Kyushu Basho Sold Out? Sumo in Fukuoka in November 2026: Practice, Tours, Resale and the Jungyo

Yes, every day of the 2026 Kyushu Basho (November 8–22, Fukuoka Kokusai Center) is sold out, and the venue sells no tickets at the door this year. You can still see sumo in Fukuoka in November: through the official face-value resale, a guided tour that includes a seat, a public morning practice (Kise-beya, from October 27), or a stop on the Kyushu jungyo right after the tournament (November 29 to December 5). Aonishiki is not going for yokozuna promotion here either: the head of the judging division has said Kyushu is not a yokozuna-promotion tournament for him.

Last checked: October 25, 2026. The rankings (banzuke) come out on October 26, and that is also when most stables announce whether visitors can watch practice, so check the stable tables again after that date. For the general picture of what to do when a tournament is gone, see our sold-out ticket guide.

Without a basho ticket, the closest sumo you can book in English in Fukuoka is a morning practice at a stable's temporary lodging. Fukuoka: Morning Sumo Practice and Hakata Old Town (from $77, 4.2/5 from 22 reviews) watches a stable train near Hakata Station, then walks you through Kushida Shrine, Shofukuji and Tochoji. It runs only during the roughly three weeks in November when the stables are in town, and it has fewer reviews than the Tokyo practice tours, so read the recent ones before you book. The calendar shows the dates still open.

Kyushu Basho 2026 at a glance

• Sold out: Ticket Oosumo’s English site says “Tickets are sold out all dates” and “There will be no tickets sold on the day,” and there are no unreserved (jiyu-seki) seats this year. Turning up at the door will not work. Your options are the official face-value resale (a Japanese site with phone verification), a guided tour with a seat, or sumo outside the tournament.
• Alternatives, ranked: (1) the official face-value resale if you can handle Japanese; (2) a guided tournament tour that includes a seat, while stock lasts; (3) morning practice, where the confirmed public option in 2026 is Kise-beya in Kiyama, Saga, from October 27, with the Hakata practice tour and JR Kyushu’s October 30 Musashigawa-beya event as guided options; (4) the winter jungyo in Kyushu, November 29 to December 5, where Amakusa is sold out and Iizuka and Nobeoka are still on sale.
• Storylines and timing: Onosato won in September (12-3, his sixth title). Aonishiki finished 11-4 as runner-up, but judging-division head Asakayama called 11 wins “tough,” so Kyushu is not formally a yokozuna run. Hoshoryu is aiming to return after right-knee surgery. For 2027, the Kyushu Basho runs November 14–28, with tickets on sale on September 18, 2027.

Other sumo you can book in Fukuoka and Kyushu

The basho fills two weeks of November, but the city has more sumo than the hall: morning practice at stable lodgings near Hakata Station, a sumo show with chanko nabe lunch near Fukuoka Airport, a half day at Dazaifu Tenmangu, where Isegahama stable stays, and the Nakasu riverside food stalls after the bouts. If your trip continues to Tokyo, the Shinjuku sumo show and Ryogoku practice tours run through the winter. The options below are bookable for your dates.

Is it really sold out? What “sold out” means in Fukuoka

The official seller, Ticket Oosumo, which the Japan Sumo Association (JSA) runs with Pia, marks the 2026 November general sale “完売御礼” (sold out, with thanks), and its English page says no tickets will be sold on the day. In Tokyo a small number of same-day seats sometimes appear; Fukuoka is different. The Japanese ticket page lists the Fukuoka Kokusai Center window with no advance sales and no same-day sales, and Sumo Wrestling Experience Osaka’s Fukuoka ticket guide adds that “the Kyushu Basho has no unreserved seating, so you cannot simply line up on the day and expect to get in.” When Fukuoka is sold out, it stays sold out.

It isn’t a fluke. Sanspo reported on October 8 that, as in 2025, advance tickets sold out on the very first day of sales. Aonishiki won his first title here last November, so Kyushu has a storyline this year.

Your realistic options, ranked

First choice if you read some Japanese: the official face-value resale (Ticket Oosumo 定価リセール)

Fans who can’t attend list their tickets at face value, and the whole transaction runs through Ticket Oosumo or Ticket Pia on a smartphone. Sellers can list QR tickets until 11:59 p.m. three days before the bout day (unissued tickets until the day before). According to Glos Travel’s Kyushu 2026 ticket guide, resale trading opens on the Monday on or after the general sale date, and sellers pay a fee of 10% of face value. Listings appear at random times, so check morning and night. The interface is in Japanese and needs an account with phone (SMS) verification, so ask a Japanese-speaking friend or your hotel concierge to help.

