Shinshu-Togakushi Trail Race
Athlete Entitlements
Samurai Sports Advantage
Race Standard
Escape to the green mountains for a memorable weekend on the trails in the wooded forests of Togakushi! Blessed with an abundance of nature, heighten your senses in Nagano as you run along the historical Togakushi trail. The Shinshu Togakushi Trail Race boasts courses consisting of 95% trail and takes athletes through the Myoko Togakushi Mountains National Park.
On the course, you’ll also be treated to the serene beauty of the Togakushi Shrine, a Shinto shrine located at the base of Mt. Togakushi. Once an important pilgrimage site, the Togakushi Shrine is now frequented as a spiritual ‘power spot’ for those seeking positive vibes and good energy. Don’t let the course distances or scenery fool you – the Shinshu Togakushi Trail Race sees athletes gaining approximately 2,300 meters of elevation in both the 35KM and 45KM courses!
After the race, reward yourself with warm handmade Togakushi soba – an ever-popular treat for finishers each year. Don’t miss out on this beautiful mid-summer race hosted by one of Japan’s most established trail race organizers.
About Togakushi
Tucked away in the mountainous Kamikochi area of Nagano prefecture, Togakushi is a village known for its spiritual and historical significance. Partly located on the grounds of a national park, Togakushi is also host to one of Japan’s largest campgrounds. Togakushi is also famous for its soba and soba dishes, the origins of which are said to have come from the many visitors and pilgrims that visited the area carrying soba, a food easy to travel with.
About the Courses
45KM
Cover less elevation gain and more distance with the 45KM course! Athletes will race past famous landmarks such as Hoko-sha (lower shrine), dedicated to a patron goddess protecting maternity and academic life, and Kagami Ike (mirror pond), an artificial reservoir reflecting spectacular, seasonal views of the the Togakushi mountain range.
35KM
A tough course modeled after the routes of trainee monks in days past, athletes will scale nearly 2,390 meters for elevation gain slightly more than the longer 45KM course. All athletes in the 35KM course will be equipped with 1-day rental of Coco Heli, a personal locator beacon in case of emergency.
5KM
This course gives parents and their children the opportunity to run together on a suitable challenging and exciting course.
IMPORTANT
・The area is remote and both public transportation and lodging options are limited. If you can car pool or drive your own vehicle/rental car, you should. Interested participants may also include add-on options for local accommodation.
・For safety, all 35KM participants will be equipped with one-day rental of Coco Heli, a lightweight personal locator beacon capable of sending a distress signal and your location to a network of rescue helicopters throughout Japan. Rental fees are included in the entry fee.
For Reference
45KM = about 28 miles
35KM = about 21.7 miles
5KM = about 3 miles
- 00Days
Registration Period
TBA
Race Information Below Based on July 2020
(race postponed to September, then cancelled)
July 4, 2020 (Sat)
at Togakushi Ski Resort
1000-1730…Check in, race packet pick-up
1600-1640…Race briefing (in Japanese)
1645-1745…Pre-race dinner
July 5, 2020 (Sun)
at Togakushi Ski Resort
0530-0630…45KM check-in, packet pick-up
0530-0730…35KM check-in, packet pick-up
0700…45KM starts
0800…35KM starts
0830-0915…5KM check-in, packet pick-up
1000…5KM starts
1200…5KM cut-off time
1400…Awards
1700…35KM & 45K cut-off time, race ends
45KM (inclusive of accommodation)
¥18,700
35KM (inclusive of accommodation and Coco Heli )
¥18,700
Short Course (5KM)
Adult: ¥5,000
High school and under: ¥4,000
1 night accommodation for 5KM, non-participants
Adults: ¥8,000
Children (12 and under): ¥6,400
Single Room Request (not guaranteed; paid in cash upon check-in)
+ ¥4,000
Shared Room Request (both individuals must note the others name under “Special Requests”; paid in cash upon check-in)
+ ¥1,500 per person
Additional Surcharges
・Races organized by Fields include the following charges in this order: (a) entry/registration fee + (b) a flat rate ¥1,000 English support fee (by request from Fields) + (c) Samurai Sports’ service charge (¥1,000 up to ¥10,000; 10% of entry/registration fee above ¥10,001).
