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Sport Sumo wrestling is Japan’s national sport and the six annual 15-day tournaments excite great interest throughout the country. The January, May and September tournaments are held in Tokyo. Tickets can be purchased at the venue, the Ryogoku Kokugikan Stadium, 1-3-28 Yokoami, Sumida-ku (tel: (03) 5237 9310). The website (www.sumo.or.jp/eng/index.php) also provides further information. Even greater passion and devotion is aroused by baseball (yakyu or besubaru). Several of the country’s 12 professional teams are based in Tokyo and matches always attract tremendous crowds. One of the best places to see a game is Tokyo Dome, 1-3 Koraku, Bunkyo Ku (tel: (03) 5800 9999; website: www.tokyo-dome.co.jp/e), home to Japan’s most popular team, the Yomiuri Giants. With the World Cup 2002 to be co-hosted by Japan and South Korea, football (sakka) is massively popular. Japan’s professional J-League consists of 12 teams and games are regularly played at Tokyo Dome or the National Stadium, Kokuritsu Kyogijo (tel: (03) 3403 1151). Tokyo has two horseracing (keiba) tracks, the Tokyo Keibajo (tel: (0423) 633 141) and the Oi Keibajo (tel: (03) 3763 2151), with races generally taking place on weekends. Ticket Pia (English-language telephone booking: (03) 5237 9999) and Lawson Ticket (tel: (03) 5537 9999) are the major ticket agencies, with outlets around the city. Events are regularly sold out and bookings should be made well in advance. Golf: Japan is a golf-crazy country and, while Tokyo boasts over 500 driving ranges (often located on rooftops), enthusiasts must be prepared to travel to golf courses. Fees are high and weekends can be amazingly busy. The Sakawa Royal Golf Club (tel: (0465) 772 226), two hours by train west of Tokyo, boasts views of Mount Fuji. Non-members may play on weekdays and on weekends outside peak season. The Kazusa Monarch Country Club (tel: (0439) 293 101; fax: (0439) 293 399; website: www.giganet.net/kmcc/index.html) welcomes non-members at all times. Designed by Jack Nicklaus, the course is 90 minutes by train southeast of Tokyo. Course fees are from ¥13,000. Most golf courses are closed on Mondays. The Tokyo Golf Course Guide gives additional information (www.successstories.com/home.htm). Jogging: Tokyo’s parks are popular with joggers. A favourite is Yoyogi Park (transport: Harajuku Station on the JR Yamanote loop line or Meiji-jingumae Station on the Chiyoda underground line). The outer moat of the Imperial Palace offers an attractive jogging route but suffers from car fumes. Tennis: The Hibiya-koen tennis courts (tel: (03) 3501 6428) are centrally located in Hibiya Park near Ginza. They are open 0900-2100 daily and fees are ¥3000-¥4000 per hour per court. Membership registration is required but can be obtained free of charge. Court reservations should be made well in advance. There is a website that gives information on other places to play (www.tokyotennis.com). |
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