Easiest for most visitors: a guided tournament tour with a seat included

Licensed operators buy group allocations, and the JSA itself runs a group-booking (団体受付) channel; some of that stock is sold as tours. GetYourGuide has no Kyushu tournament tour listed for 2026. On Viator, Watch Sumo Tournament And Visit Sumo Spots in Fukuoka (from $130, 5.0/5 from 1 review) includes the entrance ticket, an English-speaking guide who meets you at the venue and a reserved seat, with dates on November 8, 11 and 16 when we checked. It is a new listing with a single review, so read the seat type and cancellation terms before you book. Prices change by date and currency, and the final weekend is the first to go.

Treat with caution: ticket resale outside the official system

Peer-to-peer sites such as チケット流通センター (Ticket Ryutsu Center) show Kyushu seats trading above face value, and some booking platforms list plain “entry ticket” products that look like resale. The JSA warns that 「不正転売されたチケットでは、当日ご入場いただけない場合がございます」 (“you may be refused entry with an improperly resold ticket”). We don’t recommend reseller sites for an overseas trip you can’t easily redo. If you buy one anyway, buy refundable.

Morning practice (asa-geiko): free to about ¥15,000, and often the closest sumo in Fukuoka. See the next section.

The winter jungyo in Kyushu (November 29 to December 5). Real top-division wrestlers, open practice and comedy bouts. See the jungyo table below.

Morning practice in Fukuoka: where the stables are staying in 2026

From the end of the autumn tour (October 25), around 40 stables set up temporary lodgings (yado) across Fukuoka and Saga, in shrines, temples, company gyms and community halls. Practice usually runs from about 7:00 or 8:00 to 10:00. Most stables restrict 2026 viewing to supporters-club members. As of October 15, the most thorough Japanese tracker (National Stadium Tours) reported “almost no information yet” on public viewing beyond supporters. Expect announcements after the October 26 rankings, and assume no public practice once the basho starts on November 8. Our winter morning practice calendar covers the Tokyo weeks that follow.

Etiquette: stay silent, phone on silent, no flash, and no photos unless staff say it’s OK (Kise bans video and social media posting outright). Never call out to the stablemaster, and don’t leave mid-bout. Bring a small cash gift (御祝儀) only if you’re a supporter.

Morning-practice tours compared

Reviewers on the Hakata tour mention “hearing the impact of bodies” and the guide’s flexibility when practice runs short or long. One wished they’d “worn warmer clothing”: practice is often watched outdoors, and November mornings are cold.

A day at Fukuoka Kokusai Center, if you have a ticket

Getting there: take the subway Hakozaki Line to Gofukumachi, then walk about 12 minutes north (sources give 10–15). Nakasu-Kawabata is about 15 minutes on foot. Nishitetsu buses from Hakata or Tenjin take about 15 minutes to the “Kokusai Center/Sunpalace-mae” stop. A taxi from Fukuoka Airport takes about 15 minutes, which makes Fukuoka one of the easiest basho to fly in and out of.

Atmosphere: the hall is smaller than Tokyo’s Kokugikan, so even the back chair rows feel close. Back chairs are hard plastic, so bring a cushion. The loudest cheers are for wrestlers with Kyushu ties.

Food and the rules inside: bento and yakitori are sold inside, with food trucks outside; make it a mentaiko, mizutaki or Hakata ramen day around the bouts. Ticket Oosumo’s English page says you can leave and come back as often as you need, as long as you return by 17:00. English radio commentary rental is offered in Tokyo; we could not confirm it for Fukuoka in 2026, so ask at the information desk.