・The amounts reflected above and in Samurai Sports’ information are inclusive of all three parts, namely (a), (b), and (c). This is the sum you should for one (1) entry/registration without additional add-ons.
・Why does Samurai Sports implement a service charge? They help us cover the cost of operating the registration platform, translation of athlete guides/event information, labor hours required to answer your event inquiries, etc. Depending on the event, the surcharges help to cover the cost of our physical presence at the event.
Note about Accommodation
・The registration fee for the 35KM and 45KM include accommodation for the registering athlete. Athletes must stay in the designated accommodation on Saturday night before the race.
・The registration fee for the 5KM does not include accommodation; instead, 5KM participants have the option to add-on accommodation.
・All accommodation add-ons must be selected and noted during registration but payment is only in cash upon check-in.
Why? Samurai Sports and Fields encourages all athletes (regardless of distance) and their companions to arrange for and stay in their designated accommodation. The race organizers believe that this allows runners adequate rest on the night before the race and helps to prevent injuries or accidents that may occur during a race, especially one in a high altitude environment. Relax and get ready for the race – it will be an early start!
If your lodging circumstances have changed or need to be altered for any reason at all, please send us an email at info@samuraisports.co.jp by June 1, 2020
Age Eligibility (parent/guardian permission required if under 20 years old)
・45KM…18 or older
・35KM…18 or older
・5KM…must be in elementary or older
Cut Off Times
・45KM…10 hours
・35KM…9 hours
・5KM…2 hours
Important
・Demonstrate good manners. All participants must be respectful of the natural course environment and do his/her best to preserve it. Be mindful of other climbers and hikers on the trail.
・Be a responsible athlete. Please make sure you have the physical ability to complete the course.
Mandatory Gear
45KM & 35KM
・Coco Heli
・bear bell
・gloves
・emergency sheet
・rain wear with waterproof seams
・head lamp
・at least 1L of water
・nutrition/food, personal cup
・proof of health insurance
・mobile phone/smartphone with service in Japan
5KM
・at least 500ml of water
Course Map (all distances)…refer to this PDF
Aid Stations (distances TBA)
45KM…3 total
AS 1 Togakushi Chusha Zozeele | AS 2 Ichino Torii Garden | AS 3 Togakushi Campsite
35KM…2 total
AS 1 Togakushi Chusha Zozeele | AS 2 Iizuna Ski Resort
5KM…none
Elevation Profiles…link coming soon
45KM…+2,250m or +7,382ft
35KM…+2,390m or +7,841ft
5KM…TBA
Togakushi Ski Resort (start/finish)
3682-3 Togakushi, Nagano-shi, Nagano 381-4101
026-254-2106
Google Maps
This area can be difficult to access by public transportation, we recommend taking a private vehicle or rental car. Please ensure you have lodging and transportation plans figured out BEFORE registering for this event.
By Car (to Togakushi Ski Resort)
From Tokyo, about 4 hours (about 289KM / 180 miles)
From Nagoya, about 4.5 hours (about 329 KM / 204 miles)
From Yokota AB, about 3.5 hours (about 264KM / 164 miles)
From Yokosuka, about 4.5 hours (about 369KM / 229 miles)
By Train (to Togakushi Ski Resort)
From Tokyo, take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Nagano station (about 1 hour and 25 min). Then, take the Alpico bus (#70) to Togakushi Ski Resort (about 75 min.).
From Nagoya, take the JR Chuo Line Express Shinano to Nagano Station (about 2 hours and 45 min). Then, take the Alpico bus (#70) to Togakushi Ski Resort (about 75 min.).
View the Alpico bus time table between Nagano station and Togakushi Ski Resort here. Generally, there is one bus per hour starting around 0800AM and a last service around 1600PM or 1700PM depending on the direction. Note that the timetable changes from winter to spring/summer on March 31.
