Akita 100-Kilometer Challenge Marathon | Runners Racing Through Nishiki Town and Dawn at NORICHIE
Akita 100-Kilometer Challenge Marathon(Official Name: 40° North Akita Inland Resort Cup Akita 100-Kilometer Challenge Marathon) is a one-way race that runs north to south, starting in Kakunodate, Semboku City, crossing the Daikaku-no Pass (elevation approx. 450 m), and finishing in Takano, Kitaakita City.This historic event is held every September. It features three categories—100 km, 70 km, and 50 km—with a total of over 1,000 runners participating.
Relative Location of the Course and NORICHIE
The 100km race starts at 4:30 a.m. from the Kakunodate Community Center.The route follows National Route 105, entering the Nishiki-machi area of Semboku City at the 5-kilometer mark from the start. Runners pass through this area around 5:00 a.m., just as the sky begins to lighten. Since NORICHIE is located in the rural countryside of Nishiki-machi, you can watch the runners race past the inn up close.
Highlights & How to Enjoy
- Best Time: Around 5:00 a.m. on the day of the race (usually a Sunday in late September; check the official website for the next date). The sight of runners approaching in a line of headlamp lights is a spectacle unique to this time of day.
- Recommended Experience: A popular way to spend the morning is to stay the night before, cheer the runners on right in front of the inn at dawn, and then enjoy the crisp autumn dawn once the runners have passed. Being able to enjoy breakfast right after cheering is a unique perk of staying at NORICHIE.
- Clothing & Essentials: It gets chilly in the early morning in late September, so it’s a good idea to bring something to wear over your clothes.
- Quietly watching is good etiquette: Cheering along the route is one of the race’s hallmarks, but since the course passes through residential areas and farm roads, it’s good etiquette to avoid shouting too loudly and to be mindful not to obstruct traffic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When is the Akita 100km Marathon held?
A. It is held every September (the 34th edition will take place on September 27, 2026).
Q. Where does the course go?
A. It is a one-way course of approximately 100 km, starting in Kakunodate, Semboku City, crossing the Daikakuno Pass, and finishing in Takano, Kitaakita City. The course passes through the Nishiki-machi area of Semboku City at the 5 km mark from the start.
Q. What time does the race start?
A. The 100 km race starts at 4:30 a.m. The 70 km race starts at 8:00 a.m., and the 50 km race starts at 10:30 a.m. (All starts are in front of the Kakunodate Exchange Center).
Q. Can I cheer on the runners from NORICHIE?
A. Yes. At NORICHIE, located in the rural countryside of Nishiki Town, we cheer on the runners as they pass through the course early every morning. If you stay overnight, you can witness this scene up close around dawn.
