{"id":8564,"date":"2021-04-30T12:04:27","date_gmt":"2021-04-30T03:04:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/?page_id=8564"},"modified":"2026-05-13T06:15:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T21:15:48","slug":"hokushou-new","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/hokushou-new\/","title":{"rendered":"Hokusho Road Race Tournament - A citizens' marathon running through the countryside of Hokkaido (Hokuryu Town)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Five stories that touch the soul of Hokuryu Town<\/p>\n

\"\u3072\u307e\u308f\u308a\u307e\u3064\u308a\u7269\u8a9e\"Sunflowers and History<\/span>The Sunflower Festival Story<\/span><\/a>\"\u8fb2\u696d\u30fb\u98df\u3068\u547d\"Agriculture, Food, and Life<\/span>The Sunflower Rice Story<\/span><\/a>\"\u8fb2\u696d\u30fb\u9ed2\u5343\u77f3\"Agriculture - Kurosenkoku<\/span>The Story of Kurosenkoku Soybeans<\/span><\/a>\"\u8fb2\u696d\u30fb\u3059\u3044\u304b\"Agriculture - Watermelon<\/span>The Story of Sunflower and Watermelon Cultivation<\/span><\/a>\"\u8fb2\u696d\u30fb\u30e1\u30ed\u30f3\"Agriculture - Melons<\/span>The Story of Sunflower Melon Cultivation<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

What is the Hokusho Road Race Tournament?<\/h2>\n

The Kitasho Road Race Tournament began in 1965 (Showa 40).
\nIt started with the desire of Yoshio Komatsu, then chairman of the Hokuryu Town Chamber of Commerce, to "inspire young people to dream through a marathon event."<\/p>\n

The name "Hokusho" comes from the fact that the original organizer was the Hokuryu Town Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the abbreviation for the organization was used. Currently, since 2002, the event has been hosted by the Hokuryu Town Athletic Association, but the name has been preserved in order to respect the origins of the event.
\nAt the time, the course was approximately 16km long, running from Hokuryu Town through Imobeushi Town and Chishibetsu Town. Later, the course was changed to run along National Route 275 and turn around in Numata Town, and in 1973 (Showa 48), it became a certified course by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations. Runners from all over the country gathered, and 500 people participated in the 1995 (Heisei 7) event.<\/p>\n

However, in 2003, due to traffic safety concerns, the course was changed to Sunflower Village, and the event was transformed into a citizen's marathon that runs through Sunflower Village and rural areas.<\/p>\n

In 2014 (Heisei 26), the event celebrated its 50th anniversary, with 480 participants from all over the country. The prize was a "Sunflower rice "Yumepirika"<\/a>" 10kg.<\/p>\n

Starting with the 51st race in 2015, timing chips have been used, and we are also focusing on our timing system.<\/p>\n

Starting with the 53rd race in 2017 (Heisei 29), a half marathon, elementary school division, and junior high school division were added.<\/p>\n

Starting with the 59th race in 2023 (Reiwa 5), the half marathon will be eliminated and the competition events will be 10km, 5km, 3km, 2km and parent-child pairs.<\/p>\n

Starting with the 61st race in 2025 (Reiwa 7), the competition events will be 10km, 5km, 3km, and 3km parent-child pairs.<\/p>\n

This is an exhilarating race in which participants run through the land of Hokuryu, Japan's rice-producing region, breathing in the Hokkaido early autumn breeze.<\/p>\n\n

\n
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\n 62nd Kitasho Road Race 2026 - Event Guidelines<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
Hokush\u014d Road Race (Hokury\u016b Town, Hokkaido): Run through the sunflower field!<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \"\u7b2c62\u56de\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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\n 61st Hokusho Road Race Tournament 2025 Results<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
August 21, 2025 (Thursday) 61st Kitasho Road Race 2025 - Results Date and Time: August 17, 2025 (Sunday) ...<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \"\u7b2c61\u56de\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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\n [Notice] Sunflower Festival Parking Fee Information<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
June 23, 2025 (Monday) [Notice] Information on parking fees for the Sunflower Festival Thank you for your continued support of the Hokuryu Town Sunflower Festival...<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \"\u3010\u304a\u77e5\u3089\u305b\u3011\u3072\u307e\u308f\u308a\u307e\u3064\u308a\u99d0\u8eca\u6599\u91d1\u306e\u3054\u6848\u5185\"\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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\n Kitasho Road Race (Category)<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
This is an article about the Kitasho Road Race Tournament.\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \"\u5317\u5546\u30ed\u30fc\u30c9\u30ec\u30fc\u30b9\u5927\u4f1a\uff08\u30ab\u30c6\u30b4\u30ea\u30fc\uff09\"\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n