Shuttle Bus
A free shuttle bus will be available from the Togakushi Tourist Information Center to Togakushi Ski Resort (about 10 min.).
Saturday, July 4
Information Center to Togakushi Ski Resort (race venue)
12:40, 13:40, 14:45, 16:25, 17:25
Togakushi Ski Resort to Information Center
18:15
Sunday, July 5
Information Center to Togakushi Ski Resort (race venue)
04:50, 06:25, 07:20, 08:15, 09:05
Togakushi Ski Resort to Information Center
13:05, 14:05, 14:55, 15:55, 16:55, 18:15
Parking
Free; up to 500 vehicles
The parking lot has no specific address; please refer to “Start and Finish Line” for map guidance.
General
・ No refunds, deferrals, or credits will be issued.This applies to incidents in which the event is cancelled for any reason including personal participant circumstances of the participant (including illness and injury) and incidents in which the event is cancelled due to unforeseen weather conditions or natural disasters.
・Depending on the event, transfers and certain modifications to your entry may be permitted. Generally, entries may be transferable and/or permit modifications until 3-5 days before the last day of registration. After this period, all transfers are considered illegal and modifications will not be accommodated.
・You will not sue the event organizers nor its affiliates (including Samurai Sports) for any injury or death caused during the event.
・ You consent to and will give all authorities and copyright to the event organizer and affiliates for the use of photography, motion pictures, articles, recordings or any other record of this event (including personal information such as name, age, gender, personal record, portrait, and etc.) for legitimate purposes and use in newspapers, TV, magazines, internet and any media publishing such as Facebook posts, Instagram posts, and pamphlets.
Participants determined to be violating the policies below may be disqualified without a refund:
・Any person found to be bib-swapping (illegal transfer of bib); the person will be held responsible in case of an accident arising from or provoked by the other person during the event.
・Any person found to be registering with inaccurate information, i.e. false declarations of the participants name, age, or gender.
Insurance
・ Those participating and coming from abroad must be enrolled in medical and/or travel insurance in case of accident, injury, and medical emergencies.
・ Before signing up, please carefully read all rules and regulations of the event. If the rules and regulations cannot be followed, participation may be denied by the event organizers. If anything is unclear, please do not hesitate to contact us – it is your responsibility to be prepared.
・The race organizers have purchased accident insurance to cover participants’ accidents and injuries. The compensation is as follows: in case of death or lasting disability: ¥3,000,000. Hospitalization (per day): ¥3,000. Outpatient treatment (per day): ¥2,000
Athlete Guides
・In most cases, athlete guides in English will be sent via email approximately 2-3 weeks before the event. However, the delivery of athlete guides is entirely dependent on the timeliness of the event organizers. Samurai Sports takes approximately one to two days from receipt of the Japanese athlete guide to translate into English.
Additional Surcharges
・Races organized by Fields include the following charges in this order: (a) entry/registration fee + (b) a flat rate ¥1,000 English support fee (by request from Fields) + (c) Samurai Sports’ service charge (¥1,000 up to ¥10,000; 10% of entry/registration fee above ¥10,001).
・The amounts reflected above and in Samurai Sports’ information are inclusive of all three parts, namely (a), (b), and (c). This is the final sum you should expect your credit card to be charged for one (1) entry/registration without additional add-ons.
・Why does Samurai Sports implement a service charge? They help us cover the cost of operating the registration platform, translation of athlete guides/event information, labor hours required to answer your event inquiries, etc. Depending on the event, the surcharges help to cover the cost of our physical presence at the event. Learn more about Samurai Sports’ service charge.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
Course Preservation
・Do not leave the course or enter any off-course areas. When you pass another participant, hiker or local resident, be sure to stay on the course as a means of preserving the natural habitat and also preventing unfortunate incidents.
・No littering. Keep an eye out for your personal belongings! Please pick up any trash that you find on the site.
・Collecting or damaging plants or wildlife on the course and in the surrounding areas is strictly prohibited.
