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.
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)
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)
Kimpusenji, Yoshinoyama – Kongobuji, Koyasan
55.7 km (of which 14.7 km, or 26%, is paved)
Kinpusenji-zououdo
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.
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
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.
