The Adventure Race Japan is being organised by The Mission to Seafarers who are on call day and night, 365 days a year, to 1.89m seafarers in over 200 ports worldwide. Read more

Rules & Regulations

All participants of the Adventure Race Japan will need to review the following Rules and Regulations, detailing the team composition, scoring, penalties, competitor withdrawal, and more information.

The Challenge

1. Participants must be 18 years older. A team must be composed of 3 members.

2. Using the map provided by the organizer, the teams must follow the instructions on the map and pass through the checkpoints (CP), aids and transition areas (TA) to reach the finish line while following the rules of the game.

3. You have entered the Green Dragon Race (hiking) or Black Dragon Race (running)

4. The overall ranking is determined by the total of the following three event points.

  • Trail Running Time Points
  • Team Challenge Points
  • SUP Time Points (Paddleboarding)

Team

Teams must race together and reach the finish line without changing members during the race. They must be able to see each other and communicate verbally while in action. Teams may not receive outside assistance during the race other than things provided by the organizer.

Emergency Action

In the event of or encounter an emergency requiring medical attention by anyone on any team or outside, this will be prioritised and if necessary, we will stop the race at this point and provide assistance.

Rules for protecting the Nature

The course of this race will be held in a precious natural environment with areas designated as national parks and areas inhabited by rare animals and plants. We have established the following rules so as not to adversely affect the irreplaceable forest ecosystem. Please fully understand the purpose and strictly abide by the following rules.

  • To reduce the impact on the trail, you are not allowed to use any kind of poles or stakes.
  • Do not stray from the trail/course. No overtaking and other restrictions will be set where necessary to protect the natural environment.
  • It is prohibited to collect or damage animals, plants, fungi, rocks, etc. in all areas/ on course.
  • Shortcutting corners on the course is forbidden as it will damage the vegetation.
  • Do not trash any area.
  • Please use the restrooms at each aid station. When unavoidable, use a self-portable toilet. If you use paper, be sure to take it home with you.
  • Within national parks, efforts are being made to protect nature and promote its appropriate use through mechanisms based on the Nature Conservation and Natural Parks Act. Reference: National Park System (Ministry of the Environment website) http://www.env.go.jp/park/system/index.html
  • On the day of the event, even if there are no safety concerns, there is a possibility that, if we judge that the trail conditions cannot withstand the use of a large number of participants, we will decide to set up a walking section, change the course, or cancel the event.

Rules for National Parks and General hikers

There are no clear regulations for running on trails in national parks,

  • The trails are designed for walking, so take care when running.
  • Because of this position, if there are general hikers on the course, general hikers who are using the trails should be given priority.
  • If there are hikers on the course, give priority to hikers.
  • When overtaking, be sure to make the overtaking person aware that you are overtaking by calling out to them, and then walk in a safe place within the trail and do not run past them.
  • When passing each other, give priority to hikers and give way to hikers in a safe place before passing each other.

Equipment check/ Briefing – obligatory

  • Participants must undergo an equipment check and briefing on May 18th (Thursday).
  • Equipment checks by proxy are not allowed.
  • If you do not complete the equipment check and attend the briefing you will not be able to participate.
  • If you are late arriving through no fault of your own and miss the safety briefing, please ensure you report so that you can be briefed.
  • May 18th – Race Briefing – Hotel Laforet Shuzenji – Sympathique Hall (See timings)

Aid Stations

We will set up an Aid stations

  • With food and beverages
  • There will be restrooms and medical staff on stand by

Information on course

With the permission of the land-owners and managers, we have arranged the minimum necessary signboards and staff on course.

  • Please obey the instructions in the section where the guide gives directions.
  • We may stop runners at intersections. Please follow the marshals’ instructions.

Rescue and medical assistance system

  • In order to ensure that the challenge is held safely, the organizers have taken the trouble to prepare the course, as well as provide rescue and medical assistance systems.
  • Athletes should be fully aware of the dangers associated with adventure races, which are competitions held in nature. For injuries, illnesses, accidents, etc., you are participating in the challenge at your own risk.
  • All aid stations are manned by a doctor or nurse and are connected to the challenge headquarters by radio or telephone.
  • First aid is provided to rescue anyone from dangerous situations, regardless of whether they are registered or not.

– Depending on the environment and circumstances, it may take some time for assistance to arrive.

– Participants who have been treated by a doctor or rescuer should be sure to have a medical examination by a specialist after the race and report the examination results to the race headquarters.

  • Doctors and paramedics have the authority to stop participants who are unable to continue the challenge, and in doing so.
  • A rescue team/ambulance may be called if the person being rescued finds it necessary. In this case, the cost incurred will be borne by the rescued person.
  • If you are unable to reach the event headquarters, you may call emergency services directly by dialling 119.

