Register for Races in Japan:
What Are Your Options?
No matter where you live, there are always a multitude of ways to search for, learn about, and enter events. Different from StubHub or Eventbrite, event registration for fitness events such as triathlons, road races, and even OCRs (obstacle course races) are typically completed through websites specifically made for race registration. For instance, in the US, there’s active.com while those seeking races in Singapore may wind up at Just Run Lah. Akin to online communities, these registration websites usually boast a wide range of purposes, advantages, and benefits.
So how does it work in Japan? Welcome to intro to race registration in Japan! It’s a messy world out there – especially if you don’t read or write Japanese. Whether you’re new to racing in Japan or have already spent hours trying to make it work, check out our assessment of Japan’s most commonly used race registration websites!
Common Challenges
- Race information entirely in Japanese
- Member registration required to register
- Registration requires Japanese text input
- Prerequisites, such as JTU membership, previous race records, are unclear
- Registration is overwhelmingly complex
- Technical issues prevent smooth registration process
- General lack of information and/or support in English
Comprehensive registration site that is easy to navigate – if you read and write Japanese. Factual information presented is useful and includes important event details, along with an official website (if applicable).
Once you’ve made an account and established a profile, registering for events is made easier because select fields are auto-populated. Most events will require input of information specific to the event, such as previous race history, medical history, parking requirements, etc. Keep in mind that these questions will be in Japanese, if you are on Sports Entry’s Japanese website.
Service Charge
Yes, separate from the event registration fee. Depending on the event, there may also be additional charges based on contractual agreements. See here.
Up to ¥4,000: +¥220
From ¥4,001: +5.3%
pros
- Wide selection of sports events and races
- Good search function in Japanese – can be narrowed by, region, type, date, etc.
- Provides useful event details and race information in Japanese
- No membership fee
- Registering as member enables auto-population of fields for future registrations
- Has an online shop with international shipping available (gear and apparel, sports nutrition, etc.)
- Events have a comment section for registered members
cons
- Requires reading, writing in Japanese throughout the entire website
- Membership profile required to register for an event
- All follow-up communications are in Japanese
- Comments are not particularly insightful and usually personal reactions before an event
- Website design can feel cluttered and overwhelming
Sports Entry in English is not as comprehensive as its Japanese counterpart because the two websites do not feature the same races. There is no search function and the English is far from perfect, i.e. triathron, registrer, freaquently. Event information is oftentimes very limited and follow-up communications can be hit or miss.
The overall layout is no-frills, but a lack of chronological sequence and aesthetic standardization makes the website feel cluttered. Moreover, a single event may be listed in English, both English and Chinese, or as two separate events in different languages. If you know what you want to register for, it’s easy. If you’re just browsing to build your race schedule, be prepared to spend time parsing through the website and consulting other websites for race details.
Service Charge
Yes, separate from the event registration fee. Depending on the event, there may also be additional charges based on contractual agreements.
Up to ¥4,000: +¥220
From ¥4,001: +5.3%
pros
- Membership page (“My Page”) allows management of account in English
- Sports Entry membership profile account can be made for free in English (no membership fee) and used on both the Japanese and English Sports Entry websites
- Provides basic event details
- Registering as member enables auto-population of fields for future registrations
- Can opt-in for periodic events e-newsletters in English
cons
- Membership creation required to register for an event
- Limited selection of events compared to Sports Entry in Japanese
- Event details and information is often limited
- An abundance of poor English translations
- Hit or miss follow-up event communications
- Website layout is not intuitive and visually unappealing
- E-newsletter is very basic (text-only) and the English is not fluent
here's a tip
You must make a free Sports Entry membership profile account to register for an event on Sports Entry. Establishing a Sports Entry account in Japanese requires a mailing address in Japan. However, international mailing addresses are permitted if you create an account on Sports Entry’s English website. And as far as we can tell, regardless of the website (Japanese or English) used to create the Sports Entry account, your membership profile can be used interchangeably for both Sports Entry’s Japanese and English websites.
runnet
Runnet (in Japanese) offers primarily running events and events by one of Japan’s most well-known event organizers, R-bies, Inc. The main landing page comes across cluttered if not overwhelming; on the flip side, extensive reading material is available for those who can read Japanese.
Visitors can search for races by region, month, registration status, and a particular search query. On a separate page (“Entry”), you can browse races using different criteria. Initial results are sorted by “Most Viewed” but can be sorted in various ways. Like most registration sites, entering a race requires creating an account (free of charge), which in turn requires a mailing address in Japan.
If you can clear that hurdle, your membership profile comes with perks like the ability to write race reports, save photos, automatically save race results, save “runpo” points to use on the Runnet online shop, etc. Of course, the additional functions can only truly be maximized for those fluent in Japanese.
Service Charge
Yes, separate from the event registration fee. Depending on the event, there may also be additional charges based on contractual agreements and payment method. See here.
