FAQ's

The Yamathon is a community impact fund raising challenge organized by International Volunteer Group (IVG) - Japan, where teams of two to four people walk around the 30 stations of Tokyo’s JR Yamanote line, in less than 12 hours, and take pictures of their team at each one of the stations. The Yamanote line is Japan’s busiest and most important commuter rail line which circles the capital.

The event entry fee per team is 14,000 yen. The entire amount of this donation will be distributed to 4 vetted NPOs for their community impact projects. We carefully review and select projects to support with the annual Yamathon event produced by International Volunteer Group - Japan. How can I pay my entry fees?

Webscorer uses Square’s secure payment services to process Tokyo Yamathon entry fees. At this time, only major credit cards can be used to make payments online. Other payment methods—such as bank transfers, convenience store (conbini) payments, or other online payment services—are not available.

What is the processing fee added to my Tokyo Yamathon entry fee?

A 3.6% processing fee is added to cover the costs of using credit card and online payment services. This is a standard convenience transaction fee charged for secure payment processing.

Entries must be received by 19:00, Wednesday, 10 September, 2025.

For safety reasons (overcrowding on footpaths, etc.) , the team size is limited to a maximum of 4 people. We realize that it may be a problem for some people to get a team of 4 people together, so to make it easier to join our event you can even apply with 2 members! The Yamathon is a team event, therefore we do not accept individual entries for the event. We have implemented this since the beginning of the Yamathon and we have this requirement in place to ensure participant safety.

“Why can’t I walk the Tokyo Yamathon alone?”

Because your safety matters—and it’s just better together.

The Tokyo Yamathon is a full-day challenge through the heart of one of the world’s busiest cities. You’ll be navigating streets, train stations, crowds, and walking over 40 kilometers. That’s a long way to go without anyone by your side if something unexpected happens—like fatigue, a wrong turn, or a minor injury.

Walking solo might sound appealing, but it’s simply not safe for this kind of event. That’s why we require teams of 2 to 4 people.

But here’s the good news—it’s also way more fun as a team.

• You’ve got someone to laugh with when your feet start arguing with you.

• You’ll share snacks, inside jokes, and a sense of accomplishment at every station.

• You’ll cheer each other on, carry each other’s spirit when energy dips, and high-five your way across the finish line.

The Tokyo Yamathon isn’t just a physical journey—it’s a shared experience. And like any good adventure, it’s better with teammates who’ve got your back.

So grab a friend or three, lace up your shoes, and take on Tokyo together.

Both use WEBSCORER, but they have different registration links and eligibility.

• General Entry is for the general public. Anyone can register using the public WEBSCORER link.

• Sponsor Entry is exclusively for teams affiliated with official sponsor companies and pre-confirmed by the organizers. Each sponsor company is given a dedicated registration link, and team names include special tracking codes.

※If you are not associated with a sponsor team, or your affiliation has not been confirmed, you cannot use the Sponsor Entry form. Please make sure to register through the General Entry link instead.

Only one person needs to register — usually the team leader.

One person (typically the team leader) can register the entire team of up to 4 members in a single entry. Individual team members do not need to sign up separately. The person registering is responsible for sharing all event rules and important information with their teammates.

Full Yamathon:

Start and finish: Tokyo Building TOKIA (Marunouchi)

Half Yamathon:

Start: Tokyo TOKIA Building (Marunouchi)

Finish: JR Mejiro Station

Half-a-half Yamathon:

Start: Tokyo Building TOKIA (Marunouchi)

Finish: JR Osaki Station (New West Exit)

The Yamathon is not a running event, therefore, we do not encourage running. If you do jog, please follow the traffic rules whenever necessary. Obey all traffic laws and traffic signals. Obey any instructions given by police. There will be no road closures and teams will use the everyday pavements (sidewalks) of Tokyo alongside other road users. You must follow our safety guidelines and all team members must finish together as a team.