Events<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u00a0Event<\/span><\/td>\nEligibility<\/span><\/td>\nStart time<\/span><\/td>\n61st (2025)
\nresult<\/a>\u30fb1st place<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a010 km<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nGeneral public (high school students and above)<\/td>\n9:00 start<\/td>\n\u30fbBoys 31:47
\nWomen 37:35<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0 \u00a05 km<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nGeneral public (high school students and above)<\/p>\n

Junior high school boys and girls<\/td>\n

9:00 start<\/td>\n\u30fbBoys 16:14
\nWomen's 19:01
\n\u30fbBoys 16:47
\nWomen's 20:20<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0 \u00a03 km<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nGeneral public (high school students and above)<\/p>\n

Elementary school boys and girls<\/td>\n

09:10 Start<\/td>\n\u30fbBoys 09:02
\nWomen's 10:40
\n\u30fbBoys 11:36
\nWomen's 12:12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0 2 km Parent-Child Pair<\/b>
\n<\/span><\/td>\n		Parents and grandparents
\nChildren under the third grade of elementary school<\/td>\n		09:10 Start<\/td>\n\u00a0Parent-child pair 08:16<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

* All events except for the 3km pairThe total capacity is expected to be 300 people.<\/strong>Applications will be closed once the capacity is reached (from the 59th event in 2023 onwards).<\/p>\n

\u203b Time limit: 2 hours (from the starting gun)<\/strong>
\nCompetitors who exceed the time limit may be asked to stop the race. In that case, please follow the instructions of the race staff and get back into your car.<\/p>\n

Tournament course<\/h2>\n

\"\u5317\u5546\u30ed\u30fc\u30c9\u30ec\u30fc\u30b9\u5927\u4f1a\u30b3\u30fc\u30ba\uff08\u7b2c59\u56de\u30fb2023\u5e74\u4ee5\u964d\uff09\"Kitasho Road Race Course (59th, 2023 and beyond)<\/a>
\n
\n\"\u5317\u5546\u30ed\u30fc\u30c9\u30ec\u30fc\u30b9\u5927\u4f1a\u30b3\u30fc\u30b9\"Google Maps here >><\/b>Kitasho Road Race Tournament Cause (59th, 2023 and beyond)<\/a><\/center><\/p>\n

