Ever wondered what a sumo wrestler eats for lunch? Try chanko nabe, a hearty stew eaten by wrestlers to add to their bulk.
Ever wondered what a sumo
wrestler eats for lunch? Try chanko nabe,
a hearty stew eaten by wrestlers to add to their bulk.
The Palace Hotel in Tokyo
has come up with a close and personal experience with sumo wrestlers as part of
its Palatial Pursuits portfolio of bespoke guest experiences.
The packages are organised
in conjunction with TOKI, which specialises in introducing travellers to exclusive
cultural experiences when in Tokyo.
During three annual tournaments held in Tokyo
(January, May and September), a current sumo sports writer and announcer
accompanies guests to the all-day spectacle at the hallowed Kokugikan arena.
In the two weeks leading up to each sumo season, hotel
guests can plunge even more deeply into the sport’s culture with an expert-accompanied private tour of a
sumo wrestling training stable
and the chance to chat over a lunch of traditional chanko nabe, a stew prepared
by the wrestlers themselves.
The Palace Tokyo also offers the kabuki package, the well-known, but not always well-understood
ancient stage tradition, is demystified. The package includes tickets to a
performance at the Kabuki-za theatre, a mecca for the art form, which recently
reopened after a major restoration.
The general sumo and kabuki packages are available
year-round. Prices and experiences vary accordingly and all are based on
availability.