FULL YAMATHON: At a gentle walking pace it takes about 12 hours, depending on how well your team plan the route and other factors, i.e., breaks, weather.

HALF YAMATHON: It is approximately 21kms to JR Mejiro Station. It should take 5 to 6 hours at a gentle walking pace.

HALF-A-HALF YAMATHON: This route is approximately 12km and finishes at JR Ōsaki Station (New West Exit). It usually takes about 2.5 to 3.5 hours to complete at a gentle pace. Ideal for families, beginners, or those looking for a lighter challenge—this is a fun, achievable way to be part of the Yamathon experience!

Your Tokyo Yamathon team number bib contains a QR code to the event course map before the event. However, the suggested route is really just a guide to help you plan a course. You are allowed to make as many shortcuts as long as you visit all 30 stations. Part of the challenge is navigating for yourself! Your team leader will have Webscorer GPS tracking capabilities to show you where you are at all times.

The course maps are available at : https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/2/edit?mid=1hXOGQt8qlgT5EDkJCB_Dd-DhJPC1kCo&usp=sharing

Full Yamathon Approx. 38–44km, starting and finishing at Tokyo Building TOKIA. Route length depends on the path you choose—shortcuts are encouraged as long as you take a photo at all 30 stations!

Half Yamathon Approx. 22km from Tokyo Building TOKIA to JR Mejiro Station. Visit and photograph 15 designated stations.

Half-a-Half Yamathon Approx. 12km from Tokyo Building TOKIA to JR Osaki Station (New West Exit), with photos at 7 key stations. Great for families and first-timers!

The 12-hour goal is just a guideline. As long as you finish before the final cut-off time for your course (21:30 for Full, 16:30 for Half, 14:00 for Half-a-Half), you’re absolutely fine. Even if you don’t reach the goal in time, you’re still part of the Yamathon experience—no one gets disqualified. It’s about the journey, not the stopwatch!

No, we do not offer a luggage storage service.

For safety and liability reasons, Tokyo Yamathon does not provide luggage storage. All participants are responsible for managing their own belongings.

Please consider leaving your luggage at your hotel, using coin lockers at Tokyo Station, or booking a storage location via ecbo cloak — a service that lets you store bags at cafes and shops across Japan.

We recommend packing light and keeping valuables with you at all times.

For Tokyo Yamathon entry, we use Webscorer to manage all event registrations.

Webscorer is a globally recognized platform for race and endurance event sign-ups, providing participants with an easy way to register, make payments, and access event details.

Important: Webscorer is not an International Volunteer Group–Japan (IVG Japan) service. Like many other events worldwide, we use Webscorer to streamline registration and results, but we do not own or operate the platform and do not have access to your personal registration data.

By logging into your Webscorer account, you can make changes to your team entry, including adding or removing members.

Webscorer uses Square for secure payment processing. If you experience payment issues, please contact the International Volunteer Group–Japan directly at info@ivgjapan.org. We provide support for the Tokyo Yamathon via web or email only. Issue escalations will be reviewed and addressed as appropriate.

Please note: Entry fees are non-refundable. As stated in the event waiver, they are considered donations.

When will I get my event pack? A: Your event pack was shipped September 16th. Delivery can take up to 7 days. Sit tight—it’s on the way!

What if my event pack doesn’t arrive in time? A: If you don’t receive it, check with your local delivery office first If it couldn’t be delivered and gets returned to us, don’t panic: you can pick it up at the Tokyo Yamathon Help Desk on the morning of the event.

Can you resend the event pack if delivery fails? A: Sorry, no re-deliveries. If your pack bounces back to us, it’ll be waiting for you at the Help Desk on event day. Bring ID, and have Webscorer ready.

Where is the Help Desk? A: The Help Desk will be at the event start area, Tokia Bldg. staffed by the IVG-Japan team. If you’re lost, find a volunteer and ask for the Help Desk.