Wrestlers to watch (provisional until the October 26 rankings)

• Yokozuna Onosato (Nishonoseki): won September 12-3 for his sixth title, beating Aonishiki in a final-day decider.
• Yokozuna Hoshoryu (Tatsunami): missed September after right-knee surgery in late July and was aiming to return for Kyushu; Sumostats reported on September 23 that he was targeting the October 10 tour return. Watch for withdrawal (kyujo) news after October 26. His stablemaster has said publicly that if he fights, he needs to win.
• Ozeki Aonishiki (Ajigawa): Ukrainian, aged 22, and the Kyushu 2025 champion (his first title, in this hall). He also won in January and July 2026 and went 11-4 in September. Judging head Asakayama (former ozeki Kaio) said on September 27 that 11 wins was 「なかなか厳しい」 (“pretty tough”), and Hochi’s headline read “九州場所で綱取りにならず” (Kyushu will not be a yokozuna run). A dominant title in Fukuoka would still make him the obvious next yokozuna, and he would be the first European-born yokozuna.
• Ozeki Kotozakura and Kirishima (Kirishima won in March 2026 and regained ozeki).
• Kyushu locals to cheer: Yoshinofuji (Kumamoto; Isegahama, based at Dazaifu), Fujiseiun (Kumamoto), Shodai (Uto, Kumamoto; former ozeki), Hiradoumi (Hirado, Nagasaki) and Churanoumi (Okinawa, with a big Kyushu following; Kise-beya, the stable you can watch practice). Fukuoka-born Arashifuji (Isegahama) went 10-5 at Juryo 5 in September, and ranking watchers expect a promotion push; confirm on October 26.

Kyushu winter jungyo 2026: the next-best thing

A jungyo day includes open practice from 9:00, a hair-tying demonstration, shokkiri comedy bouts, sumo jinku songs, and the top-division ring entry and bouts, ending around 14:30. Seats cost more than a chair seat at the basho, but you’re often closer to the wrestlers. Our winter jungyo guide covers all 18 stops.

Our pick: Iizuka. It’s a Saturday, about 45–60 minutes from Hakata by JR, and still on sale. Ringside tamari seats cost ¥15,000–¥17,000, and bento sets are ¥2,500.

Other ways to get your sumo fix

• Watch on TV: NHK General shows the top division live every afternoon (from about 15:10 or 16:00 to 18:00), and NHK World and NHK+ carry English highlights. An izakaya or the hotel lobby TV counts as local culture.
• Chanko nabe: Chanko Shigenoumi (Haruyoshi, run by a former wrestler, walls full of autographs), Sumo Jaya Chanko Katsurakuni (Sumiyoshi, near Asakayama’s lodging) and Wakui (Gokushomachi, lunch sets under ¥700, recommended by a reviewer after the sumo).
• Hands-on sumo show: Fukuoka: Sumo Experience with Chanko-nabe Lunch & Live Show (from $116, 4.8/5 from 5 reviews) at “Hakata Sumo Beya” serves chanko made by a former wrestler, then a demonstration and a chance to wrestle. It runs year-round near the airport; with only five reviews, check the latest ones before you book.
• Iri-machi: wait outside the venue between about 13:00 and 15:00 on any tournament day. It’s free, needs no ticket, and fans line up.
• Dazaifu Tenmangu: Isegahama-beya’s base, with the shrine and the Kyushu National Museum in one half day.
• Yatai night: the Nakasu riverside food stalls after the bouts.

Practical tips for Fukuoka in November

• Weather: the Japan Meteorological Agency’s 1991–2020 normals for Fukuoka in November are an average high of 18.2°C and a low of 10.6°C. Daily normals fall from 19.9°C and 12.2°C on opening day (November 8) to 17.0°C and 9.6°C by November 20. Bring layers and a warm jacket for outdoor practice between 7:00 and 10:00; shrine grounds are cold when you stand still.
• Where to stay: Hakata Station for practice tours and JR day trips, Nakasu-Kawabata or Gofukumachi to walk to the venue, and Tenjin for nightlife and buses. Tournament weekends fill up, so book a refundable room.
• A Kyushu loop: Fukuoka, Dazaifu (Isegahama’s practice area), Kurume (Aonishiki’s lodging), then a jungyo day in Kumamoto or Nagasaki. Price a JR Kyushu rail pass against single tickets. Our guide to sumo in Nagoya and Fukuoka covers the city around the basho.

Plan ahead: Kyushu Basho 2027

Kyushu Basho 2027: Sunday, November 14 to Sunday, November 28, 2027 · Fukuoka Kokusai Center · General sale Saturday, September 18, 2027, 10:00 Japan time · Rankings Monday, November 1, 2027. In 2026, three fan-club and Ticket Oosumo lotteries ran from mid-August, and seat types that sold out in a lottery never reached the general sale. Register free on Ticket Oosumo before the lotteries open (in 2026 the Ticket Oosumo lottery ran August 28–31), and consider the official fan club for the earliest rounds (Japan residents only). The JSA had not published 2027 Fukuoka prices when we checked; Tokyo prices rise from January 2027.

