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The Doshi-mura Village Trail Run is a full-fledged mountain trail running course that is one of the best of its kind in Japan, and traverses four of the 100 Famous Mountains of Yamanashi. It goes up the Doshi Mountains, and passes through a primeval forest of Japanese beech trees and so on where there is rich nature, toward a mountain ridge where it is possible to look out at Sagami Bay, the Tanzawa Mountains, and the 100 Famous Mountains of Yamanashi Mt. Nabatakeura, Mt. Imakura, and Mt. Mishotai. At the end, it traverses the challenging Mt. Ton-no-mune, which is also one of the 100 Famous Mountains of Yamanashi. It has many tough ups and downs so it is a course for advanced trail runners. The course has an overall trail ratio of 85%*, and there are views of Mt. Fuji all along the way.
*Trail ratio: total percentage of the course that is unpaved
Difficulty level
Elevation difference1,072m
Travel distance41.3km
Gradient
The Takeda-no-Mori Park Trail Run is a course that mainly follows the Takeda-no-Mori Park Walking Path, which goes through the forests to the north of Kofu City, including Kofu Natural Recreation Forest and Kenko-no-Mori. It passes by historic sites associated with the Takeda clan, such as Takeda-jinja Shrine and Mt. Yogai, and nature parks where it is possible to look out at the Kofu Basin surrounded by Mt. Fuji and the Minami Alps. The finish line is inside Takeda-no-Mori Park. This is a course set in a semi-natural area with an elevation of 320 m to 800 m, and it has gentle ups and downs so can be enjoyed by runners of all levels, from beginner to advanced.
Difficulty level
Elevation difference362m
Travel distance31.5 km
Gradient
The Forest Immersion Trail Run is a course mainly on walking paths and forest roads through a precious primeval forest. The primeval forest at Mt. Fuji (Aokigahara Forest) consists of many species of trees, including Japanese hemlock, Japanese cypress, tigertail spruce, Japanese beech, and Fujizakura cherry, that grew on top of the lava ejected during the Jogan eruption of 864. There is an abundance of wildlife here, including deer, serow, and Japanese squirrels, and the landscape of moss-covered lava rocks mixed with trees appears very mysterious. Along the course between Mt. Shiro and Mt. Eboshi, there are great views of Mt. Fuji. Also, the negative ions that are generated in this beautiful natural environment help to make this course enjoyable throughout the body.
Difficulty level
Elevation difference337m
Travel distance18.7km
Gradient
The Shibire Ryosen Trail Run is a 34-km course that starts and finishes at Yamanashi Chuo Bank Ichikawa Branch. The course has a steep ascent up to Mt. Hirugatake, and in the second half from Mt. Hirugatake to Mt. Sakuratoge, there are great views of the surrounding mountains, including Mt. Fuji, Mt. Ryugatake, the Yatsugatake Mountains, Mt. Kitadake, and the Minami Alps. One attractive feature of this course is the fact that it goes through almost all natural forests rather than artificial ones, so it is possible to run through a naturally formed forest tunnels consisting of many different types of trees.
Difficulty level
Elevation difference1,027m
Travel distance34km
Gradient
This course traverses Mt. Hinata, which has an elevation of 1,659 m and lies on the ridge between Mt. Kaikoma and Mt. Nokogiri. One attractive feature of this course is its great mountain peak view. After passing through a green mountain tree grove, a white world of weathered granite blooms before you. On the ascending part of the course, there is only one descent along the way, and the other section repeatedly switches between ascents and flat areas, so the run up to the peak does not get dull. At the peak, the course returns down the same path as the ascent, and the total distance is 4 km.
*The route down to Nishiki-taki Waterfall from the peak collapsed in one area, so is closed. (as of September 2013)
Difficulty level
Elevation difference540m
Travel distance4km
Gradient
This is a 23-km course where it is possible to full enjoy the beauty of the Yatsugatake Mountains. The course runs through a rich forest environment with a trail ratio* of 80%. It starts at Sanbuichi Yusui Spring and travels along Bo-michi Trail and Yatsugatake Odan Trail on the Yatsugatake-kogen Plateau, where it is possible to feel a refreshing breeze blowing, and then returns to Sanbuichi Yusui Spring. Even within Yamanashi Prefecture where there is a rich natural environment, this land located at the southern foot of the Yatsugatake Mountains is exceptional in terms of the beauty of its new green leaves in the spring. The “Three Peaks Yatsugatake Trail Race” was held here for the first time in June 2013, and 700 runners (including those running the 38 km course) participated.
*Trail ratio: total percentage of the course that is unpaved
Difficulty level
Elevation difference1,500m
Travel distance23km
Gradient