Tokyo, Japan

Executive summary by Darmansjah

Why Go Now? Spur on the finest competitors of Japan’s national sport as they spar against one another during the Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Sumo Hall from 12 to 26 January. Only men practice sumo professionally in Japan, and  wrestler suffers defeat when he is the first to tumble out of the ring of clay and sand or to have any part of his body, aside from the soles of his feet, hit the ground.

Tickets are available in three categories – ringside seats, box seats, and balcony seats – and can be purchased at the stadium. Top division matches only take place in the evenings, and that is when the arena gets truly packed and atmospheric. The contestant who is in possession of the most number of wins in his division after the grueling 15-day combat is crowned as the category’s tournament champion.

How Do I Make It Happen? Singapore Airlines operates direct flights from Singapore and from Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport.

Hotel Niwa Tokyo offers guests first-class comfort in a safe and serene environment. It houses restaurants serving up both French and Japanese cuisines and is a 15-minute train ride away from Shinjuku Station (from US$151, hotelinwa.jp/English/index.html).