KAGASPA 100K — Kaga Spa Trail Endurance by UTMB

競走

KAGASPA 100K — Kaga Spa Trail Endurance by UTMB

Night start through rhododendron forests and ancient beech groves surrounding a 1,300-year-old hot spring village.

2026-06-20 18:30 JST (Saturday evening)

At a Glance

Distance 60.5 mi (97.4 km)
Elevation Gain 16,804 ft (5,122 m)
Elevation Loss 16,804 ft (5,122 m)
Cutoff 27 hours
Start Time 6:30 PM Sat
Latest Finish 9:30 PM Sun
UTMB Index 100K category
Finisher Rate ~55-65%

The Course

01

Full Course — Single Stage Ultra

60.5 mi (97.4 km) 16,804 ft (5,122 m)

A single continuous loop starting and finishing at Yukemuri Kenkou Village in Yamanaka Onsen. The course winds through the foothills of Mt. Hakusan, traversing dense rhododendron forests, ancient beech groves, ridgeline trails, and river valleys. The first half runs through the night on technical mountain singletrack with significant vertical gain. Dawn breaks around km 45-50 as runners descend from the high points into forested valleys. The second half features rolling terrain through cedar plantations and hot spring villages before the final push back to Yamanaka Onsen.

Strategy Notes

  1. 1 Night section (km 0-45): Conservative pace, save legs for the second half. Headlamp management is critical — fresh batteries at halfway.
  2. 2 Eat early and often. Target 250-300 cal/hour from the start. The aid stations serve Japanese race food: onigiri, miso soup, udon, pickled plums.
  3. 3 The major climbs come in the first 40 km. Hike the steeps, run the flats and downs.
  4. 4 Dawn transition (~km 45-50): Mental reset point. Swap to sunglasses, apply sunscreen at the next aid station.
  5. 5 Final 20 km: The course flattens out but fatigue is real. Stay on top of nutrition and keep moving through aid stations.
  6. 6 Heat risk in the afternoon section (km 60-97). Soak hat and buff at every water point.

Race Day Timeline

Fri Jun 19, PM

Travel to Yamanaka Onsen

Arrive and check into ryokan

Sat Jun 20, 10:00

Race HQ opens — Bib pickup & mandatory gear check

Yukemuri Kenkou Village. Bring all mandatory gear for inspection.

Sat Jun 20, 14:00

Pre-race briefing (mandatory)

Course updates, weather forecast, safety instructions. In Japanese with English summary.

Sat Jun 20, 16:00

Drop bags close

Label and deposit any drop bags for mid-course aid stations.

Sat Jun 20, 17:30

Transition area opens

Final gear check, headlamp test, start corral assembles.

Race Start
Sat Jun 20, 18:30

RACE START

Night start from Yukemuri Kenkou Village. Headlamps on.

Sat Jun 20, ~21:00

Estimated: Aid 1 (~15 km)

First major checkpoint. Top up water and food.

Sat Jun 20, ~23:30

Estimated: Aid 2 (~28 km)

Deepest night section. Check headlamp batteries.

Sun Jun 21, ~02:00

Estimated: Aid 3 (~40 km)

Highest point area. Drop bag access if available. Warmest layers needed.

Sun Jun 21, ~04:30

Dawn breaks

Sunrise over the mountains. Major morale boost.

Sun Jun 21, ~05:00

Estimated: Aid 4 (~52 km)

Halfway checkpoint. Hot food available — miso soup, udon.

Sun Jun 21, ~08:00

Estimated: Aid 5 (~65 km)

Entering the warm afternoon section. Load up on water.

Sun Jun 21, ~11:00

Estimated: Aid 6 (~78 km)

Last major aid before the finish push. Take your time here.

Sun Jun 21, ~14:00-16:00

Estimated finish (20-22 hours)

Back at Yukemuri Kenkou Village. Onsen awaits!

Sun Jun 21, 21:30

RACE CUTOFF (27 hours)

Course closes. Sweepers collect remaining runners.

