Hokusho Road Race Competition, citizens' marathon through the countryside of Hokkaido (Hokuryu Town)
What is the Hokusho Road Race Tournament?
The Hokusho Road Race Tournament began in 1965.
It started with the desire of Yoshio Komatsu, then chairman of the Hokuryu Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to "give young people a dream by running a marathon.
The name "Hokusho" comes from the fact that the original organizer of the event was the Hokuryu Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which used "Hokusho" as an abbreviation for the organization. Currently, the Hokuryu-cho Sports Association has hosted the event since 2002 (Heisei 14), but the name has been carried on, respecting the origin of the event.
At that time, the course was approximately 16 km long, running from Hokuryu Town through the towns of Imosegyu and Chichibubetsu. Later, the course was changed to one that ran along Route 275 and turned around in Numata Town, and in 1973, it became a course certified by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations. Arika runners gather from all over Japan, and in 1995, 500 people participated in the event.
However, in 2003, due to traffic safety issues, the course was changed to the Sunflower Village, and the marathon became a citizens' marathon running through the Sunflower Village and the countryside.
In 2014 (Heisei 26), the 50th anniversary of the event, which marked half a century, 480 people from all over the country participated. The supplementary prize was a "Bamboo" which is cultivated wholeheartedly by the residents of Hokuryu Town, with the "Himawari Rice "Yumepirika10 kg.
Since the 51st edition in 2015 (2015), we have adopted a measurement chip. We are also working on our measurement system.
Beginning with the 53rd edition in 2017 (Heisei 29), the half marathon, elementary school and junior high school divisions have been added.
Starting with the 59th race in 2023, the half marathon will no longer be held, and the events will be 10 km, 5 km, 3 km, and 3 km parent-child pairs.
This event is an exhilarating run through the land of Hokuryu-cho, one of Japan's rice-producing areas, with the wind of Hokkaido in early autumn filling the air.
event event
| event | entry qualifications | Start time | 59th (2023) result1st place |
| 10km | General male/female (high school students and above) | 09：00 Start | Men 32:56 Women 38:34 |
| 5km | General male/female (high school students and above) Junior high school male/female | 09：00 Start | Men 17:17 Women 19:48 Men 20:34 Women 29:16 |
| 3km | General male/female (high school students and above) Elementary school boys and girls | 09:15 Start | Men 09:47 Women 13:22 Men 12:28 Women 14:35 |
| 3km parent-child pair | Parents and grandparents Child is under 3rd grade | 09:15 Start | Parent-child pair 16:30 |
All events except for "3km Pairs".Total capacity will be 300 people.The application will be closed as soon as it reaches the maximum number of participants (after the 59th 2023).
note (supplementary information) symbol Time limit: 2 hours (from the first gun)
Competitors who have exceeded the time limit may be ordered to stop the race midway through. In such cases, please follow the instructions of the officials and get back into your car.
Tournament Course
Hokusho Road Race Course (59th and after 2023)Click here for Google Map >>Beisho Road Race Competition Causes (59th, 2023 onwards)Tournament Outline
| Tournament Name | Hokusho Road Race Competition |
| Location | Hokuryu-cho, Uryu-gun, Hokkaido (Map) |
| Same-day registration/start point | Aza Itaya, Hokuryu-cho, Amaryu-gun, Hokkaido Himawari no Sato On the day Reception : 06:30 - 08:00 Opening Ceremony : 08:20 Commemorative photo: after the opening ceremony (with Mr. Abe) Start: 09:00 (10km and 5km) 09:10 (3km/3km Pairs) |
| Organizers and Secretariat | ▶ Sponsored by:Hokuryu Town Sports Association (Masato Sawada (Chairman) In the Hokuryu Town Board of Education, 11-1 Aza Wa, Hokuryu-cho, Amaryu-gun, Hokkaido, Japan (078-2512) Tel : 0164-34-2111 (main) Fax: 0164-34-2118 ▶ Sponsorship:Hokuryu Town Chamber of Commerce and Industryinterpoint (interword separation)Hokuryu Towninterpoint (interword separation)Hokuryu Town Board of Educationinterpoint (interword separation)Hokuryu-cho Sunflower Tourist Associationinterpoint (interword separation)JA Kitasorachi Hokuryu Branch Office |
