Applications are now being accepted for the Tokyo Marathon Friendship Run 2015, scheduled for Feb. 21. The 5K running event will take place one day before the 2015 Tokyo Marathon and aims to provide hospitality and promote exchanges with runners from overseas.
This year, organizers have added a new event, "Friendship Party with light meal," which is limited to 350 attendees. In addition to cultural exchange events, foreigners at the event can experience traditional Japanese performing arts and entertainment.
Registration for the running event starts at 9 a.m. on the day of the event, and the run will begin at 10:45 a.m. and end at 1 p.m. The course will take runners along the Tokyo Waterfront City Symbol Promenade Park in Ariake before ending at the Tokyo Marathon Finish Gate.
The Friendship Party will be held at the same venue at 1 p.m. and is scheduled to last for at least two hours.
Runners from overseas registered for the Tokyo Marathon 2015 and their companions (friends and family) and foreign and Japanese runners living in Japan are eligible to apply for the event, which will accept up to 1,000 foreigners (including their companions) and 500 Japanese runners.
All applicants must be over 6 years old.
The entry fee is ¥3,000 for the 5K event, with an additional charge of ¥1,500 to join the Friendship Party (while spots are available).
All participants will receive a gift bag and will be allowed to use the nearby Oedo Onsen Monogatari facility at no cost after the event.
Registration closes on Jan. 30 at 5 p.m., or earlier if the maximum capacity is reached before the deadline.