Find an Event or Course and Start Playing
This page explains how to find public events and permanent courses in NaviTabi, join them when needed, and start playing.
Find an event
You can search not only for organizer-run events but also for courses published in the app as permanent courses.
If there is no organizer's event near you, you can also generate a course and run it right where you are.
From the home screen
The app home screen shows events in several sections.
- My Group Events - Events from groups you belong to
- Upcoming Events - Events scheduled to start within 7 days
- Featured - Featured events (the name may change depending on the event)
- Live - Events that are currently active
- New - Recently published events
- Favorites - Events you have liked (starred)
- No Time Limit - Permanent events
Each event card shows information such as the event name, organizer, participant count, number of likes, and tags.
Search for an event
Use the search function on the home screen to search by event name. Search starts when you enter at least two characters.
Search covers only the names of published events, and how names are matched depends on the kind of characters.
- Letters and numbers - Found only when a whole word matches. Upper and lower case are not distinguished. "Rogaine" is not found with "rogain" or "roga", and it is not found if the spelling differs by even one character
- Japanese - You can search with two or more characters from any part of the name. "京都ロゲイニング" (a Japanese event name) is found with either "京都" or "ロゲ". Hiragana and katakana are not distinguished. Here too, it is not found if even one character differs
- If you enter several words separated by spaces, only events that contain all of them are shown
If you cannot find the event, scanning the Event QR or Check-in QR you received from the organizer with the QR scan button on the app's top screen opens the event reliably (Join with a QR code).
Browse from the calendar
If you switch to calendar view, you can check events by event date. You can also narrow them down by area.
Find nearby events
Based on your device location, NaviTabi can automatically suggest events whose event date is today and that are near your current location.
Find events on the web
On the NaviTabi Web Explore page, you can find events on a map. You can search by place name or keyword and filter by tags or sort order such as newest, number of participants, or likes.
Check event details
Tap an event card to open the event details screen.
Information shown there
- Event image and title
- Description Text - Event overview and notes
- Category list - Courses you can join, including course name, type, and number of checkpoints
- Organizer information
- Tags - Labels that indicate the event type or features
Status badges
Events and categories may show badges that indicate their status.
| Badge | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Approval Required | Joining requires the organizer's approval |
| Limited | The users who can join are limited |
| Closed | The event has ended |
| No Time Limit | A permanent event with no deadline |
| Safety Tracking | A safety tracking event using location sharing |
Team play categories
Some events provide categories for Team Play instead of standard solo play. Team Play is available only when the organizer has prepared a compatible category.
For the full flow, see Team Play.
Like (star)
Tap the star button on the event details screen to like (star) the event. Starred events can be accessed quickly from the Favorites section on the home screen. Liking an event requires login; you cannot like an event while you are on an anonymous account.
Join an event
How you join an event depends on the organizer's settings.
Even when you are not logged in (that is, on an anonymous account), you can send an entry request, check in, receive the organizer's approval, and play. When you start, you are asked "Logging in lets you keep your check-in and approval status after switching devices or reinstalling the app. Log in?", and choosing Proceed without logging in lets you carry on. Note that an anonymous account is stored only on the device, so reinstalling the app means checking in and being approved all over again. See Getting Started - What changes when you log in for details.
Events that do not require approval
Many events can be joined without approval. Choose a category or course and start playing right away.
Events that require approval
If the organizer made approval mandatory, you need to submit a participation request in advance.
Application steps
- Select a category on the event details screen.
- The application screen appears.
- Enter the following information:
- Display name (required) - The name shown in results and rankings
- Entry Number - Enter this if the organizer manages participants by number. The Entry Number can be up to 9 digits (maximum value 999,999,999)
- Message - Optional message for the organizer
- Submit the request.
If the organizer runs the roster with Entry Numbers, enter the number you were given at check-in. The number you enter is validated before check-in, so an invalid number, such as one that exceeds the digit limit, cannot be accepted.
Application statuses
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pending | Waiting for the organizer's approval |
| Approved | You are allowed to join and can start playing |
| Rejected | You are not allowed to join |
| Cancelled | You canceled your own application |
When the organizer approves or rejects your application, you are told by push notification (if you allow notifications; the text is in English and shows "Request Update"). You also receive the approval notification when you are approved automatically by entering the Event Number.
