Oshima Island's Geopark Rogaining Championship in 2023 will be held on Oct 28th (Sat)

As a child, we all dreamt of epic treasure hunts…. But did you know that you can have this exact experience on Oshima island, an island that is part of Tokyo? Team up with some friends for a game of rogaining to hunt down some treasures (checkpoints). The Oshima island Geopark Rogaining Championship will be held on Saturday, October 28, 2023.

Rogaining - What is it?

Many of you may have never heard of rogaining. A long distance cross-country navigation challenge, simply put it’s like a treasure (checkpoint) hunt. What you’ll need - compass, digital camera/camera phone, writing equipment, comfortable shoes and a good spirit.

On the day you will be handed a map and sheet of paper with photo images. With these two in hand you go to the various locations pictured on the sheet and take photos recreating the same pose as the ones that are referenced on your printout. The objective is to recreate as many photos as possible in the given time frame. Teams are made up of 2-5 members, so it’s like a real life RPG game that you can enjoy with family, friends and significant others. On Oshima, a game of rogaine uses half the island. As that’s a pretty wide area to cover you are allowed to use the bus, but bicycles and taxis are prohibited. As you need to be at the goal before the allotted time runs out, teams need to pull together and make good decisions.

The appeal of rogaining on Oshima island

Oshima is an island abundant with nature that just so happens to be a part of Tokyo. At the center of the island is a volcanic mountain called Mt. Mihara with a visible crater. The island is large enough for a full marathon, along the coast. For rogaines, only half the island is used. What’s nice about Oshima is its diverse landscape - you get to explore beautiful mountains and beaches as well as towns.

Just under two hours from the heart of Tokyo and yet it’s a world apart - the ocean is transparent blue, while the mountains are a lush, vibrant green. It’s a fascinating place where you can see and feel the vitality of Mother Nature. Rogaine courses at Oshima island are split into two categories, the 6 hour and 3 hour courses. There are prizes for the top 3 teams for both categories with a chance to win free tickets from Tokai-kisen! With eyes on the prize, it’s worth a try.

Great fun for children and beginners!

With long hikes through towns and mountains using only a compass and map, rogaining may at first sound quite challenging, but it’s actually a very accesible event, even if you haven’t picked up a compass since grade school. There are women-only teams and even teams that include children in strollers.

Coming together with your teammates to brainstorm tactics, searching for as many checkpoints as possible, and all the while surrounded by luscious nature. That’s what’s so appealing to rogaining. In the process of finding hidden bases and checkpoints, you naturally end up discovering the island’s natural treasures. What’s more, the locals like to take part as well, creating an atmosphere great for socializing.It’s not just about winning. It’s a special kind of event where you are surrounded by nature that you will find hard to believe is part of Tokyo.

Access - You can even hop on a ferry after work!

If you plan on doing some rogaining, the ideal length of stay would be 1 night and 2 days. How can I do that you may ask? Let’s take the upcoming rogaining event as an example. The event will take place on Saturday, October 28th, so if you hop on an overnight large ferry leaving Takeshiba Terminal (Tokyo Hamatsucho area) the night before, you will arrive in Oshima first thing Saturday morning. From there you can go straight into a game of rogaine, stay the night, and return home the next day. What’s nice is, even if you’re a busy person and work late nights on weekdays, you just need to catch the ferry on Friday night after work and you will still be able to make it to the event. Book the ship tickets here.

Autumn, that time of year when the body needs to move! Whether with friends, family or a significant other, how about a treasure hunting trip in the wild? Who knows, you might even get hooked on the sport.