KYOTO GREAT ROUND 2026 - Otsu and Kyoto, Japan

KYOTO GREAT ROUND 2026 is a three-day winter trail-running event around Kyoto and the Lake Biwa shoreline in Shiga Prefecture. The TRAILFEST RUNNING COMPANY series links the Higashiyama, Kitayama and Nishiyama mountain ridges on largely unmarked routes. Runners navigate using the organiser's GPX files and their own devices. This is a technical, self-managed mountain challenge rather than a conventional city race.

Distances and courses

Seven races share the 28–30 December 2026 programme. The selective 200K, with approximately 11,000 metres of ascent, starts at Biwako Hotel at 17:00 on Monday 28 December and finishes at Nagisa Park by 15:00 on Wednesday 30 December. It has a 46-hour limit and approximately ten places. Applications for that category have already closed. The 160K climbs around 8,400 metres in 31 hours, while the classic 130K involves about 6,100 metres of climbing with the same time limit. Other routes comprise 80K (4,100 metres ascent), 70K (3,100 metres), 30K (1,000 metres) and 10K (690 metres). These are provisional distances and elevation figures; final routes may change.

Starts and cut-offs

On Tuesday 29 December the 160K starts from Nagisa Park at 08:10, the 130K at 08:20–08:40 and the 80K at 08:50–09:00. The 80K finishes at the Kameoka riverside in the early hours of Wednesday. The 70K runs in the opposite direction, starting at Kameoka at 21:00 on Tuesday and finishing at Nagisa Park. The 30K starts at the Yodo River riverside at 09:00 on Wednesday, while the 10K leaves Nagisa Park at 11:00. The final 130K finish window closes at 15:40 on Wednesday.

Entry and race preparation

The six publicly bookable categories use Moshicom. Late entry closes on 25 November 2026 at 23:59 Japan time, unless places sell out earlier. Current entry fees range from JPY 6,000 for 10K to JPY 41,000 for 160K. The 200K is separately selected and costs JPY 30,000. Longer distances require qualifying endurance experience, with the 130K accepting a recent 50K trail finish or equivalent experience.

For 160K, 130K and 80K entrants, pre-race check-in is listed at Biwako Hotel on 28 December from 12:00 to 16:30. Some shorter races have separate race-day collection at their own starting points. The 80K, 70K and 30K offer transport of one bag of up to 42 litres between start and finish. Runners should carry suitable winter mountain clothing, navigation equipment, lighting and water, and consult the final runner guide for aid arrangements and mandatory kit. Original event merchandise and finisher goods are planned, but designs remain unconfirmed. Transport after late-night finishes should be arranged in advance.