Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on October 2011

Now that the weather isn’t so sticky, we’ll all be spending a lot more time outdoors. If you’re looking for ideas on how to spend it, how about making a trek around the Yamanote Line? Oxfam Japan International Volunteers Group is holding their regular fundraising event centered on this iconic Tokyo train line, known as the Yamathon. Teams of three or four will try to make it to all 29 stations in less than 12 hours, with an after-party waiting for those man (or woman) enough to complete the loop. Funds raised will go towards Oxfam’s efforts to fight poverty and injustice.

Nov 19, 6:15am. Yoyogi Park entrance. Nearest stn: Harajuku. www.tokyo-yamathon.com

Boozy Books

Readers and wine lovers—there’s most likely a large overlap in those two groups—should celebrate the beginning of the Beaujolais Nouveau season with a charity event in beautiful Shonan. French language and culture school Soleil Provence is holding their second annual Beaujolais for Books event. Entry gets you not only access to the wine and a gourmet French buffet, but also the sponsorship of three books for NPO Room to Read, which provides quality educational opportunities to children in developing countries. The goal is to empower kids through literacy and gender equality in education. This year they will also be donating some of the books to children in Tohoku. It’s not often that you can do so much good just by making merry, so drink up.

Nov 19, 6:30-9:30pm. ¥4,800. Soleil Provence, 4-16-31 Kugenuma Matsugaoka, Fujisawa-shi. Nearest stn: Kugenuma-kaigan. www.soleilprovence.com