Tournament overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Tournament Name<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0Hokusho Road Race Tournament<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Venue<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0Hokuryu Town, Uryu District, Hokkaido (map<\/a>\uff09<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
On-site registration and starting point<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0Sunflower Village, Itaya, Hokuryu Town, Uryu District, Hokkaido
\n[On the day]
\nReception: 6:30-8:00
\nOpening Ceremony: 8:20
\nStart: 9:00 (10km\/5km)
\n09:10 (3km\/2km pair)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Organizer\/Secretariat<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u25b6<\/span> Organizer:<\/b>Hokuryu Town Sports Association (Hikaru Tanimoto<\/a> chairman)
\nHokuryu Town Construction Division, 11-1 Wa, Hokuryu Town, Uryu District, Hokkaido (Postal code: 078-2512)
\nTel: 0164-34-7034
\nFax: 0164-34-2118
\n\u25b6<\/span> Sponsored by:<\/b>Hokuryu Town Chamber of Commerce<\/a>\u30fbHokuryu Town<\/a>\u30fbHokuryu Town Board of Education<\/a>\u30fbHokuryu Town Sunflower Tourism Association<\/a>\u30fbJA Kitasorachi Hokuryu Branch<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Course characteristics and weather<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u25b6<\/span> Course Features<\/b>
\n\u30fbThis is a farm road course in the countryside of Hokuryu Town, a rice-producing region of Japan.
\n\u30fbExcept for agricultural vehicles, there are few cars on this asphalt course, so it is free from exhaust fumes.
\n\u30fbUnfortunately, the sunflowers at Sunflower Village have already passed their peak blooming season and some areas have withered.
\n\u30fbThere are some ups and downs on the course
\n\u25b6<\/span> weather<\/b>
\n- July 2025 (31 days)Weather records (minimum and maximum temperatures, etc.) can be found here >><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
water supply<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a06 locations<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Recording and Measurement<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0Chip measurement (adopted from the 51st race)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Award<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u30fbTop 4 in each category (Prizes include 5kg-10kg of Hokuryu Town rice)
\n- Awards will be given to the top 6 in the elementary and junior high school divisions.<\/p>\n
Participation Prize<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u30fbA commemorative T-shirt will be presented
\n\u30fbElementary and junior high school students (regardless of the event they participate in) and elementary school parent-child pairs will receive a book voucher.
\n\u30fbCompletion certificate
\n\u30fbSunflower Park Hokuryu Onsen bathing ticket
\n- Sunflower melons will be served after the finish line.
\n* It will be enclosed with your race number.
\n* A "record list" will be posted after the competition is over.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Drinks and snacks (shop)<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\"\u3072\u307e\u308f\u308a\u89b3\u5149\u30bb\u30f3\u30bf\u30fc\"<\/a>
\n[Himawari Tourist Center (large covered facility)]
\nShops inside (approximately 4-5 stores)
\n143-2 Itaya, Hokuryu-cho, Uryu-gun, Hokkaido (map<\/a>\uff09\uff08Sunflower Festival<\/a>Open during the event)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
toilet<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\"\u3072\u307e\u308f\u308a\u89b3\u5149\u30bb\u30f3\u30bf\u30fc\"<\/a>
\nNext to Himawari Tourist Center
\n\u30fbAvailable 24 hours a day (wheelchair-accessible toilet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
parking<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u30fbPassenger cars: 500 (large buses and campers allowed)
\nParking fee: Standard vehicle: 500 yen
\nMotorcycles: 100 yen
\nLarge buses and campers (over 6m)... 2,000 yen
\n(Free for Hokuryu residents)\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Natural hot springs, restaurants and hotels<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0Sunflower Park Hokuryu Onsen<\/a>
\n\u30fb1.4km north from Himawari no Sato, about 3 minutes by car
\n\u30fbNearby restaurants >><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
access<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0Access to Himawari no Sato<\/a>Please refer to<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Event details<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/td>\n\n
\n
Related articles<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n 62nd Kitasho Road Race 2026 - Event Guidelines<\/a>\n <\/div>\n
Hokush\u014d Road Race (Hokury\u016b Town, Hokkaido): Run through the sunflower field!<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \"\u7b2c62\u56de\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Latest Articles<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
Hokusho Road Race Tournament Latest Articles<\/div>\n
\n
\n

\u25b6<\/span> We bring you the latest information on the Hokuryu Town Half Marathon, which runs through the countryside of Hokuryu Town, Hokkaido.<\/span><\/p>\n

Click here for the latest articles related to the Hokusho Road Race >><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"\u5317\u5546\u30ed\u30fc\u30c9\u30ec\u30fc\u30b9\u5927\u4f1a\"<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Related articles<\/h2>\n

