Japan’s sleep contest offers $14,000 prize: Who can enter, how to apply, October 5 date and rules

Imagine you are getting paid to sleep? Yes, you read that right! Japan is turning that unusual idea into a real competition as the “Mattrace by Koala” sleep tournament will challenge participants to get the best possible sleep during a 90-minute race. The overall winner is set to receive ¥2.22 million (around $14,000). But there's a catch, the contestants will not win simply by falling asleep first or staying in bed for the full 90 minutes. Their sleep will be monitored and scored based on factors including depth, quality, speed of falling asleep and stability.

When is Japan’s sleep competition?

The first Mattrace by Koala is scheduled for October 5, 2026, at Share Green Minami Aoyama in Tokyo’s Minato ward, according to Tokyo Weekender. The tournament will have three separate 90-minute races throughout the day, with around 20 contestants expected in each race. If applications exceed the available places, Koala Japan says participants will be chosen through a lottery.

Applications for the competition opened on September 4, 2026, and are scheduled to close on September 16 at 11:59 pm Japan time. People interested in taking part must apply during the application period. Because each race has limited places, applicants may have to be selected through a lottery if demand is higher than capacity. The event is being organised by Koala Japan, the Japanese mattress company behind the competition.


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Contestants will lie down on Koala mattresses and attempt to achieve the best sleep possible during their 90-minute session. Sleep-monitoring equipment will be used to track participants while they rest. The competition's scoring system is expected to consider several aspects of sleep, including:

• Sleep depth
• Overall sleep quality
• How quickly contestants fall asleep
• Stability of sleep

Physicians will supervise the scoring, with the participant receiving the highest overall sleep score taking the grand prize.

Contestants will actually be disturbed while sleeping

There is a twist that makes the tournament very different from an ordinary nap competition. Organisers plan to introduce unexpected disturbances while contestants are sleeping. The purpose is to test whether participants can maintain stable sleep even when their surroundings are not completely quiet or peaceful. That means someone who falls asleep quickly may not automatically win. Their ability to maintain good-quality, stable sleep during the disturbances will also affect their final score.

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$14,000 prize for the overall winner

The biggest incentive is the ¥2.22 million prize, worth approximately ₹13.76 lakh or $14,000. The unusual amount is connected to the “Zzz” symbol commonly associated with sleeping. There will also be special awards, including prizes recognising deep sleepers and contestants with distinctive sleeping positions.

The tournament has rules designed to prevent contestants from artificially improving their chances. Participants will not be allowed to deliberately deprive themselves of sleep or arrive extremely exhausted simply to make falling asleep easier. Sleeping pills and similar drugs will also not be permitted as a way to induce sleep. Contestants will additionally take part in light exercises before settling down for their sleep race.

Koala Japan is using the unusual tournament to put the spotlight on sleep quality and the importance of good rest. The competition also highlights an important distinction: spending 90 minutes lying down does not necessarily mean someone has achieved good-quality sleep.

For Mattrace by Koala, contestants will have to demonstrate a combination of quick sleep onset, depth, quality and stability to achieve a high overall score.