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The setting for the Mt. Amariyama Hill Climb is Nirasaki, a historic town that is the location of the rise and demise of the Takeda clan. This course enables runners to feel close to trees as they move through a deep forest. Sometimes it is possible to see animals such as monkeys. The finish line is the Amariyama Hirogawara Parking Lot located in front of Mt. Hoo Sanzan, and this area is known for having colonies of summer flowers such as Japanese azalea, iris sanguinea, and fireweed. There are several spots along the way that have unobstructed views, and it is possible to run while taking in views of Mt. Fuji. This course has a lot of variety, including straight sections and sharp curves, and is a great place for runners to test their strength.
There are extremely steep slopes of around 10% throughout this course, but as the gradients are within the same range, it is possible to maintain a steady pace. The most difficult section, which has a gradient 11% to 12%, begins right at the starting point. The slope gets a little bit gentler after this, but this next section still has a gradient of 10%. After a gradually sloped section of 5% to 8%, there is a winding road up to 10 km before the finish line, and then the road is straight until the end. Not only is the climb tough, but also the descent, so during the descent, make sure to go slow in order to avoid accidents and take breaks along the way.
The starting point is Amariyama Entrance Gate. A steep slope begins here.
Next is a section with a gradient of 11% to 12%. There is a tendency to set too fast a pace after starting, so make sure to maintain a moderate pace while climbing, with a feeling of riding at 80% speed and saving some energy.
The slope then gets a little bit gentler, but the gradient is still 10%. There is still a long way to go, so try not to go too fast. After you cross the second bridge, the road will start winding.
The second half consists of a winding road with a gentle gradient of 5% to 8%. In the winding sections, the gradient is higher on the inside of the road and lower on the outside, so choose where to ride based on your endurance and strength. If you are aiming to improve your time, this straightaway is the best place to try to increase your speed.
At the finish line Amariyama Hirogawara Parking Lot, there is an amazing unbroken view of the Kofu Basin and surrounding mountain ranges.
Supervisor/model: Yuki Watanabe, Team Representative, Forzik Yamanashi
Difficulty level |
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Elevation difference | 1,146m |
Travel distance | 11.7km | Gradient | Average of 9.6%, maximum of 13.5% |
Start | Amariyama Entrance Gate (Prefectural Road Amariyama Koen Line) |
Finish | Amariyama Hirogawara Parking Lot |
Access by car | Chuo Expressway Hachioji Interchange -> Chuo Expressway Nirasaki Interchange, from here drive of about 15 minutes |
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