Tokyo Toy Run - FAQ

Every year we gather as fellow bikers to bring a little bit of fun and Christmas cheer to some children’s homes in Kanagawa Prefecture. (Originally we met up in Tokyo, hence the name!)

Q: What is a Toy Run?

Toy Runs are done all over the world. They are events where people collect gifts to be delivered to childrens homes, hospitals and other places where some extra cheer is needed. When run by motorbike enthusiasts, bikes and riders are often decorated, and the bikes ride to the venue in a convoy to add to the event.

For examples, look at the galleries.

Q: What gifts should I bring?

Good question; here’s some general guidance:

• Gifts should be new and can be for boys or girls from 0yrs to 18yrs.

• They don’t have to be toys, they can be clothes, shoes (always needed) and even sports equipment.

• If any need batteries, please try to supply a few.

• Please don’t bring promotional items for products.

• We can’t work with cash or other financial donations as this is strictly volunteer only.

• It’s OK to bring gifts to use on the day, such as footballs, frisbees to play with the kids, as well as extra Santa costumes and hats.

• Don’t bring anything contraversial such as politically themed toys.

• Don’t bring anything which could be potentially dangerous.

• Don’t bring gifts related to, or traceable to you!

• The homes (and us) cannot accept cash or other financial donations!

• Gifts should NOT be wrapped! This will help the staff distribute the gifts later, and we like to leave an equal number of gifts at each place.

Q: What about the riding?

Gerneral rules:

• All bikes must be road worthy and insured - shaken is required for all those bikes above 250cc.
• Please adhere to all road laws and ride responsibly!
• Show respect to other road users when in a large group - we’re here to help the kids, and give a positive presentation of ourselves.
• Do not rev the bikes unnecessarily at the SA, the conbini and especially the homes - some residents near the homes are quite sensitive to noise.

Q: What Happens on the Tokyo Toy Run day?

We’ll meet up at the large Ebina Service Area on the Tomei Expressway West (south) bound at 08:00am. We gather in the corner near the gas/petrol station so as to not inconvenience normal car parking and traffic.

At around 9am there will be a riders meeting to explain the schedule.

As we’re a bunch of people dressed as Santa, we stick out. Please be pleasant to those waving and wanting to take photos. It happens. A lot.

This year we’ll only be visiting one home, but we will be sending gifts to another home too, so please try to bring gifts for both homes! A car will collect the second home’s gifts at Ebina SA.

As there are sometimes large numbers of bikes, we’ll ride in groups from the SA to where we usually assemble at a 7-Eleven konbini close to the Chigasaki home.

From here we try to ride in together and park in the small on-site car park - please take car when parking - it’s not all asphalt!

The format varies some years, but we usually leave our presents in a specified area and then spend some time playing with the kids and maybe have some food or drink with them.

Sometimes we’ll let the kids sit on or ride as passengers on the bikes, but we’ll decide on the day. Safety is our top priority and no one is required to have any of the kids near their bike!

Be careful to watch the kids around the bikes as the engines/pipes are hot after arrival, and the kids love bikes.

People can leave when they want of course.

Note this is a volunteer/community event, there’s no organisation behind it, so you participate at your own understanding and risk.

Q: What about the route?

Navigation route is here. (.gpx version) Please learn the route.

As we’ll be riding as a group, please ride in a staggered formation and form smaller groups as needed to allow traffic to get around us.

We will have helper guide riders on the route but again please know the route in case you’re separated. Worst case: head straight for home!

We will pass through ETC gates. If you have ETC, please wait as a group by the side of the road in the area after the gate so as to not obstruct traffic.

If you do NOT have ETC, please try to get a group of riders together at the SA and pay as a group to speed things along – don’t worry, we’ll wait and the gate people will really appreciate it.

At the homes it’s completely rider choice to let the kids sit on or start the bikes. However, stay with them, keep them away from hot parts of the bike etc..

Depending on the day, sometimes some riders will let the kids ride on the back in a small course in the grounds. Please be aware the kids will try to rev the bikes, and we don’t want to create a noise nuisance for the homes’ neighbours, so please be aware.

Again, the kids might not know the bikes get hot, so please take care.

Q: Can I bring my own children?

Children are welcome, but please explain the situations the kids are in – some are orphans, some are not, and are not with their parents for a number of reasons.

Q: Can I take photos?

At the meet ups and along the ride, feel free to take photos and link them to the Facebook page. However, there is NO photography inside the children’s homes, for the security of the kids.

Q: Can I come by car?

There’s not much room for cars at the homes and there will be plenty of bikes there, so please ask if you plan to do that on the Facebook page, but plan to park nearby.