Radio Direction Finding Takes Centre Stage in Japan

The 12th IARU Region 3 Amateur Radio Direction Finding Championships will be held in Japan from 9 to 14 November 2026, bringing together competitors from across the Asia-Pacific for several days of radio sport, navigation and remarkably determined hunting for transmitters hiding in the countryside. The championships will be centred on Ryuo Town in Shiga Prefecture, around 30 kilometres east of Kyoto, with events held across the surrounding Kansai region.

The competition program will test a broad range of ARDF skills. 10 November features the 80 metre classic competition, followed by the 2 metre classic event on 11 November. Competitors then move to Foxoring on 12 November, combining traditional radio direction finding with orienteering-style navigation, before the championships conclude with the fast-paced Sprint competition on 13 November. Training sessions, award ceremonies and a cultural program are also included across the week.

ARDF, often known simply as radio fox hunting, combines amateur radio, antenna skills, direction finding, navigation, fitness and strategy. Competitors use portable receiving equipment and directional antennas to locate hidden transmitters as quickly and accurately as possible.

A special event amateur station, 8J3ARDF, is already on air to commemorate the championships and has been operating since 13 April 2026. During the competition period, eligible visiting licensed amateurs from certain countries may be able to operate the station as guest operators, while supervised trial operation is also planned for those without an eligible licence.

For Australian amateurs interested in ARDF, fox hunting and radio sport, the Region 3 Championships provide a useful reminder that direction finding remains a very active international part of amateur radio. It is also an activity ideally suited to clubs, schools and youth programs because it combines radio technology with a very simple challenge: find the transmitter before everybody else does.

12th IARU Region 3 ARDF Championships official website - Link

Page Last Updated: Saturday, 12 Sep 2026 at 21:16 hours by Justin Giles-clark

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