusa’s main shrine, Senso-ji is just over 20 minutes along the Sumida river banks. There is a little bit of street art along the way plus you’ll see all the cruise ships coming and going between Odaiba and Asakusa.

Plan My Japan tip – if you stay on the Sumida River Walk right until Azuma Bridge, take a look left and you’ll see the Asahi Beer Head Office. The sculpture on the top is meant to look like a yellow flame but the locals jokingly refer to it as the ‘golden turd’. Genius!

Try this – Sushi Making Experience in Asakusa >

8. Ryogoku Fireworks Museum

Have a ‘blast’ at the Ryogoku Fireworks museum! Open from Thursday through to Sunday from noon until 4pm, the museum reveals the inner workings of pyrotechnics old and new and gives a detailed history of Japanese fireworks including their cultural significance.

There are videos to watch and a small gift-shop where you can buy fiery patterned postcards – hot stuff!

Admission to the Ryogoku Fireworks Museum is free soyou get more ‘bang’ for your buck here (or Yen) – the museum is lovingly run by a small team of volunteers and any donations or gift shop purchases are gratefully appreciated.

Try this – Tokyo Street Cartoon Go Karting: Drive Through Asakusa, Skytree, and Akihabara >

9. Kyu-Yasuda Gardens / Former Yasuda Garden

Ryogoku has several gorgeous green gardens and peaceful parks but this is one of the best – quiet and usually only frequented by locals, Kyu-Yasuda Gardens.

The centre-piece of the Former Yasuda Garden is an ornate pond that you walk around, crossing traditional Japanese style bridges and spotting koi carp and turtles as you go (plus the occasional duck).

We visited on a sublime spring morning and were treated to a beautiful blue sky and incredible reflections on the pond – you can even see the Tokyo Skytree and surrounding cityscape in the distance.

Try this – Tokyo Tsukiji Fish Market Visit and Sushi Making Experience >

10. Ryogoku Sumo Wrestling Statues / Avenue of Sumo

Along the stretch of pavement between Ryogoku Kokugikan National Sumo Stadium and Ekoin Temple (outside JR Ryogoku Station), you’ll find a series of sumo wrestler statues and concrete handprints along the road – perhaps this is the only spot in Tokyo for sumo selfie?

There are several sumo wrestling statues of all shapes and sizes (just like the real thing then) in various poses and wrestling techniques – who needs the ‘avenue of stars’ when you can have this Tokyo Avenue of Sumo!

Try this – Tokyo: Ryogoku Sumo Morning Practice Viewing Tour >

11. Ryogoku Edo Noren

Want to see a life sized sumo ring or enjoy a variety of Tokyo cuisines? Located inside Ryogoku JR station, Ryogoku Edo Noren is a cultural and culinary complex looking to combine the best eating and drinking in an Edo period style parlour and layout.

As well as several restaurants (including sumo style chanko nabe), there is a useful Tokyo Tourist Information centre here as well as an edo-museum and recreation of an edo townhouse plus a fire watchtower.

Try this – Ryogoku: Sumo Town Guided Walking Tour with Chanko-nabe lunch >

12. Eat Sumo Style at a Ryogoku Chanko Nabe restaurant

Eat like a sumo wrestler – as you’d expect from the home of Japanese sumo wrestling, there are numerous ‘Chanko nabe’ restaurants in the area, often run by retired professional sumo wrestlers.

Chanko-nabe is a heavy / rich stew of fish, meat, tofu, vegetables and rice – based on our experiences at the national sumo wrestling tournament, it is also VERY smelly so just follow your nose to find it.

There are several Chanko Nabe restaurants in and around Ryogoku Station and Ryogoku Edo Noren including Tomoegata Chanko, Sumo Chaya Terao and Ami Ryōgoku.

Challenge sumo wrestlers and enjoy a chanko nabe meal >

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13. Sumida Hokusai Museum

Ever seen the incredible artwork of the Japanese wave that has been used on countless postcards, prints and clothing design? This is the iconic artwork ‘The Great Wave off Kanagawa’, a woodblock print from the 1830s and you can see the original at Sumida Hokusai Museum.

A museum and celebration of the renowned ukiyo-e artist and painter Katsushika Hoku, the museum brings to life Hokusai’s work and passion for his art through displays and videos – a true ‘wave’ of emotion and inspiration.

The Sumida Hokusai Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday (closed Mondays) from 9.30am to 5pm and costs 400 Yen per adult. Prices / times correct as at May 2024.

Try it for yourself – book a ukiyo-e scroll making experience in Yoyogi, Tokyo >

Try this – Best Samurai Experience in Tokyo >

14. River Cruise from Tokyo Mizube Cruising Ryogoku Station

Head on down to the Sumida River and jump aboard a sleek cruise boat at Ryogoku River Center – the boats shuttle between Odaiba and Asakusa on a regular basis and will stop by request at Ryogoku.

We did the boat from Odaiba to Asakusa (we chose not to get off at Ryogoku as we fancied the walk) and it is an amazing way to see Tokyo from the water – just remember to duck underneath the bridges!

The Tokyo river boat cruise fare from Ryogoku to Odaiba is 1,200 Yen per adult as of May 2024.

The Ryogoku to Asakusa / Asakusa to Ryogoku river boat fare is currently 400 Yen per adult.

Find our more about the Tokyo cruises and timetables here >

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15. Japanese Sword Museum

The Japanese sword museum in Ryogoku is packed full of pointed Japanese swords and daggers, some dating back as far as the 12th century.

There is also a ‘cutting’ collection of old texts and sword hilts plus a detailed history of the Japanese sword making process – a small gift shop also has sword souvenirs.

Head to the third floor to enjoy the roof garden with views over the River Sumida and the Kyu-Yasuda Gardens next door.

Admission to the Japanese Sword Museum is 1,000 Yen per adult as of May 2024 and it is open daily from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30am to 5pm.

Try this – Tokyo Night Foodie Tour in Shinjuku >

Ryogoku Tokyo – Our final thing to do (and yes, it is sumo wrestling related…)

16. Spot the sumo wrestler manhole covers

It isn’t just the sumo wrestlers themselves or their statues you’ll see – keep looking down and you’ll spot some very quirky and colourful sumo wrestling Japanese manhole covers on the streets of Ryogoku.