A sumo entertainment show is coming to the Hakuba snow resort area in Nagano Prefecture. The Sumo Show HIRAKUZA in HAKUBA, presented by the entertainment brand HIRAKUZA (日楽座), will be held at Kyowa Wing Hakuba (Wing 21) from Saturday, January 16 to Friday, January 22, 2027. Tickets go on sale at 10:00 AM on Monday, November 2, 2026.
Event Overview
- Event name: The Sumo Show HIRAKUZA in HAKUBA
- Dates: Saturday, January 16 to Friday, January 22, 2027
- Venue: Kyowa Wing Hakuba (Wing 21), 2066 Hokujo, Hakuba Village, Kitaazumi District, Nagano Prefecture
- Show time: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
- Admission: ¥8,800 (tax included), the same price for adults and children
- Ticket sales: From 10:00 AM on Monday, November 2, 2026 at https://hirakuza.net/sumotour/
Please note the following.
- Details are subject to change without prior notice.
- Children aged 0 to 2 may attend free of charge if they watch on a parent's or guardian's lap.
- A ticket is required for children aged 3 and older.
Days on the Slopes, Nights with Sumo
At the international snow resort HAKUBA VALLEY, the 10 ski resorts recorded about 1.925 million total visits in the 2025-26 winter season, up 3% year-on-year. About 925,000 of those visits were by international visitors, up 17% year-on-year, which is about 48% of the total, according to HAKUBAVALLEY TOURISM. The Hakuba Village Tourism Commission also reports, based on interviews with local businesses, that a growing number of international visitors come for reasons other than winter sports.
Against this background, the show is built around the theme "Days on the Slopes. Nights with Sumo." For about 60 minutes from 6:00 PM, it offers an interactive sumo show presented in English, giving travelers from around the world another way to experience Japanese culture in Hakuba after dark. The show also aims to add to the appeal of nighttime sightseeing in Hakuba.
Show Program: Watch, Learn, and Take on the Challenge
The show introduces sumo from several angles, from its traditions and powerful matches to interactive moments.
HEART | Discover the Spirit of Sumo
The program introduces the etiquette and spirit found in sumo through traditional rituals and training practices, giving a taste of the heart of sumo that is passed down in Japanese culture.
SKILL | Learn the Rules and Techniques
Sumo's basic rules and techniques are explained in a comical way with demonstrations. It is easy to enjoy and learn from even for first-time spectators.
WATCH | Experience the Power of Live Sumo
Wrestlers face off in powerful matches right in front of the audience. Visitors can feel the strength of the wrestlers as they clash and the tension of each bout.
SUMO CHALLENGE | Step into the Ring!
Limited to the first 5 participants per show. Participants put on a sumo suit and take on a sumo wrestler, an interactive program that lets them feel the power of sumo in a way that watching alone cannot.
- A separate Challenge ticket is required to take part (¥3,300 per ticket, tax included).
- Challenge tickets are sold at the venue on the day of the show, on a first-come, first-served basis, limited to the first 5 people per show.
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY | Capture Your Sumo Memories
At the end of the show, visitors can take a commemorative photo with the wrestlers who performed, keeping this special experience in Hakuba as a travel memory.
