If you're not quite up for the Tokyo Marathon but still want to stroll through the city at your own pace and for a good cause, the annual Tokyo Yamathon fundraiser is the event for you. First held in 2010, the Yamathon has been steadily growing in stature, with an expected 1,000 participants this year. All registration fees and donations go directly to the certified NPO Yokohama Children’s Hospice Project, one of the only two children's hospice in Japan.
Following this course or any other route of their choosing, walkers and runners alike must visit all 30 JR Yamanote line stations within 12 hours (about 42km) and take a photo of their team (2 to 4 members) in front of each station to complete the Yamathon. You can choose your direction, either clockwise or counterclockwise. The Yamathon starts at the Tokyo Tokia Building in Marunouchi, next to Tokyo Station.
Alternatively, you can choose to do the half Yamathon (about 21km) that runs along 15 JR Yamanote line stations from the Tokyo Tokia Building to JR Mejiro Station.
Start time for both Yamathons is every 15 minutes between 7.30am and 9.15am. All teams have to finish the challenge by 9.15pm. You must register your participation by September 30, and the fee for both Yamathons is ¥14,000 per team.
Yamathon organisers are also looking for volunteers to help out with practical arrangements and the like – check out the event website for details.