日本語 English
On April 23, there was a bear sighting near Aonegamine in Yoshino Town.
Please take measures to avoid encountering bears during the trial run and on the day of the event by carrying a bear bell or other noisemaking device.
TRAIL RUNNING Kobo Trail 2023 ~弘法大師の道~ - Currently recruiting players - Dates: May 14th (Saturday) and 15th (Sunday), 2023

Minehiro Yokoyama THE NORTH FACE Athlete Born on January 23, 1969 in Tokyo, Yokoyama is one of the top trail runners in Japan. He is also a licensed mountain guide and holds many other licenses, and is passionate about promoting related programs.

Tsuyoshi Kaburaki THE NORTH FACE Athlet Born on October 15, 1968 in Gunma Prefecture, Kaburaki is a first class trail runner with many remarkable achievements, including his taking 3rd place in the 2009 Du Mont-Blanc Ultra-Trail and finishing first in over 30 domestic races.

Purpose of the event

Kobo Trail 2023 will be held to raise awareness of the Kobo Trail as well as to encourage regional development of municipalities along the trail.

Outline
Dates
May 20th (Saturday) and 21th (Sunday), 2023(Number of participants required: 150 minimum)
Organizer
Kobo Trail Running Organizing 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 Japan Tourism Agency: No. 1220)
In commermoration of the 1,250th anniversary of the birth of Kobo-Daishi, we will give away original goods only for this tournament!!
Qualifications

Those who are 18 years old or older as of the date of the event (May 21th, 2023)

Those who are confident of completing 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 years

91% in 2018, 92.7% in 2019, 87.2% in 2022

  • This event has not been registered with the ITRA.
  • In case of absence without notice, future entries may be rejected.
  • In case of applying for both courses of “K to K” and “D to K”,
    only the application for “D to K” will be valid, while the application for “K to K” will be 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.
  • Prior to the event, take your temperature and write it down on the check sheet every day for two weeks, and submit the check sheet during registration.
  • All players and staff must have a vaccination certificate(at least 3 vaccinations) or a negative COVID-19 test certificate (a notice of a negative result of a PCR or quantitative antigen test). The Nanto Kankosha Company will inform all participants of the details regarding submission of these documents in due course.
  • Entries for the race are limited to those who live in Japan. (Subject to change depending on the status of the spread of the new coronavirus)

K to K

Kimpusenji, Yoshinoyama – Kongobuji, Koyasan

55.7 km (of which 14.7 km, or 26%, is paved)

Kinpusenji-zououdo
Kinpusenji-zououdo

Norikura-dake
Norikura-dake

Maximum number of participants
150 people
Entrance fee
\24,000 (lodging at a “ryokan” or Japanese style hotel) \21,000 (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. For that, we ask runners to wear as much white as they can. The white T-shirt received for participation may be used.
Day 1: Saturday, May 20th
12:00 - 15:15
Registration at Yoshinoyama Visitor Center
15:30 - 16:30
Briefing
16:30 - 17:15
Buddhist evening service at Zaodo Hall of Kimpusenji Temple
17:30
Lodging check-in, supper, bath at each facility
Day 2: Sunday, May 21th
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 of Kimpusenji Temple)
Starting Ceremony
6:00
Start
The route includes four aid points and five checkpoints.

D to K

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)

Ryusenji suigyo
Ryusenji suigyo

image of race
image of race

Maximum number of participants
100
Entrance fee
\24,000 (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 as a token of participation.
Day 1: Saturday, May 20th
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, supper and bath at each facility
Day 2: Sunday, May 21th
6:30
Breakfast
7:30
Check out (Leave baggage at the entrance of the lodging facility)
Gather at the starting point (the parking lot of Zenitani Shokakudo shop)
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 21th: 12:00 at Kirinukitouge, 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 departure time at each point. If you cannot pass each point before its closing time, you will have to stop running.

After dark, please use a headlamp and wear reflective materials.

Goal
Square in front of Kongoubuji Temple

*Thefinish line will be changed to the plaza in front of Kongoubuji Temple.

Baggage pick up
At Saizen-in (shukubo)
Award ceremony
Square in front of Kongoubuji Temple

16:00 Top 3 men finishers of each Route K to K and D to K will be awarded.
17:00 Top 3 women finishers of each Route K to K and Route D to K will be awarded.

*The place for awards will be changed to the plaza in front of Kongoubuji Temple.
*Transportation costs to and from the designated meeting places before and after the race are not included in the entrance 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 21th (Sun.) after the race is not included in the entrance fee.

If you are looking for lodging for that night, please request the lodging when you apply for the entry.

*Each “shukubo” (lodging of fered by temples) sets the time for supper, and it may not be served after that time. Please inquire in advance.

*If you arrange your after-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.

Inquiries:
Kobo Trail Running Organizing Committee (c/o Oku-Yamato Migration and Exchange Promotion Office, Nara Prefecture)

605-5, Tokiwa-cho, Kashihara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan

+81-744-48-3016

Entry and tour conductor:
Nanto Kankosha Company (Registered by the Commissioner of Japan Tourism Agency: No. 1220) Travel services manager: Minoru Nishiguchi

332-1, Kawaharajo-cho, Tenri City, Nara Prefecture, Japan

+81-743-62-5850

Race Information

Accommodation and Meal After the Race

Terms of Agreement

Standard Terms and conditions

Special Compensation Rules

Invitation to 'Suigyo'

COVID-19 Health Check Sheet/Terms of Agreement

Guidelines

Policies to Prevent COVID-19 Infections

K to K Schedule

D to K Schedule

K to K MAP

D to K MAP

Route Map

KOBO Trail2023

Route mapMAP donwload

KOBO Trail2023弘法大師の道 Route map
  • (株)アスカ美装×(株)ブレーメン
  • 植和紙工房
  • 大峯山陀羅尼助組合
  • 柿の葉すし本舗たなか
  • 柿の葉ずし総本家平宗
  • 河月堂
  • (株)雅蜂園
  • やたがらす 株式会社北岡本店
  • 近畿日本鉄道株式会社
  • GONTEX
  • 創業1887年 有限会社千総
  • ならにっか
  • 'なんかいいね'があふれてるNANKAI
  • 手のべ麺一筋…三輪マル勝たかだ
  • NEVER SAY NEVER ロート製薬
  • 総本山金峯山寺
  • 高野山真言宗 総本山金剛峯寺
  • 高野山 西禅院
  • 真言宗醍醐派大本山 大峯山 龍泉寺