Spectator Guide

Crew support is ONLY allowed at CP2: Kenmin no Mori (65.6 km) — the sole crew access point. Shuttle bus runs hourly from Yamanaka Onsen Bus Terminal to CP2 (3,000 JPY round trip, 50 seats, buy at EXPO). Mid-pack runners arrive CP2 midnight to noon Sunday. Between start and CP2, track on UTMB Live and enjoy the onsen.

1

Start/Finish — Yukemuri Kenkou Village

The race starts and finishes here. The start is an electric atmosphere with a night send-off at 6:30 PM Saturday. The finish area will be active from Sunday morning through the 9:30 PM cutoff. There are food stalls, a results board, and a festive atmosphere as finishers come in.

Best for Race start (Sat 6:30 PM), finish line cheering (Sun morning through evening)
2

Yamanaka Onsen Town Center

The town itself is compact and walkable. Between the start and finish, spectators can explore the Kakusenkei Gorge, visit Kiku no Yu bathhouse, walk Korogi Bridge, and browse shops along the onsen street. Many restaurants and cafes stay open late during race weekend.

Best for Downtime between start and finish, exploring the 1,300-year-old hot spring village
3

Accessible Aid Stations (if open to spectators)

Some UTMB races allow spectators at certain roadside aid stations. Check the race briefing for which checkpoints have spectator access. These are typically at road crossings where the course is accessible by car. Arrive early as parking is limited.

Best for Mid-race cheering if spectator access is confirmed at the pre-race briefing
4

Kakusenkei Gorge

A stunning riverside gorge walk just minutes from the race venue. Natural beauty, a riverside cafe serving matcha, and peaceful forest paths. Perfect way to pass the overnight hours or the long wait during the race.

Best for Morning walks while waiting for the runner, peaceful recovery spot post-race

Live Tracking

UTMB Live

Live

Download the UTMB Live app (iOS/Android) before race day. Search for "KAGASPA" or "Kaga Spa Trail" and favorite the runner by bib number. The app shows real-time GPS position, split times at each checkpoint, estimated pace, and projected finish time. You will get push notifications when the runner passes each timing point. Also works via the web at live.utmb.world.

AK
Tracking Athlete Andrew Kent
Open UTMB Live

Spectator Kit

What to bring on race day.

UTMB Live app installed and configured with runner's bib number
Portable phone charger — you will be tracking all day and night
Light rain jacket — mountain weather is unpredictable
Comfortable walking shoes for Yamanaka Onsen and gorge walks
Snacks and water for yourself
Camera — the start line atmosphere is unforgettable
Cash (yen) — some local shops and bathhouses are cash-only
Onsen towel — many bathhouses provide towels, but bring a small one just in case
Patience and a good book — the wait between start and finish is long
Warm layer for the overnight — temperatures drop in the mountain village
Cowbell or noisemaker for the finish line

Runner Gear List

Mandatory and recommended equipment.

Headlamp x2 (mandatory) — primary + backup, each with fresh batteries
Whistle (mandatory) — attached to pack
Space blanket / emergency blanket (mandatory)
Waterproof jacket with sealed seams and hood (mandatory)
Waterproof pants (mandatory if forecast calls for rain)
Warm long-sleeve top / thermal layer (mandatory)
Mobile phone with full charge (mandatory) — store race emergency number
Personal drinking cup (mandatory) — 150ml minimum, eco-cups at aid stations
Water carrying capacity — minimum 1L, recommend 1.5L (soft flasks or bladder)
Food reserves — enough to cover between aid stations (~2-3 hours of calories)
First aid kit — tape, blister care, personal meds
Trail running shoes with good grip — aggressive tread for technical mountain terrain
Trekking poles (recommended) — collapsible, for the steep climbs
GPS watch with course loaded (recommended)
Change of socks in drop bag
Extra batteries for headlamp in drop bag
Warm gloves and beanie — nights above 1,000m can be cold even in June

Course Map

Interactive map showing the full course route and aid stations. Zoom and pan to explore.

Scroll to explore the full route

Official Links

Official Race Page https://kagaspa.utmb.world/races/KagaSpa100
Live Tracking https://live.utmb.world