Up to ¥4,000: +¥220
From ¥4,001: +5.5%
pros
- Easy registration, if you read/write Japanese
- Solid search function in Japanese
- No membership fee
- Registering as member provides access to useful functions, including auto-population of fields for future registrations
- Large variety of articles, including event reviews and race reports (in Japanese)
- Comprehensive online shop for athletic gear, watches, supplements, etc.
- Provides useful event details and race information for a wide range of races
cons
- Membership required to register for events/races
- Creation of membership account requires address in Japan
- All follow-up communications are in Japanese
- Requires relatively high-level of reading, writing in Japanese throughout the entire website
- Primarily limited to running events and races
- Runnet and Runnet Global require separate accounts
Runnet Global is the English counterpart to Runnet. Despite its partnership with the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), Runnet Global is a painfully primitive website for those seeking to register for events (primarily running – road and trail) in Japan and abroad.
Creating an account is required to register for events via Runnet Global. Note that unlike Sports Entry, a Runnet Global account is not the same as a Runnet account. Within the Runnet universe, your membership for one does not carry over to the other.
Most if not all races listed carry a reminder that registration via Runnet Global is limited to foreign (non-Japanese) nationals, including foreign residents in Japan (they will ask passport details). Detailed information about individual races is sorely lacking. English email communications may follow after registration but the English is often only a few notches better than Google Translate and can be difficult to understand.
Service Charge
Yes, separate from the event registration fee. Depending on the event, there may also be additional charges based on contractual agreements and payment method. See here.
Up to ¥4,000: +¥220
From ¥4,001: +5.5%
pros
- Includes domestic and international events
- Runnet Global membership profile account can be made for free in English (no membership fee)
- Provides basic event details
- Registering as member enables auto-population of fields for future registrations
- Can opt-in for periodic events e-newsletters in English
- Follow-up communications for registered events are in English
cons
- Membership required to register for events/races
- Runnet Global and Runnet require separate accounts
- Limited selection of events compared to Runnet in Japanese
- Event details and information is very limited
- Poor English translations
- Hit or miss follow-up event communications lacking in clarity and details
- Website layout is very basic and visually unappealing
- Largely limited to running events
here's a tip
Namban Rengo running club has a useful guide on registering for a race in Japanese using Runnet. However, this guide only works if you already have a Runnet account – which must be created in Japanese.
pros
- Includes domestic and international events
- No membership fee
- Thorough event details and information
- Offers accommodation and/or travel package options
- Robust search function
- Multiple language options (heavily reliant on Google Translate or similar)
- Follow-up event communications for registered events are in English
- Can opt-in for periodic events e-newsletters in English
cons
- Membership required to registers for events/races
- Poor command of English throughout, including frequently abysmal translations
- Poor website layout (coding and formatting issues)
- Limited selection of events
- Hit or miss follow-up event communications lacking in clarity and details
JTB Sports Station offers mostly running races and cycling events around Japan. JTB stands out most for its (often confusing array of) travel packages and travel agency connections that can (or must) be combined with its selection of events. This can be especially useful for first-time visitors to Japan, or those who simply want things sorted out for them without intricate planning.
JTB Sports Station can toggle among English, traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese, and Korean versions of the website. However, it’s important to note that when the languages change, website content also varies (sometimes greatly). Unfortunately, JTB Sports Station is a somewhat disappointing effort from a reputable company to capture an international audience and simply not up to par with today’s standards of website design, but here we are.
The effort directed towards sports tourism is evidently rather minimal for this well-known travel agency. Throughout the website, the English displayed is largely the bastard child of Google Translate and/or a poorly paid translator. While results vary, the “Event Information” sections summarizing an event seem to be outsourced and are written in noticeably better English. Factual event details are usually more thorough than comparable websites, but can be challenging to parse through due to irregular formatting issues.
Prior to registering for an event, creation of a free account is required – a mailing address in Japan is not required, nor is it a deal breaker, i.e. you are not required to register using a foreign mailing address. Once an account has been made, registering for an event is generally straight-forward and easy to navigate.
Service Charge
Yes, separate from the event registration fee. Service charge varies by event but is clearly outlined by clicking on “Internet settlement representation fee” when registering for an event.
lawson do! sports
The athletic offshoot to Lawson’s main ticket-selling enterprise (mainly live performances, movies, and spectator sports), Lawson Do! Sports is dedicated solely to (doing) sports and fitness events.
Entirely in Japanese, Lawson Do! Sports has an unenviable reputation among Japan’s expat fitness community for being a frustratingly challenging platform to navigate. Comforting or not, similar sentiments are shared among Japanese nationals. Regardless of your Japanese language abilities, if you have the option to use a different registration website, avoiding Lawson Do! Sports will likely save you time and stress.
Otherwise, the website is well-made with a standardized theme throughout. The amount of content displayed can be overwhelming so it’s best to have a focused target, i.e. know which race you are registering for. Finally, registering for a triathlon via Lawson Do! Sports often requires JTU membership. All Lawson Do! Sports accounts have a one-time process to verify and link to a JTU membership – which must be renewed annually. For novice triathletes not fluent in Japanese, the combination of these processes can present a huge hurdle.
