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Where to Go in Tokyo

Ryogoku: where traditional culture is still alive

Janu Tokyo

The Peninsula Tokyo

Palace Hotel Tokyo

Ryogoku, Tokyo

You’ll get a palpable sense of the past when you visit Tokyo. Japan’s capital is rich in historical landmarks (think castles, temples, and tea shops). Travelers interested in unique traditional culture, outside of the popular attractions, should not miss Ryogoku – a neighborhood known as the sacred ground of sumo to almost all Japanese, but not well known to most tourists.

 

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Tokyo, Japan

Janu Tokyo

Available for travel through 2024
 
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Tokyo, Japan

The Peninsula Tokyo

Available for travel through 2024
 
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  • Breakfast daily for two per bedroom
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Tokyo, Japan

Palace Hotel Tokyo

Available for travel through 2024

Recently awarded the prestigious Michelin Three Keys and the Forbes Five-Star rating for 2024.
 
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  • Upgrade upon arrival, if available
  • Early check-in and late checkout, if available 
  • Breakfast daily for two per bedroom
  • $100 hotel credit, per stay
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
 

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4 Reasons to Visit Ryogoku

  • Ryogoku Kokugikan: Sumo is Japan's national sport, which has been around for over 1,500 years, and its history is still rooted in the Ryogoku area. The Ryogoku Kokugikan hosts three grand sumo tournaments a year, and every year more and more tourists come to watch the matches.

  • Japanese Sword Museum: One of the few museums that specializes in Japanese swords, it showcases some 190 items, including armor.

  • Chankonabe: Also known as Chanko, this hot-pot stew dish is commonly eaten by sumo wrestlers as part of a weight-gain diet. Considered a healthy dish, it contains a soup base with chicken, seafood, tofu, and vegetables. You can find several Chanko restaurants in the Ryogoku area.

  • Ekoin Temple: A designated place for sumo until the end of the Meiji period. If you’re lucky, you might even meet a sumo wrestler at the “Mound of Strength,” built by the Sumo Association, where new sumo wrestlers still go to pray for strength today.

Expert Tip

Fun fact: Tokyo is home to more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other city in the world.


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