Event Detail
The 13th Mt Hiei International Trail Run is scheduled for Saturday 13 March 2027, with the historic Enryakuji Temple complex on Mount Hiei in Otsu, Shiga Prefecture, serving as the event's registration area, start and finish. Organiser announcements confirm the 2027 date and venue. The race is produced by renowned Japanese trail runner Tsuyoshi Kaburaki and has become a distinctive mountain-running occasion combining steep forest trails with a site of deep religious and cultural significance.
The mountain challenge
Mount Hiei rises between Shiga Prefecture and Kyoto, and Enryakuji is the head temple of the Tendai Buddhist tradition. The event's official introduction celebrates the spiritual history of the trails and describes the demanding 50 km mountain-running experience. Expect a genuine trail-running test rather than a flat road race: sustained climbing, descending and the need to pace carefully on forested terrain are central to its identity.
Important edition distinction: the organiser's detailed race-information page still displays the 2026 programme. That previous edition listed 50 miles, 50 km and 23 km, with substantial cumulative climbing and different entry standards. Those figures are useful background, not confirmed 2027 distances, course measurements, start times or cut-offs. Only the 50 km experience is currently described on the event's updated 2027 homepage; runners should wait for updated category and course regulations before treating historic details as current.
Entry and race-day planning
The organiser's 2027 homepage currently labels the entry process not yet open. International-registration information is also marked as being prepared. There is consequently no verified 2027 entry fee, opening deadline, available places, race-pack pickup schedule or category-by-category start time to publish yet.
Mountain access deserves advance planning. Enryakuji is reached from the Shiga side via the Sakamoto Cable Car or from the Kyoto side via the Eizan cableway and local connections. Transport, parking and shuttle arrangements can vary with the race programme, so entrants should follow the organiser's 2027 access updates rather than relying on previous-year instructions. Before committing to the event, check the published mandatory-equipment list, qualification requirements and race-specific safety rules.