・Poles are permitted, but please attach rubber caps to the points. If we determine that the course is in poor condition, we may prohibit use of poles and similar equipment to prevent further deterioration. Be aware of those around you when using poles.
・You must walk sections marked as “Walking only” – this may be only
・Please use the toilets at each aid station, or use a portable toilet.
Consideration for Hikers, Local Residents, and Other Race Participants
・You are likely to encounter hikers and local residents on the course. When passing them in either direction, be sure to call out in advance and to exchange greetings to maintain good relations with the local community.
・Remember that the race is made possible thanks to the support of local residents and volunteers. Please show appropriate gratitude to them.
Safety Management
・If you decide that you are unable to continue due to injury or illness, please contact the nearest race staff member or race headquarters. The emergency telephone numbers are printed on your bib. In case the race officials find the race too difficult to continue, the race may be suspended or called off.
・The entire course is in a natural environment and the conditions are constantly changing. Pay attention to the circumstances around you as you run and do not force yourself into any difficult situations.
・Weather conditions on the course are likely to change suddenly, and participants can expect to face rain, strong winds or similar conditions that can cause hypothermia. Please make adequate preparations for such conditions in advance.
・Medical staff will be on-hand at race headquarters to deal with first aid for injuries and illness. Rescue vehicles are also on standby at each aid station to transport injured participants and those who drop out.
Dropping Out / DNF
・If you drop out during the race for any reason, be sure to tell course marshals or aid station staff member your name and bib number.
・If you are unable to do so at the time, please inform race headquarters as soon as possible and return your timing chip.
・If you arrive at a checkpoint past the cut off time, your race ends at this point. You MUST follow the instructions of the race staff and/or volunteers.
Course Markings
・Guide signs every 250 to 350 meters and guide tape (10cm-wide vinyl tape with a yellow “Fields” logo) are installed all along the course. Tape is attached to tree branches and in other visible locations at intersections and hazardous points on the course.
・If you lose sight of the guide tapes, return to the spot where you last saw it and follow the correct course. Course marshals will be at key locations such as intersections and road crossings, but following course markings is the responsibility of each participant.
Returning Your Timing Chip
・Your timing chip is attached to the rear side of your bib number. Please make sure to detach it and give it to race staff or put it in the chip return box after you finish the race.
・If you drop out during the race or decide not to start the race, please make sure to return your timing chip to race headquarters.
・There will be a ¥10,000 charge for lost or unreturned timing chips.
Check-In
・Participants who fail to check in before the check-in time will not be allowed to join the race.
GROUNDS FOR DISQUALIFICATION
・Participants who show inadequate respect for the environment and area by dumping garbage, entering areas off the course or other actions.
・Participants who fail to comply with instructions from race officials or course marshals.
・Participants who falsely declare their age, gender, and identification on their applications.
・Participants who commit wrongdoing.
・Participants who miss the starting time.
・Participants who fail to clear checkpoint cutoff times or those who do not reach the finish line by the final time limit. (Cutoff times are the times when you leave each checkpoint)
・Participants who fail to bring mandatory equipment.
・Participants who do not wear their bib appropriately. Attach your bib to your front without bending or otherwise manipulating it.
・Participants who run with headphones or similar items that block external sound, excluding hearing aids.
GROUNDS FOR CANCELLATION OF EVENT
・The race may be canceled for various reasons, including when a weather warning is issued, the course is in poor condition due to extreme weather, or participants’ safety cannot be guaranteed.
・Depending upon weather conditions, the race may also be delayed, rescheduled or the course may be changed to assure participants’ safety.
・No refunds or credits will be issued. This applies to incidents in which the event is cancelled for any reason including personal participant circumstances (such as illness) and incidents in which the event is cancelled due to unforeseen weather conditions or natural disasters.
Fields Sports Desk
English
info@samuraisports.co.jp
Japanese
0475-47-3017
info@fields-co.jp
Official Website (Japanese)
https://togakushi-trail.com/