Orienteering in Japan 🇯🇵

Best season

Essential practical tips

• Getting around: Japan's railway network makes traveling between cities convenient, although some forest event locations require local buses, organiser transport or a rental car.• Terrain and safety: Expect steep hills, dense vegetation and sometimes slippery ground. Long trousers, good-grip footwear and attention to local weather and wildlife guidance are important.• Event entry: The Japan Orienteering Association publishes competition information. Many local events use Japanese-language registration systems, so international visitors should check entry requirements in advance.

Did you know…

🧜 A wooden mermaid travelled from Japan to Denmark—via two World Championships!
At the 2005 World Orienteering Championships in Japan, organisers placed a carved Little Mermaid figure at the relay's final control, as a playful reference to Denmark hosting the next championships. The Danish organisers liked it so much that the figure was shipped to Denmark and used again at the 2006 WOC. 🍉 A world champion received a watermelon as a prize!
At the 2005 WOC in Aichi, women's middle-distance champion Simone Niggli was presented with a watermelon. A wonderfully Japanese addition to the usual championship celebrations, recalled by the event's technical director.