[PJ TOP TOUR / Oarai, Ibaraki] Tournament Guidelines Released: PJ TOP TOUR 2026 T8 OARAI

Thank you for your continued support of Pickleball Japan.
We are pleased to announce the tournament guidelines and entry information for the PJ TOP TOUR 2026 T8 OARAI, to be held from Saturday, November 21 to Monday, November 23, 2026 in Oarai, Ibaraki.

Tournament Outline

[Name] PJ TOP TOUR 2026 T8 OARAI
[Organiser] Japan Pickleball Federation (Pickleball Japan)
[Sponsors] To be announced
[Operated by] RST Agency Co., Ltd.
[Venue] Oarai Beach Tennis Club (8231-20 Isohama-cho, Oarai-machi, Higashiibaraki-gun, Ibaraki 311-1301)
[Courts] 6 indoor hard courts and 8 outdoor hard courts

Categories and Draw Sizes

■ Singles
[Men]
Pro (all ages, DUPR 4.0 or higher): 24 players
Open (all ages): 16 players
35+ (age 35 and over): 16 players
50+ (age 50 and over): 16 players
[Women]
Pro (all ages, DUPR 4.0 or higher): 8 players
Open (all ages): 8 players
35+ (age 35 and over): 8 players
50+ (age 50 and over): 8 players

■ Doubles
[Men]
Pro (all ages, DUPR 4.0 or higher): 24 teams
Open (all ages): 16 teams
35+ (age 35 and over): 16 teams
50+ (age 50 and over): 16 teams
[Women]
Pro (all ages, DUPR 4.0 or higher): 16 teams
Open (all ages): 16 teams
35+ (age 35 and over): 16 teams
50+ (age 50 and over): 16 teams
[Mixed]
Pro (all ages, DUPR 4.0 or higher): 24 teams
Open (all ages): 16 teams
35+ (age 35 and over): 16 teams
50+ (age 50 and over): 16 teams

Note: If a category has fewer than 6 entries, it may be combined with another category.
Note: You may enter only one category per day.
Note: DUPR ratings are a guide only.

Schedule

Saturday, November 21 – Monday, November 23 (national holiday), 2026

[Day 1 (Singles)] Saturday, November 21: doors open 9:30, play begins 10:00
[Day 2 (Men’s and Women’s Doubles)] Sunday, November 22: doors open 9:00, play begins 9:30
[Day 3 (Mixed Doubles)] Monday, November 23 (national holiday): doors open 9:00, play begins 9:30

* There is no morning check-in.

Match Format

[Pro categories]
– Played in a “First Round Consolation” format (a knockout tournament with no round robin).
– Only players who lose their first match move to the back draw, which runs up to a playoff for 5th place. (If you advance from your first match by walkover, or start in R2 as a seed, you also move to the back draw if you lose your second match.)
– All main draw matches are best of 3 games to 11 points (win by 2; in the final game only, players switch ends when one side reaches 6 points).
– Back draw matches are 1 game to 11 points (no win-by-2; switch ends at 6 points).

[All other categories]
– Played in round-robin groups. The top team in each group advances to the playoff bracket.
– Matches are 1 game to 11 points (win by 2; switch ends when either side reaches 6 points).
– The final only is 1 game to 15 points (win by 2; switch ends at 8 points).

* The match format may change depending on the number of entries in each event and the schedule.
* DUPR will be used. Please make sure you have a DUPR account.

Officiating, Balls, Paddles and Rules

[Officiating] Self-officiated
* For finals and in other situations, a referee may be assigned at the tournament referee’s discretion.
[Ball] Franklin X-40
[Paddles] USAP- or UPA-approved paddles
[Rules] This tournament uses the “PJ Recommended Manners and Rules.”
* PJ rules are based on the rules of USA Pickleball.

Eligibility

– You must have completed Pickleball Japan membership registration for 2026.
– You must have a DUPR account linked to Tournated.
– You must meet the age requirement of each event.

* If you are not yet a member, please register before you enter. The office will check your membership status after you enter. If your membership cannot be confirmed by 23:59 on Friday, November 13, 2026, your entry may be cancelled.
* Players under 18 on the first day of the tournament must submit a consent form from a parent or legal guardian. Please download the “Minor Participation Consent Form (PDF)” below, have your parent or guardian fill it in by hand, and submit it at the reception desk on the day of the tournament. Players who do not submit the form will not be allowed to play.

[Minor Participation Consent Form (PDF)]
Download the consent form (PDF, Japanese)

Selection, Draws and Awards

[Selection] First come, first served
* We may increase or decrease the number of places in each event after reviewing the number of entries and the match format.
[Draws] Published on Tournated before the tournament day
[Awards] Winners and runners-up will receive medals and prizes.
* Award categories and prizes may change depending on the number of entries in each event.

Entry Fees

Please see the entry page.
– No pro registration is required to enter the Pro categories (pro player registration was discontinued in March 2026).
– Players whose club is registered with PJ as a team are eligible for a discounted entry fee. (The discount cannot be applied after your entry is complete. Individual members are not eligible.)
– Eligibility for the team discount is based on your registration status at the time of entry.

How to Enter and Entry Period

[How to enter] Please enter through the link below. The entry page will be available once entries open.
PJ TOP TOUR 2026 T8 OARAI on Tournated
[Payment] Credit card
[Entry period] 20:00 on Friday, October 9, 2026 to 23:59 on Friday, November 13, 2026 (Japan Standard Time)

Cancellations and Withdrawals

[Cancellations] You may cancel until 23:59 on Friday, November 13, 2026.
* After the cancellation period, 100% of the entry fee is payable and no refund will be given.
* If you withdraw within the cancellation period, the system fee still applies and cannot be refunded.
[Withdrawals] If you cancel after the entry deadline, it will be treated as a withdrawal. Please let us know.

Ranking Points

Pro categories earn double the usual ranking points.
All other categories earn the usual ranking points.

Possible Changes Due to Weather

– This tournament uses both indoor and outdoor courts. If we decide that play on the outdoor courts is not possible because of the weather or other conditions, the tournament may be played on the indoor courts only.
– The tournament operations team will make this decision after considering rainfall and its timing, wind speed, court conditions and other factors.
– If play moves to the indoor courts only, fewer courts will be available, so the match format, number of matches and running order may change. Thank you for your understanding.

Important Notes

– These guidelines may change depending on the number of entries, social conditions or other unavoidable circumstances.
– First aid will be provided for injuries or accidents during play, but the organiser and the venue accept no responsibility beyond that.
– The organiser and the venue accept no responsibility for any loss or damage to participants caused by injury, accident, theft or any other cause.
– Participants are fully liable for any damage caused through their own fault to the venue, other participants or any third party.
– The organiser holds the rights to publish photos, videos, articles and records of the tournament on websites and other media.
– This tournament is covered by recreation insurance. Please note that no doctors or trainers will be stationed at the venue.
– We recommend wearing eyewear to protect your eyes.
– The tournament may be cancelled or changed because of bad weather, earthquakes or other disasters, the spread of infectious disease, venue circumstances or other unavoidable reasons.
– If the organiser cancels the entire tournament before it starts, entry fees will be refunded, less the system fee and payment processing fees.
– All players will be treated fairly at this tournament.

Parking

Parking is available. Details will be sent to participants separately.

Contact and Tournament Committee

[Contact] toptour@japanpickleball.org (please note our new email address)
[Tournament Director] Akihiko Nishimura
[Assistant Director] Yasuko Katsumata
[Tournament Referee] Miyuki Sagano