[sumo] Re: [Sumo] May Basho Dates 2004-05

[Joe Kuroda <joe_kuroda@yahoo.com>]

 --- Sushikosha@aol.com wrote:
 > When are these bashos and where is a nice hotel
near
> the doyho?

There are four hotels near the Kokugikan.  Last May,
my wife and I stayed at Dai-Ichi Hotel (
http://www.dh-yogoku.com/english/index_english.html).
This hotel can normally be seen whenever NHK does
outside shots of the Kokugikan (actually it may soon
be blocked by a new NTT building now under
construction). It's about 5 minutes walk but it's
closer to the subway station on O-Edo Line than JR's
Ryogoku Station.  

We got a pretty good deal last time as we stayed there
on a weekend, booking it via web.  Anyway even if you
don't stay there, it's worth going on the top floor of
this hotel where there is a great view from the
restaurant where you can take great pics of the
Kokugikan and the Sumida river from above.

Another one is Hotel BellGrande
(http://www.hotel-bellegrande.co.jp/), the closest
from the Ryogoku Station and Kokugikan. This is the
hotel I remember Kintaro and Obana stayed when we
stayed at the Dai-Ichi (unfortunately we missed them
but I did leave a note to Kintaro but I never got any
response back yet!) This hotel just like Dai-Ichi
Hotel is very nice and pricey.

Another hotel close by is Pearl Hotel(
http://www.pearlhotel.co.jp/ryogoku-e/index.html),
right across from the Kokugikan. I don't know too much
about this hotel but it's a chain and they have
several others around Tokyo but it's cheaper than the
other two above.

Another hotel almost right on the JR's Ryogoku Station
is River Hotel, the smallest of four around the
Kokugikan and definitely cheapest.  I believe a single
room can be had for less than 5,000 Yen on weekends
(No English web page. 
http://www2.ocn.ne.jp/~river.h/top.html). 

Pearl Hotel and River Hotel do have a Japanese style
tatami room so if you have more than a couple of
people, it may be a consideration. 

Now you do not need to stay in Ryogoku to watch Ozumo
but the part of charm is to be there and to take all
the actions and atmosphere in as well as it's
convenient if you want to take in asa-geiko or go for
a chanko.  All the hotels here do have special Ozumo
packages including rooms, tickets and possibly some
meals. 

Personally I love the place, all the little shops and
restaurants, Ekoin, Sumida-gawa, Ebisu sign, Edo
Museum. Of course Doreen knows more about the ambience
than all of us put together.   



=====
.....Jonosuke 
  <  Heart  Technique  Physique     ?S   ?Z   ?Ì  >

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[EndPost by Joe Kuroda <joe_kuroda@yahoo.com>]