Street front of Kappo Yoshiba in the historic former Miyagino sumo stable , Asakusa & Sumida River.

©Rebecca Milner/Lonely Planet

Kappō Yoshiba

Asakusa & Sumida River


The former Miyagino sumo stable is the location for this one-of-a-kind restaurant that has preserved the dōyō (practice ring) as its centrepiece. Playing up to its sumo roots, you can order the protein-packed stew chanko-nabe (for two people from ¥5200), but Yoshiba's real strength is its sushi, freshly prepared in jumbo portions.

The lunch nigiri set menu (¥1000) is a bargain, but you'll probably want to come in the evening when the dōyō becomes a stage for traditional live-music performances.

At 7.30pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, former wrestlers sing sumo jinku (a type of folk song) for 15 minutes, while at 7pm on Tuesday and Thursday the female duo Kitamura Shimai plays a short concert on shamisen (three-stringed instruments resembling a lute or banjo). This is followed at 8pm by a pianist tinkling the ivories on the grand piano by the sushi counter (and stained-glass window of a sumo wrestler!).


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