Until you are approved, viewing the category or starting play may be restricted.
Join with an Event Number
If the organizer has configured an Event Number (4 digits), entering the correct number when you apply approves your request immediately. The Event Number is usually given to participants directly at the venue.
Joining a Team Play category
In a Team Play category, you may need to enter a Team Number when you start playing, in addition to your display name and Entry Number. Participants who enter the same Team Number become one team.
Join with a QR code
If you scan a QR code posted at the venue, you can open the event details screen directly. Depending on the organizer's settings, the QR code may also let you start playing immediately.
The Reception QR used for same-day check-in is a different QR code. For scanning the check-in QR, see Check in with a QR code below.
If the organizer shares a direct event link, tapping it can also open the event details screen in the app.
Check in with a QR code
If the organizer provides a check-in QR code (Check-in QR) at the venue, you can scan it from the QR check-in button on the app's top screen to check in on the spot.
The check-in QR code contains the event information, so scanning it automatically identifies the target event. You do not need to search for the event yourself.
What you enter on the check-in screen
When you scan the check-in QR, the check-in screen opens. Confirm and enter the following, then tap Check In.
- Category - Choose one when there are multiple categories (not shown for events without categories)
- Entry Number - Enter the number you were given at check-in (up to 9 digits, up to 999,999,999)
- Display name - The name shown in results and rankings. If the organizer prepared a roster, it is filled in automatically based on your Entry Number (you can edit it if needed)
When check-in is complete, "Check-in complete" is shown and you are taken to the event screen automatically.
On events where the check-in QR can be used, entering an Entry Number is set as required. You need to enter a number regardless of whether a roster is in use. The number you enter is validated, so an invalid number, such as one that exceeds the digit limit, is rejected before check-in.
If you enter a different number while an Entry Number is already assigned to you, a confirmation dialog appears to prevent mix-ups. Make sure the number shown is yours before continuing.
Scanning the check-in QR requires a connection. In areas with a weak signal, scan it after your connection recovers. Note that the check-in QR cannot be used for events that have ended or permanent (no time limit) events.
Messages when check-in fails
Messages that may appear after scanning the check-in QR code, and what to do.
| Message | What to do |
|---|---|
| This entry number is not on the participant list. / Please contact event staff. | The Entry Number you entered is not on the organizer's list. Check the number and tell the check-in staff |
| This entry number is already used by another participant. / Please double-check the number, or contact event staff. | Someone has already checked in with the same number. Check the number and tell the check-in staff |
| Your entry has been declined / Please contact the staff at the check-in desk. | Your application was declined. Ask the check-in staff |
| Check-in not allowed / Please contact the staff at the check-in desk. | The check-in conditions are not met (for example, your application status). Ask the check-in staff |
| Network error / Please retry where you have a better signal. | You are offline. Scan again where the signal is better |
| Check-in failed / Please try again. | A temporary error. Scan again |
| The participant list was updated while you were checking in. Please close this screen and scan the QR code again. | The organizer updated the list during your check-in. Close the screen and scan again |
| This number is outside the selected category's entry number range. Please check the number or category. | The number is not within the range allowed for that category. Check the number or the category |
| You are already registered in another category. Change to this category? | You have already checked in to another category. Accept if you want to switch |
Paid categories and the daily play limit
There are two separate reasons you may be unable to play.
- Paid categories — If the organizer has set a price on a category, you buy that category by in-app purchase before playing (the price is shown on the start button). Only the person who bought the category can play it, as many times as they like for 30 days from the day of purchase (until 23:59 on the 30th day after purchase). After 30 days, buy it again. Plays on paid categories do not count toward the daily play slots, so there is no limit on how many people can play per day
- Daily play limit — Even for free categories, each event has a limit on how many plays are allowed per day. When the limit is reached, the app shows "There are no more play slots available right now." and nobody can play that event that day until someone (the organizer or any participant) purchases additional play slots. See Pricing and Billing FAQ — Free play limits