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Learn the deep history and origin of Sumo as a sport in Katsuragi City, Nara Prefecture
Katsuragi City, Nara Prefecture
Did you know sumo is the national sport of Japan? Sumo is a traditional Japanese sport that has been enjoyed recreationally by common people since ancient times. In Katsuragi City, you can learn and experience the deep history of sumo. Katsuragi is said to be the origin of sumo because it is the birthplace of Taima no Kehaya, who participated in the first sumo match viewed by the Emperor. The sumo museum Kehayaza was erected to commemorate Taima no Kehaya’s life. In this museum you can view sumo rankings, charts used to keep track of a wrestler's records during tournaments, and around 12,000 other sumo-related items, records, photos, and documents. There is also a real life-sized sumo ring that visitors can enter. You can don a sumo costume and experience what it’s like to be a sumo wrestler in the ring. The sumo museum can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
How to get there
Katsuragi city is about a 1-hour drive from Kansai International Airport. When traveling by train, take the Osaka Metro from Shin-Osaka Station to Tennoji Station (about 25 minutes), walk to Osaka Abenobashi Station on the Kintetsu Minami Osaka Line (about 3 minutes), and then take the train to Taimadera Station (about 40 minutes). The destination is about a 5-minute walk from the station.
83-1 Taima, Katsuragi-shi, Nara-ken
