
Purpose of the event
Kobo Trail 2021 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 15th (Saturday) and 16th (Sunday), 2021(Number of participants required: 185 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 16th, 2021)
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
75% in 2017, 91% in 2018, 92.7% in 2019
- 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.
- Every runner and staff member will take a PCR test using a simple kit, and only those who get the result of “low risk” of infection will be able to join the race. (Those whose results are “high risk” of infection may join the race if they obtain a COVID-19 negative certificate at their own expense.) Applicants will be informed how to take the PCR test in due course.
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
- \25,000 (lodging at a “ryokan” or Japanese style hotel)
\22,000 (lodging at a guesthouse)
* Accommodation fees (including one night lodging in shared rooms separated by gender, two meals, PCR test kit, 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 15th
- 12:00 - 15:15
- Registration at Yoshinoyama Furusato Center
- 15:30 - 16:30
- Briefing
- 17:00 - 17:30
- Buddhist evening service at Zaodo Hall of Kimpusenji Temple
- 17:30 - 17:45
- Kickoff meeting
- 18:00
- Lodging check-in, supper, bath at each facility
Day 2: Sunday, May 16th
- 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

Kouyasan-nemoto-ootou

image of race
- Maximum number of participants
- 100
- Entrance fee
- \25,000 (lodging at a “ryokan” or Japanese style hotel)
*The fee includes accommodation (two meals, one-night lodging in shared rooms separated by gender), PCR test kit, 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 15th
- 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 16th
- 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 16th: 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
- Konpon Daito Pagoda at Kongobuji Temple, Koyasan
- Baggage pick up
- At Saizen-in (shukubo)
- Award ceremony
-
at Konpon Daito Pagoda of Kongobuji Temple, Koyasan
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.
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 16th (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.