Tracking System

  • Using IBUKI GPS, the challenge headquarters grasps the real-time GPS information of all teams.
  • Teams must carry IBUKI GPS during the competition.
  • Please give the IBUKI GPS to the staff at the finish line.
  • If you lose the IBUKI GPS, the actual cost will be charged.

Quit/Retiring the competition.

  • If you decide to quit the competition the team member must drop out at the Aid station only.
  • If the whole team drops out, please return the IBUKI GPS to the staff at that point.
  • If you have to retire on the course for unavoidable reasons, please be sure to notify the staff nearby or the headquarters.

Retiring at the Aid Station

  • Please inform the staff at the aid station that you will retire from the race
  • If the whole team retires, please return the IBUKI GPS to the staff.
  • Even after retiring, please be sure to act as a team until you arrive at the hotel.
  • Your team will be transported to the finish line by a pick-up car at the convenience of the operation team.

Retiring on course

  • If you decide to retire on the course, be sure to notify the staff or the event headquarters.
  • Participants who can move on their own will be asked to move to the next or previous aid station.
  • If you cannot move on your own, please follow the staff’s instructions.
  • Retirement on the course is expected to take some time to be accommodated.
  • If you are not confident in your physical strength, please report to retire at the aid station one step ahead.

Equipment check list

All participants must carry the mandatory equipment specified by the organizer.

Mandatory equipment given by Organizer

  • GPS tracker IBUKI GPS
  • SUP equipment (Stand up Paddle board 1・paddle1/team・individual life jackets)
  • BIB
  • Food/water 1L (minimum)

Mandatory equipment for participants

  • Cell-phone (Minimum one per team, and must work under Japan cell service)
  • Travel insurance (Foreigners / Insurance Card (Japanese Residence)
  • Swim wear/change of clothes for paddleboarding
  • Rain gear
  • Layers to stay warm
  • Survival blanket
  • First Aid kit (*minimum 1 per team)
  • Ruck Sack
  • Trail running/ Running shoes

Recommended equipment

  • Battery Charger
  • Sun screen/cap/bug repellent etc.,
  • Beach shoes
  • Cup (for water stations)

Prohibited

If any participant violates the following rules and does not follow the staff’s warning, they will be stopped from racing.

  • Going off course
  • Not having the mandatory equipment
  • Trashing on course or any areas.
  • Outside support
  • Cheating (Using Vehicles, other acts that violate the law)
  • Not carrying the IBUKI GPS
  • Disobeying the instructions of race officials, doctors, nurses and rescuers
  • Continuing the race after checkpoint times
  • Not wearing the BIB during the race.
  • Using poles/stakes
  • Running on trail sections barefoot or in shoes that expose your bare feet, such as sandals

Responsibilities

Organizer Responsibilities

  • Unintentional damage to property on the course by participants (accidents to animals and plants, property damage, trail damage, etc.)
  • Installation of markings and information signs on the course
  • Safety management for staffs
  • Insurance – The organizer has taken out liability insurance, but it is recommended that the athletes take out insurance themselves as stated in the Registration documentation.

 

Participants Responsibilities

In participating in this challenge, (other than the above) will be the responsibility of the participant.

Disclaimer Matter

The event organizer will not be held responsible for any COVID-19 infection of anyone involved in the event.

Regarding the decision to Cancel or Suspend the challenge

If the organizer determines that it is difficult to hold or continue the competition due to the following reasons, it will be cancelled or suspended.

  • If there is a cancellation request from the local government due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection
  • When a weather warning is issued
  • When it is judged that the runner’s safety cannot be ensured due to landslides, falling rocks, etc. on the course
  • At the time of Nature disaster (When warning declaration of earthquake around the area is issued)
  • If a major earthquake occurs near the course, or if a “weather warning” or “landslide warning” for heavy rain or storms affecting the surrounding area is announced, the organizer will cancel or cancel the course after considering the impact. The organizer may change or shorten the course.
  • Even if there are no safety issues in holding the event, if it is judged that the trail conditions cannot withstand the use of a large number of participants, it is possible that we will decide to set a walking section, change the course, or cancel the event.
  • The organizer will judge and decide on a case-by-case basis regarding the reduction, cancellation, notification method, etc. of the event due to earthquakes, wind and flood damage, snowfall, incidents, accidents, epidemics, infectious diseases, etc.

Regarding the decision to Cancel or Suspend the SUP part

  • The competition will be cancelled or interrupted if wind speeds of 3m/sec or higher are recorded on the sea surface 1 hour before the event or during the competition.
  • The decision to cancel the SUP part will be communicated to each player on the day of the Challenge
  • In principle, the registration fee will not be refunded even if the event is cancelled. Both Trail and SUP, the Japan on ground operation team has the right to call the change or cancellation of the event.

Portrait rights, copyrights, and publishing rights while participating in the tournament

The organizer owns the copyrights and publishing rights to newspapers, magazines, television, the Internet, etc. of photographs, videos, records, articles, etc., taken by the organisers during the competition.