The Tokyo Yamathon is a fundraising challenge where teams of 2-4 people compete to walk through Tokyo, visiting all 30 stations of the Tokyo Yamanote train line in under 12 hours.
Paruyon had five members (two teams) take part in the HALF yamathon (20km) – walking from Tokyo Station to Mejiro. We could walk along any road or course that we liked, but we had to take a picture at each station when we got there. Thanks to Google and also the many other teams taking part in Yamathon that we could follow – we successfully completed our Half Walking Marathon.
The money raised through the entry fee to Yamathon goes to the three great organisations chosen by the International Volunteers Group (who organise the Yamathon).
This year the organisations were:
Waffle
WAFFLE is an NPO dedicated to closing the gender gap in the IT sector.
Tochigi Conservation Corps
Tochigi Conservation Corps (TCC) is dedicated to conserving and managing forests in the Tochigi region.
Japan Children’s Hospice Association
To support children’s hospice organizations in strengthening their foundations and gaining community backing.
The stations we visited in order were:
Tokyo (START) > Kanda > Akihabara > Okachimachi > Ueno > Uguisudani > Nippori > Nishi-Nippori > Tabata > Komagome > Sugamo > Otsuka > Ikebukuro > Mejiro (GOAL)
Our time was 5:47:44 – which was excellent! We took necessary breaks along the way, enjoying some rest and breakfast in Ueno Park.
Out of 211 teams that took part in the Half Marathon, the Paruyon Women Walkers came 116th. Not that it was ever a competition, but we all felt that we smashed it!
Because there isn’t a set course, we saw a different side of Tokyo than we normally would from the window of the Yamanote train. If you have the time, physical capacity, and it’s interesting to you, try walking between the train stations and see the cute cafes, stores, and shrines that are hidden away along the train line. By slowing down, you’ll experience a different side to Tokyo – which is kind of cool.