Service Charge
Yes, separate from the event registration fee. Depending on the event, there may also be additional charges based on contractual agreements and payment method.
Up to ¥4,000: +¥200
From ¥4,001: +5.0%
pros
- Wide selection of sports events and races, especially triathlons
- No membership fee
- Modern and aesthetically pleasing website layout
- Provides travel package options for some events
- Registering as member enables auto-population of fields for future registrations
cons
- Membership required to register for events/races
- Creation of membership account requires address in Japan
- Requires relatively high level of reading, writing in Japanese
- Times out frequently, prompting entire restarts
- Presents technical errors (often with text input) with little guidance on solving the errors required to continue
- Aggressive marketing emails (spam) on a near-daily basis once account is created
mspo entry
MSPO Entry is a no-frills website in Japanese strictly dedicated to registration for a wide range of events, including triathlon, running, cycling, and swimming. Images, logos and photos are used sparingly, if at all. Just the facts, ma’am.
Among Japan-based event registration websites, MSPO Entry stands out for the ability to register for most but not all events without creation of a membership account. However, creating an account is relatively easy (with a mailing address in Japan) and may be worth the effort, particularly for ballot-entry/lottery-based races. For better or for worse, there is no rigid service charge structure.
Service Charge
Yes, separate from the event registration fee. Service charge varies widely by event but is clearly indicated in (parentheses) beneath the indicated entry fees.
pros
- Membership not required (for most but not all races)
- Wide selection of sports events and races, particularly triathlon
- Provides necessary event details and race information in Japanese
- Easy to navigate and free of clutter
- Registering as member enables auto-population of fields for future registrations
cons
- Requires reading, writing in Japanese throughout the entire website
- No English counterpart website
- Creating MSPO Entry account requires a mailing address in Japan
- No visuals, photos, or imagery
- Strictly for race registration, i.e. no articles, online store, etc.
- All follow-up communications are in Japanese
Ok, so this is us. Entirely in English, Samurai Sports provides detailed overviews for a variety of events and races. The registration process is greatly simplified and they deliver (via emailed PDF) translated information guides 1 to 3 weeks before an event.
Samurai Sports also maintains a lively social media presence and answer emails and Facebook messages within 24-48 hours. Depending on the event, bilingual staff are available on-site. After an event, Samurai Sports follows up with links to race results and/or photos, which is useful for those who can’t read Japanese and don’t know where to find these links.
Samurai Sports also publishes a variety of articles, including race reviews and good-to-know information about sports events and fitness activities in Japan. In addition, Samurai Sports offers perspectives beyond races with content on exploring and traveling around Japan.
pros
- No membership required to register
- Everything in English
- Translated English athlete guides prior to an event
- Self-edit function enables athletes to confirm registration, swap categories/distances/waves, and transfer an entry to another individual up until a specific deadline
- Dedicated email support
- International registrants (including FPO/APO/DPO) physically collect race packets (no postal mailing processes)
- Sends follow-up emails with links to results and photos
- Offers sports-related articles and race reviews
- Strong social media presence
- On-site bilingual staff support for some events
cons
- Limited variety of events
- Service charge can add up for more costly events
- Only permits online payments using credit card (no convenience store payments)
Service Charge
Yes, separate from the event registration fee. Depending on the event, there may also be additional charges based on contractual agreements.
Up to ¥10,000:+¥1,000
From ¥10,001:+10%
honorable mention
Functioning more like a trail runners resource, MtSN provides a wealth of information about trail races and trail running, primarily in Japan. While MtSN offers a comprehensive list of trail races and related events (including search functions), it is not a registration platform in itself and links to external websites for those interested in entering an event.
Of all websites listed here, MTSN provides the widest range of articles, including race reports and reviews of trending trail runner products – all in Japanese. Creation of a free membership account allows trail running enthusiasts to log race results, publish comments, be a part of online rankings, etc. among other bells and whistles.
Avid Adventures Japan organizes custom tours and travel support packages for individuals and organizations from abroad. Avid is perhaps best known as the support package providers for international participants competing at Ultra Trail Mt. Fuji (UTMF) and the now-defunct Shizuoka to Yamanashi (STY). Avid relinquished its support role with UTMF after the 2019 UTMF.
Last year, Avid coordinated a handful of races for international registrants, including the Shinetsu Five Mountains Trail and the Kirishima Ebino-Kougen Extreme Trail Race. In addition, the founders run Adventure Divas, an outdoor adventure company.
Every now and then, you’ll find events based in Japan that rely on the Active platform for race registration. In addition, a quick search for events in Japan will reveal a variety of events throughout the country. Among the most well-known is Spartan Race and the Ironman brand (specifically, Ironman 70.3 Chita in Aichi Prefecture).
Signing up for an Active Passport account is free and registering for any event is relatively straightforward – just be careful you don’t accidentally upgrade to a premium Active Advantage account. Everything is in English and while some registrations require several steps, the process is usually pain-free.