About This Event
The Kaga Spa Trail Endurance 100 by UTMB marks Japan's first UTMB World Series event, set in the historic hot spring resort of Yamanaka Onsen in Ishikawa Prefecture. The race takes place among the ancient mountains of Kanan Sanzan, including Mt. Fuji Shagatake, Mount Dainichi, and Mount Kurakake, where primeval beech forests and mountain streams create a stirring backdrop for trail runners. Yamanaka Onsen brings 1,300 years of healing tradition to this inaugural event, offering runners the unique opportunity to experience Japan's renowned hot spring culture alongside world-class trail racing. The resort town, once visited by the famous poet Matsuo Basho during his journey along the "Oku no Hosomichi," provides an authentic cultural immersion where local hospitality meets international trail running community. The 2025 inaugural event welcomed approximately 2,500 runners, including 800 international participants from 42 countries. Race Director Jiro Takikawa, inspired by his own transformative UTMB experience in Chamonix, has committed to continuous improvement and delivering an unforgettable experience that honors both the natural beauty of Kaga and the warmth of its people.
Choose Your Distance
20K
The course departs from Kenmin no Mori into the forested terrain characteristic of Kaga's mountains. Mixed terrain suggests runners will encounter both maintained trail sections and more technical passages, though the exact nature of these segments has not been detailed by race organizers. Japanese trail maintenance tends toward careful preservation of natural features rather than extensive modification, so expect roots, rocks, and variable footing even on established paths. At 20 kilometers, the route provides a contained mountain running challenge suited to runners building trail experience. Forest canopy sections will offer shade, though June humidity in coastal Ishikawa Prefecture can make the effort feel harder than the distance suggests. The course showcases regional trail character while remaining accessible to runners with moderate fitness and basic technical skills.
50K
100K
The 100K route explores the full scope of the Kanan Sanzan range, linking a series of peaks through dense beech forest corridors that have stood for centuries. The terrain alternates between technical singletrack and occasionally runnable ridge sections, though runners should expect the climbs to be characteristically Japanese in their directness. Forest canopy provides intermittent shade, though humidity persists regardless of sun exposure. Aid station spacing follows Japanese ultrarunning conventions, typically more frequent than Western races, often featuring local foods alongside standard ultra fare. The course passes through small mountain settlements where community support adds a distinctly regional flavor to the experience.