If your Japan trip moves to February, our February 2027 guide covers the Tokyo exhibition weekend and the Haru Basho sale.

2026 Kyushu ticket prices, for resale budgeting

Ticket Oosumo’s English price list for November 2026 (tax included):

The English site adds a ¥2,000 service fee per ticket. Children aged 4 and over need their own ticket.

FAQ

Is the 2026 Kyushu Basho sold out?

Yes. Ticket Oosumo lists every date as sold out, and Fukuoka Now (October 9, 2026), citing NHK and the Nishinippon Shimbun, reported that “Tickets for all 15 days of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament have sold out, according to the Japan Sumo Association.” General sale opened on September 19, 2026.

Can I buy same-day tickets at Fukuoka Kokusai Center?

No. The official ticket site says no tickets are sold on the day, and the venue window sells no advance tickets either. Sumo Wrestling Experience Osaka’s Fukuoka guide adds that “the Kyushu Basho has no unreserved seating.”

Is there an official resale?

Yes. Ticket Oosumo and Ticket Pia run a face-value resale (定価リセール) on smartphones. Listings close three days before each bout day, and per Glos Travel sellers pay a 10% fee. It’s in Japanese and needs phone verification.

Are third-party resale tickets safe?

They’re risky. The JSA says improperly resold tickets may be refused entry.

Can tourists still get seats through tours?

Sometimes. Licensed operators selling guided tours with seats may still have dates; on Viator, one Fukuoka tour listed November 8, 11 and 16 when we checked.

Where can I watch morning sumo practice in Fukuoka?

At Kise-beya, Ryukotoku-ji in Kiyama, Saga (open to the public from October 27), or on a guided tour from Hakata. Most stables are supporters only.

Is there practice during the tournament?

Stables still train lightly, but public viewing generally stops once the basho starts on November 8.

What time should I arrive if I have a ticket?

By 14:00 for juryo, iri-machi and the ring entry. Doors open at 8:45 on days 1–12.

How do I get to Fukuoka Kokusai Center?

From Gofukumachi Station (Hakozaki Line), about a 12-minute walk, or a 15-minute bus from Hakata.

Will Aonishiki be promoted to yokozuna after Kyushu?

It isn’t officially a promotion bid. The judging head said 11 wins was “tough,” but a dominant title could change the conversation.

Is Hoshoryu competing?

He was aiming to return after knee surgery. Check the October 26 rankings and the withdrawal lists.

What’s the jungyo, and can I still get tickets?

A post-tournament exhibition tour. Iizuka (December 5) and Nobeoka (November 30) are on sale; Amakusa (November 29) is sold out.

When do 2027 Kyushu tickets go on sale?

General sale opens on September 18, 2027, with lotteries in August.

Can I watch sumo on TV in Fukuoka?

Yes. NHK broadcasts live every day of the tournament, and NHK World has English highlights.

What’s the weather like?

Per the Japan Meteorological Agency’s normals, November in Fukuoka averages a high of 18.2°C and a low of 10.6°C. Bring layers.

How we checked this

Tournament dates, sold-out status, door times, the 2026 price list, the service fee and the re-entry rule come from Ticket Oosumo’s English site (sumo.pia.jp/en), and the 2027 Kyushu dates from the JSA schedule as recorded on this site. The venue size is from the Fukuoka Kokusai Center’s published figures (up to about 10,000, across the floor and two gallery levels). Kise-beya’s 2026 viewing comes from a Saga Shimbun report, with times and rules from 2025; Asakayama’s 2026 public viewing is unconfirmed, and most stable addresses come from fan trackers (National Stadium Tours and o-sumo.site). Jungyo sale status comes from each organizer and from Lawson Ticket and Ticket Pia in mid-October, and changes daily. Hiradoumi’s and Shodai’s hometowns are from standard listings. Weather normals are from the Japan Meteorological Agency, and tour prices and ratings are GetYourGuide and Viator figures from October 25, 2026.

Ready to Book?

The next grand tournament you can still buy is in Tokyo: see our tournament tickets page and the January 2027 ticket guide, on sale December 5. In Fukuoka, a morning practice visit or a sumo show gets you close to the wrestlers without a basho ticket.