Purpose of the Event
Kobo Trail 2024 will be held to promote the Kobo Trail as well as to encourage regional development of municipalities along the trail.
Outline
- Dates
- May 18th (Saturday) and 19th (Sunday), 2024（Number of participants required: 165 minimum）
- Organizer
- Kobo Trail Running Committee
(Nara Prefecture, Yoshino Town, Tenkawa Village, Gojo City, and Nosegawa Village)
- Course Director
- Minehiro Yokoyama
- Guest Runner
- Tsuyoshi Kaburaki(Route“K to K”)
- Entry Coordinator
- Nanto Kankosha Company
- Tour Coordinator
- Nanto Kankosha Company (Registered by the Commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency: No. 1220)
Qualifications
Those who are 18 years of age or older as of the date of the event (May 19th, 2024)
Those who are confident in their ability to complete the course without getting lost within the time limit
Those who understand the Kobo Trail and observe the event rules
[Past Results] Completion rate in the last three races:
92.7% in 2019; 87.2% in 2022; 75.4% in 2023
- This event has not been registered with the ITRA.
- In case of absence without notice, future entries may be rejected.
- If applying for both courses (“K to K” and “D to K”),
only the application for “D to K” will be accepted, while the application for “K to K” will be made invalid.
- Accommodation for both the K to K and D to K races will be in shared rooms separated by gender. If there is someone you would like to share a room with, please write the person’s name in the “Notes” section of the entry form.
Kimpusenji, Yoshinoyama – Kongobuji, Koyasan
55.7 km (of which 14.7 km, or 26%, is paved)
Kimpusenji Temple
Mt.Norikura
- Maximum Number of Participants
- 150 people
- Entry Fee
- \28,000 (includes lodging at a “ryokan” or Japanese style hotel)
\25,000 (includes lodging at a guesthouse)
* Accommodation fees (including one night lodging in shared rooms separated by gender, two meals, baggage transport fee, insurance fee, etc.)
The course runs along part of the Omine Okugake-michi Trail, which is regarded as a sacred training place for Shugendo practitioners. As it is the traditional color of Shugendo, we ask runners to wear as much white as they can. The white T-shirt you receive for participation may be used for this purpose.
Day 1: Saturday, May 18th
- 12:00 - 15:15
- Registration at Yoshinoyama Furusato Center
- 15:30 - 16:30
- Briefing
- 16:30 - 17:00
- Buddhist evening service at Zaodo Hall, Kimpusenji Temple
- 17:15
- Lodging check-in, dinner, bath at each facility
Day 2: Sunday, May 19th
- 4:30
- Breakfast
- 5:30
- Check out (Leave baggage at the entrance of the lodging facility)
- 5:45
- Gather at the starting point (Zaodo Hall at Kimpusenji Temple)
Starting Ceremony
- 6:00
- Start
The route includes four aid points and five checkpoints.
From Dorogawa Onsen (hot spring) in Tenkawa Village to Kongobuji Temple in Koyasan
43.2 km (of which 15.2 km, or 35%, is paved)
”Suigyo” at Ryusenji Temple
Image of Race
- Maximum Number of Participants
- 100 people
- Entry fee
- \28,000 (includes lodging at a “ryokan” or Japanese style hotel)
*The fee includes accommodation (two meals, one-night lodging in shared rooms separated by gender), bus fare, baggage transportation, insurance, etc.
There are no dress rules. A white T-shirt will be distributed to all participants.
Day 1: Saturday, May 18th
- 10:00 - 11:00
- Registration at the South Exit of Yamato Yagi Station (Kintetsu Railway)
- 11:00
- Depart from the South Exit of Yamato Yagi Station by bus
- 12:30
- Arrive at Tenkawa Village’s Dorogawa Onsen (hot spring)
- 13:00 - 14:00
- Briefing at the Tenkawa Village Gymnasium
- 14:30 - 15:00
- Buddhist service at Ryusenji Temple
- 15:00 - 15:30
- ”Suigyo” or water ablutions at Ryusenji Temple (only for those who wish to try)
- 17:00
- Lodging check-in, dinner and bath at each facility
Day 2: Sunday, May 19th
- 6:30
- Breakfast
- 7:30
- Check out (Leave baggage at the entrance of the lodging facility)
Gather at the starting point (Dorogawa Eco-Museum Center Parking Lot)
- 7:45
- Starting Ceremony
- 8:00
- Start
The route includes three aid points and four checkpoints.
Information Common to Both Routes
- Closing Time of Checkpoints
-
Sunday, May 19th: 12:00 at Kirinuki Pass, 14:00 at Bushigamine Pass, 15:45 at Tentsuji Pass, 16:15 at Deyashiki Pass, 17:30 at Kiwa Zuido, 19:00 at Tenguki Pass, and 20:00 at the finish line
Closing time means the last arrival time at each point. If you cannot reach each point before its closing time, you will have to stop running.
After dark, please use a headlamp and wear reflective materials.
- Goal
-
Konpon Daito Pagoda at Kongobuji Temple
- Baggage Pickup
- At Saizen-in (Shukubo)
- Awards Ceremony
-
Konpon Daito Pagoda at Kongobuji Temple
16:00 Top 3 mens finishers of each Route K to K and D to K will receive awards.
17:00 Top 3 womens finishers of each Route K to K and Route D to K will receive awards.
*Transportation costs to and from the designated meeting places before and after the race are not included in the entry fee.
*The schedule may be subject to change depending on road restrictions, climate, or other conditions.
Information on Lodging in the Koyasan Area
Please note that lodging on the night of May 19th (Sun.) after the race is not included in the entry fee.
If you are looking for lodging for that night, please request the lodging when you apply.
*Each “shukubo” (lodging offered by temples) sets the time for dinner, and it may not be served after that time. Please inquire in advance.
*If you arrange your post-race lodging by yourself, please tell the lodging facility in advance that you may check in late. Please be aware that some shukubo set their latest check-in time rather early.
