Is It Worth Visiting The Kodokan?

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Regular Joe

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Heyo!

My wife and I will probably be in Japan in October and I read on the Kodokan's website that it's open to visitors and tourists for self-guided tours and to watch randori from the specator's seating area. I also read that there's a museum or a gift shop.

Have any of you guys been? Was it worth it?

I'm a Judo noob (yellow belt) so I know that I'd enjoy it but, since our time in Japan will be limited and my wife doesn't do martial arts, I'm just wondering if it's worth scheduling into our itinerary and how it stacks up as a cultural or historical site for a tourist who's generally interested in Japanese culture but isn't specifically into Judo.

Thanks!
 
Man, if you are a Judoka and will be near the Kodokan, I think its a rule that you have to go :)

That said, I've never been to Japan.
 
Never having been one of my instructors said it's pretty much a huge dojo with 4 huge mats. He also said you'd find all walks of life on the mats, from visiting international competitors to recreational players who've been doing Judo their entire lives, taking smoke breaks in between rounds of randori
 
Regular Joe said:
Heyo!

My wife and I will probably be in Japan in October and I read on the Kodokan's website that it's open to visitors and tourists for self-guided tours and to watch randori from the specator's seating area. I also read that there's a museum or a gift shop.

Have any of you guys been? Was it worth it?

I'm a Judo noob (yellow belt) so I know that I'd enjoy it but, since our time in Japan will be limited and my wife doesn't do martial arts, I'm just wondering if it's worth scheduling into our itinerary and how it stacks up as a cultural or historical site for a tourist who's generally interested in Japanese culture but isn't specifically into Judo.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Honestly, there is so much to see in Tokyo/ Japan that I wouldn't bother with the Kodokan if you're traveling with your wife.
 
A guy who visited our dojo for a class, lived in Japan for some years, and said the Kodokan is great if you already know at least a bit of judo, but it is hard for total newbies to get people to work with them.

According to him, you didn't need to be a shodan+, but you had to at least know your o sotos vs. o uchis.
 
If you're a Judoka and go to Japan but don't visit the Kodokan I will personally hunt you down and Osoto Gari you.
 
yeah, just go to the current kodokan.

It is nice and historical. they have a nice and cheap hostel.

the souvernir shop is just a kisok but still worth it.

There is also another shrine to visit which the original location/temple of the Kodokan.

If you train Judo, it is a must.
 
Regular Joe said:
Heyo!

My wife and I will probably be in Japan in October and I read on the Kodokan's website that it's open to visitors and tourists for self-guided tours and to watch randori from the specator's seating area. I also read that there's a museum or a gift shop.

Have any of you guys been? Was it worth it?

I'm a Judo noob (yellow belt) so I know that I'd enjoy it but, since our time in Japan will be limited and my wife doesn't do martial arts, I'm just wondering if it's worth scheduling into our itinerary and how it stacks up as a cultural or historical site for a tourist who's generally interested in Japanese culture but isn't specifically into Judo.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

If you are not interested in practicing you have to time it right. All training is in the late afternoon/evenings. 5 to 7 is probably most full. Saturday late afternoon is the best time to just watch the regular guys get into it.
If you can go on the thursday of the monthly shiai you will get to watch a lot of judo. The japanese team used to come by on wednesdays I think but not sure if they still do. But on most days you can catch a high school team or a uni team get into it. If you're there in October like you said then usually they have the red/white autumn tournament where you can see 80 year old high dan grades test their mettle.
If you really time it right there could be an international camp going on (depends on the competition schedule) in the mornings where you could see many of your faves practice.
Hostels cheap, but not a place really for husband and wife I think, plus they have a kind of curfew. Museum is ok, but the best place to go, if you know some japanese, is the judo library. There are things in there which are not anywhere else.
Email the people in the international section. They are very helpful and would help you time visits to watch tourneys and such.

edit: if you plan on practicing, white gi only. International heavyweight champs have been turned away with blue gis. You want stand a chance ;-)
 
It's at least worth stopping by, if only to have a look. If you aren't going to train there, you can stop in while you're wandering through the area. The gift kiosk may be small, but they have a lot of stuff. There's also a statue of Kano in the neighborhood.
 
I was there two weeks ago for training. It was awesome, Japaneses are truly looking for the Ippon. It is a very beautifull and very nice to practice Judo.

If you don't want to practice you can go to 8th floor to see the regular training session (from 6pm to 8pm).

If you can go a little bit earlier try to have look on the kids. Their uchikomi are so precise, it is really impressive!
 
Regular Joe said:
Heyo!

My wife and I will probably be in Japan in October and I read on the Kodokan's website that it's open to visitors and tourists for self-guided tours and to watch randori from the specator's seating area. I also read that there's a museum or a gift shop.

Have any of you guys been? Was it worth it?

I'm a Judo noob (yellow belt) so I know that I'd enjoy it but, since our time in Japan will be limited and my wife doesn't do martial arts, I'm just wondering if it's worth scheduling into our itinerary and how it stacks up as a cultural or historical site for a tourist who's generally interested in Japanese culture but isn't specifically into Judo.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I am not sure if Kodokan will let you. You can email them. I went to japan and I told them that I was a beginner in Judo. They said I could attend but they told me if I was a beginner level that it was not good idea. Because most people there had considerable judo skill.

You can visit and see but they recommended that I brush up on my judo skill. THey were kind enough to say I could visit but were not sure if it was suitable for a beginner. THey do have a beginner's program but it is for people staying a year. The other classes are for experienced judokas.
 
I would even if only for the picture with Jigoro Kano's statue
 
how often do you plan on being in japan?

just go dammit. if it means something to you, your wife ought to understand. if not, ditch the wife.
 
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