| Course Characteristics / Weather | ▶ Course Features The course is on a farm road in the rice fields of Hokuryu Town, one of Japan's rice-producing areas. The course is asphalt, free from exhaust fumes, with few cars passing by, except for farm vehicles. Unfortunately, some plots in Sunflower Village are dead because they are past their full bloom. There are some ups and downs on the course. ▶ weather ...last year in August 2023 (31 days)Click here for weather records (minimum and maximum temperatures, etc.) >> |
| water supply | 3 locations |
| record and measurement | Chip measurement (adopted from the 51st) |
| commendation | Up to 4th place in each category (extra prize: 5kg-10kg of Hokuryu rice, etc.) Awards will be given to the 3rd place in the elementary and junior high school divisions |
| prize for participation | Commemorative towel Elementary and junior high school students (regardless of event), elementary school students in parent-child pairs will receive book coupons. Certificate of Completion Enclosed with your bib. The "Record List" will be posted after the competition. |
| Beverages and snacks (concession stand) | Sunflower Tourist Center (large covered facility) Stores (about 4-5 stores) in 143-2, Itaya, Hokuryu-cho, Amaryu-gun, Hokkaido, JapanMap) (Sunflower Festival(Open during the event) |
| toilet | Next to Sunflower Tourist Center Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are available 24 hours a day. |
| parking lot | Passenger cars: 500 (large buses and campers allowed) Free of charge, available 24 hours a day |
| Natural hot spring, restaurant, hotel | Sunflower Park Hokuryu Onsen 1.4 km north of Himawari no Sato, about 3 minutes by car interpoint (interword separation)Click here for nearby restaurants >> |
| Access | Access to Himawari no Satofor more information. |
| Details of the event | Hokuryu Town Portal Friday, June 7, 2024 Table of Contents 1 The 60th Hokusho Road Race 20242 Special Guest Runner: Masashi Abe 2.0... |
Latest Articles
▶ We provide the latest information on the Half Marathon (Hokuryu-cho, Hokkaido) running through the countryside of Hokuryu-cho, Hokkaido.
Click here for the latest articles related to the Hokusho Road Race >>
Related Articles
interpoint (interword separation)The 60th Hokusho Road Race 2024, Results(August 21, 2024)
interpoint (interword separation)The 60th HOKUSHO Road Race 2024, Outline(June 7, 2024)
interpoint (interword separation)59th HOKUSHO Road Race 2023, Results(August 22, 2023)
interpoint (interword separation)The 59th HOKUSHO Road Race 2023 - Guidelines(May 15, 2023)
interpoint (interword separation)58th Hokusho Road Race 2022, Cancelled(April 14, 2022)
interpoint (interword separation)Notice of Cancellation of the 57th Hokusho Road Race, 2021(April 30, 2021)
interpoint (interword separation)Notice of 2020 and Cancellation of the 56th Hokusho Road Race(May 1, 2020)
interpoint (interword separation)55th Hokusho Road Race Competition 2019 and Results(July 22, 2019)
interpoint (interword separation)55th Hokusho Road Race Tournament 2019, Guidelines for Organizers(April 12, 2019)
interpoint (interword separation)54th Hokusho Road Race Competition 2018 and Results(July 23, 2018)
interpoint (interword separation)54th Hokusho Road Race Competition 2018, Organizing Committee(Dec. 22, 2017)
interpoint (interword separation)53rd Hokusho Road Race Competition 2017 and Results(July 24, 2017)
interpoint (interword separation)53rd Annual Hokusho Road Race Competition 2017, Guidelines for Organizers(Dec. 7, 2017)
interpoint (interword separation)52nd Annual Hokusho Road Race Competition 2016 - Notice of Cancellation(Aug. 20, 2016)
interpoint (interword separation)52nd Hokusho Road Race Tournament 2016, Guidelines for Organizers(May 10, 2016)
interpoint (interword separation)51st Hokusho Road Race Competition 2015, Results(Aug. 24, 2015)
interpoint (interword separation)51st Hokusho Road Race Competition 2015, Guidelines for Organizers(April 29, 2015)
interpoint (interword separation)The 50th HOKUSHO Road Race 2014 - Event Outline(June 25, 2014)
special feature article
interpoint (interword separation)480 run through Hokuryu Town at the 50th Hokusho Road Race 2014(Aug. 26, 2014)
interpoint (interword separation)Families will be at peace at the "47th Hokusho Road Race Competition" at Hokuryu Town, Hokkaido, Japan.(Aug. 21, 2011)
interpoint (interword separation)The 47th Hokusho Road Race (2011) is just around the corner!(Aug. 19, 2011)
Reference information: Half Marathon Course Map
❂ 53rd (2017) - 55th (2019)
Tournament Course
Hokusho Road Race Course (the half is no longer available from 2023)Click here for Google Map >>(No more halves starting in 2023)(The half marathon will no longer be held from 2023)
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