Day trip to Nagoya for Sumo

We plan a day trip from Tokyo to Nagoya on Wed July 18 to attend the Sumo Tournament. We have a free day on our JR pass, and we've always wanted to see Sumo, so this is a good opportunity. We have already arranged preordering of our tickets, and we love riding trains, so that isn't a problem.

We plan to arrive at JR Nagoya mid morning (about 930), and then take the subway to Shiyakusho station. Sightsee Nagoya Castle for a bit (unfortunately there is some construction ongoing, but that's ok) for a bit, then eat a leisurely lunch, then walk to the Sumo venue early to mid afternoon (the main event starts at 3PM). We'll then take a Hikari back to Tokyo.

I am wondering if those who know the area think if there might be enough time to add either the Noritake center, or the Toyota Techno museum to our day?

Also wondering how crowded it will be going from the venue to Shiyakusho station, then to JR Nagoya at 6PM or so? I've not been to Nagoya (other than changing trains) for over 30 years.

Thanks in advance.

Dale

I am wondering if those who know the area think if there might be enough time to add either the Noritake center, or the Toyota Techno museum to our day?

The Toyota Techno Museum is pretty easy to access from JR Nagoya station by Bus, only ten minutes. I'd probably go there first on your schedule and then go to Nagoya Castle. If you want to reduce your time at the Techno Museum the first part contains a lot of the electronic looms etc. which although interesting is probably not as interesting as the main automotive sections. So you could move through the loom part fairly quickly if you wish.

Also wondering how crowded it will be going from the venue to Shiyakusho station, then to JR Nagoya at 6PM or so? I've not been to Nagoya (other than changing trains) for over 30 years.

Not sure so hopefully someone else can comment.

I would suggest getting to the Sumo slightly before the main show, as that will give you some time to get used to what is happening and possibly wander around a little before the main event starts.

Also, there are a number of restaurants around Nagoya Station if you planned to eat dinner there before heading back to Tokyo.

Enjoy your trip!

Thanks for the feedback. I think we have a fairly relaxed day, now that I really think about it, and we have time to add some things.

Even if it is super crowded at 6 to 630, we aren't in a rush, so no big deal.

Dale - have you booked tickets for the event or will you just show up at the venue on the day?

I ask because I am very interested in going to this tournament also.

Rasmus

Dale - have you booked tickets for the event or will you just show up at the venue on the day?

He mentioned that he has arranged pre-ordered tickets.

I ask because I am very interested in going to this tournament also.

What exact day did you plan to go? If on a weekday and early on then you can probably just queue up early in the morning and you should be ok for a general admission ticket.

If you prefer to book in advance then purchasing directly or through someone like http://www.buysumotickets.com would be recommmended.

Note that tickets go on sale May 17th.

Enjoy your Sumo!

Indeed, I have arranged through buysumotickets.com. The transaction hasn't taken place yet, since the tickets go on sale May 17, as noted by GC3. I have read very good feedback about the above service, so I hope things work out well. I wanted box seats for our family, which I understand are more difficult to obtain (in other words, you're better off purchasing before the event, rather than at the door), so I preordered.

Dale

Hi,
this is an interesting thread since I am also planning on a day in Nagoya visiting sumo.
I also wanted to visit the Toyota Plant the same day.
The Toyota plant visit finishes at 1 pm, there is about 1.5 hours back to Nagoya city centre so I assume we might arrive at the stadium at around 3 pm. Is it still a good time to see a match? Or will we have missed the most interesting part?

this is an interesting thread since I am also planning on a day in Nagoya visiting sumo.
I also wanted to visit the Toyota Plant the same day.
The Toyota plant visit finishes at 1 pm, there is about 1.5 hours back to Nagoya city centre so I assume we might arrive at the stadium at around 3 pm.

You should just go direct to Shiyakusho Station. If you look on Hyperdia if you leave MikawaToyota at 1:13pm you should make it to Shiyakusho by around 2:17pm. You can probably walk/jog to MikawaToyota after you finish at Toyota, or you could ask them to book a taxi for you so that it is there waiting at 1pm perhaps.

Is it still a good time to see a match? Or will we have missed the most interesting part?

Yes it is a good time, many people won't arrive before 2:30pm, as the main event really starts at 3pm
See this page for information:-
http://www.sumo.or.jp/eng/ticket/honbasho_ichi_nichi/index.html

Enjoy your trip!

Thanks GC3!

I thought I would update this thread and give feedback about our day trip.

Things went very smoothly. We purchased a Me-guru one day bus pass in order to get around yesterday. We only used it for two bus legs, but it got 60 to 100 yen admission discounts at the two places we went to, the Toyota Techno museum and Nagoya Castle, so it paid off. A slight bit cheaper than the subway, and when we used the bus in midday, the traffic wasn't bad.

GC3, my wife and kids were very happy with the textile part of the museum; I preferred the automobile portion, but we had to rush through there... The Technoland exhibit was also fun.

We spent little time at Nagoya Castle, mainly because we were so so so hot (it was between 1 and 2 PM).

The Sumo part of the day was superb. We had to go to several booths in order to have our special family box voucher exchanged for our box tickets, but a friendly (and English speaking!) usher walked us outside to the specific will call window we needed, to retrieve our tickets, get us our complimentary souvenir charm (we would never have known that we were entitled to one), escort us to our box, take food and drink orders (the cold beer tasted very very good by the time we sat down), and deliver our food (we got two bento boxes for the four of us, and @2500 yen apiece, I would not recommend it -- the quantity was there, but not the quality). The guy three boxes back who had one (or eight, maybe) beers too many provided much amusement for everyone around. And the matches and environment were great. I speak some Japanese, but my family doesn't, so I had planned to rent the radios that I had read about that broadcast the English NHK "play by play," but unfortunately, they weren't available.

We took the subway back (the Me-guru bus ends service early, and besides, even if it were running, the queue would have been ridiculous). The lines at the ticket machines at Shiyakusho station were long, and many passengers had no clue how to use them. Fortunately, we had no problem negotiating them. The trains were packed, though. I make it a point to avoid rush hour trains in metro areas, but we didn't have a choice here, so it was very uncomfortable on both legs of our trip back to Nagoya Station. Sumo ended at 6PM on the dot, and we arrived at Nagoya Station at 635PM. We had reservations on the 724PM Hikari back to Tokyo, and we tried to change reservations to an earlier train since we got back so quickly, but the ticket queues were too long, so we ended up having ramen and gyoza at a Station restaurant (which was a nice way to get a load off our feet by then).

Sorry for the gory details, but I figured some people would be interested in them...

Dale