Japan Sleep Race Offers 2.22 Million Yen Prize for Best 90 Minute Nap in Tokyo

Japanese mattress company Koala Japan will host an unusual sleep competition in Tokyo on October 5, 2026, offering a top prize of 2.22 million yen, equivalent to roughly 13.76 lakh Indian rupees, to the participant who records the best sleep across a 90 minute session.

The event, called Mattrace by Koala, was announced on September 4, according to the Tokyo Weekender. Applications from would be participants remain open until September 16, with contestants selected by lottery. The name blends the words mattress and race.

How the Competition Works?

Rather than testing physical performance, the contest asks participants to climb into bed and try to achieve the highest quality sleep possible while organizers deliberately attempt to disturb them. Contestants will lie on Koala mattresses for 90 minutes while wearing monitoring devices that measure sleep depth, sleep quality, the time taken to fall asleep, and sleep stability.

The challenge is not simply falling asleep or staying asleep the longest. Organizers plan to introduce deliberate sleep disruption to test whether participants can maintain deep, consistent rest despite the interruptions. According to reporting by the Tokyo Weekender, contestants are judged on how deeply and consistently they sleep, how quickly they doze off, and how well they handle surprise disturbances. The participant with the highest overall sleep score wins the grand prize.

Event Details

The competition will take place at the Share Green Minami Aoyama complex in Tokyo's Minato district. Three 90 minute races are planned throughout the day, with about 20 contestants selected for each race through a lottery system.

The grand prize of 2.22 million yen is itself a branding play. The figure references Zzz, the sound commonly associated with sleep. Beyond the main cash award, organizers plan several special prizes recognizing different aspects of sleeping performance, including a Deep Sleep Dive Award for sleep depth and a Sleep Turning Acrobat Award for participants who adopt unusual sleeping positions.

The Organizer and the Wider Context

Koala Japan, the company behind Koala mattresses, organized the event as a promotional activity. News sources described the format and mechanics in detail but did not report a direct, quoted mission statement from the company explaining a broader public purpose.

The competition nonetheless plays into a documented national issue. Compared with many other countries, Japan has one of the highest rates of short sleep duration, similar to South Korea. A June 2026 report by The Washington Post examined what it described as Japan's effort to help a sleep starved population rest better.

Competitive sleeping is not unique to Japan. In March, China hosted an outdoor sleeping event with cash prizes to highlight the importance of healthy rest.

What to watch next?

Prospective participants should note that entry is by lottery and applications close on September 16. Those interested are advised to confirm application status directly through Koala Japan's official channels. Results for the three races are expected on the event day, October 5, 2026.