\u30fb62nd Kitasho Road Race 2026 - Event Guidelines<\/a>(May 1, 2026)
\n\u30fb61st Hokusho Road Race Tournament 2025 Results<\/a>(August 21, 2025)
\n\u30fb61st Hokusho Road Race Tournament 2025 Event Guidelines<\/a>(June 7, 2025)
\n\u30fb60th Hokusho Road Race Tournament 2024 Results<\/a>(August 21, 2024)
\n\u30fb60th Hokusho Road Race Tournament 2024 Event Guidelines<\/a>(June 7, 2024)
\n\u30fb59th Hokusho Road Race Tournament 2023 Results<\/a>(August 22, 2023)
\n\u30fb59th Hokusho Road Race Tournament 2023 Event Guidelines<\/a>(May 15, 2023)
\n\u30fbNotice of Cancellation of the 58th Hokusho Road Race Tournament 2022<\/a>(April 14, 2022)
\n\u30fbNotice of Cancellation of the 57th Hokusho Road Race Tournament 2021<\/a>(April 30, 2021)
\n\u30fbNotice of Cancellation of the 56th Hokusho Road Race Tournament 2020<\/a>(May 1, 2020)
\n\u30fb55th Hokusho Road Race Tournament 2019 Results<\/a>(July 22, 2019)
\n\u30fb55th Hokusho Road Race Tournament 2019 Event Details<\/a>(April 12, 2019)
\n\u30fb54th Hokusho Road Race Tournament 2018 Results<\/a>(July 23, 2018)
\n\u30fb54th Hokusho Road Race Tournament 2018 Event Details<\/a>(December 22, 2017)
\n\u30fb53rd Hokusho Road Race Tournament 2017 Results<\/a>(July 24, 2017)
\n\u30fb53rd Hokusho Road Race Tournament 2017 Event Guidelines<\/a>(December 7, 2017)
\n\u30fb52nd Hokusho Road Race Tournament 2016 Cancellation Notice<\/a>(August 20, 2016)
\n\u30fb52nd Hokusho Road Race Tournament 2016 Event Guidelines<\/a>(May 10, 2016)
\n\u30fb51st Hokusho Road Race Tournament 2015 Results<\/a>(August 24, 2015)
\n\u30fb51st Hokusho Road Race Tournament 2015 Event Details<\/a>(April 29, 2015)
\n\u30fb50th Hokusho Road Race Tournament 2014 Event Guidelines<\/a>(June 25, 2014)<\/p>\n

Feature Articles<\/h3>\n

\u30fb480 people race through Hokuryu Town at the 50th Hokusho Road Race Tournament 2014<\/a>(August 26, 2014)
\n\u30fbFamily bonding at the 47th Hokuryu Road Race Tournament in Hokuryu Town (Hokkaido)<\/a>(August 21, 2011)
\n\u30fbThe 47th Kitasho Road Race Tournament (2011) is just around the corner!<\/a>(August 19, 2011)<\/p>\n

Reference information: Half marathon course map<\/h2>\n

\u2742 53rd (2017) to 55th (2019)<\/p>\n

Tournament course<\/h2>\n

\"\u5317\u5546\u30ed\u30fc\u30c9\u30ec\u30fc\u30b9\u5927\u4f1a\u30b3\u30fc\u30ba\"Kitasho Road Race Course (Half Marathon will be discontinued from 2023)<\/a>
\n
\n\"\u5317\u5546\u30ed\u30fc\u30c9\u30ec\u30fc\u30b9\u5927\u4f1a\u30b3\u30fc\u30b9\"Google Maps here >><\/b>(Half-Japanese races will no longer be available from 2023)<\/a><\/center>\u2742 We would like to introduce the road race course map created by the participants of the road race competition.\n<\/div>\n
\"\u5317\u7adc\u753a\u5317\u5546\u30ed\u30fc\u30c9\u30ec\u30fc\u30b9<\/a>
Hokuryu Town Hokusho Road Race Course Map (July 2020)
(The half marathon will no longer be held from 2023.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u25c7<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u5317\u7adc\u753a\u306e\u9b42\u306b\u89e6\u308c\u308b5\u3064\u306e\u7269\u8a9e \u3072\u307e\u308f\u308a\u30fb\u6b74\u53f2\u3072\u307e\u308f\u308a\u307e\u3064\u308a\u7269\u8a9e\u8fb2\u696d\u30fb\u98df\u3068\u547d\u3072\u307e\u308f\u308a\u30e9\u30a4\u30b9\u7269\u8a9e\u8fb2\u696d\u30fb\u9ed2\u5343\u77f3\u9ed2\u5343\u77f3\u5927\u8c46\u7269\u8a9e\u8fb2\u696d\u30fb\u3059\u3044\u304b\u3072\u307e\u308f\u308a\u3059\u3044\u304b\u683d\u57f9\u7269\u8a9e\u8fb2\u696d\u30fb\u30e1\u30ed\u30f3\u3072\u307e\u308f\u308a\u30e1\u30ed\u30f3\u683d\u57f9\u7269\u8a9e \u5317\u5546\u30ed\u30fc\u30c9\u30ec […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":50095,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-8564","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8564","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8564"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8564\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":74709,"href":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8564\/revisions\/74709"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50095"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/portal.hokuryu.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8564"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}