| 写真出典元： |
栃木県庁 日光市公式観光Web 他 |
|---|
A course packed with various aspects of "Japanese" beauty!
The Kanuma Satsuki Marathon is a half marathon held in Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture, about 2 hours by train from Tokyo. While gazing at the grand view of the Nikko mountain range rising like a magnificent wall in the distance, you can fully enjoy the fresh greenery of early summer in the urban areas and rural countryside. In May, when the vivid satsuki flowers (a type of azalea) are at their peak, they color the roadside. With a refreshing breeze, this moderately undulating and runner-friendly course lets you experience "traditional Japanese natural beauty".
Don’t miss the magnificent “carved festival floats” created with techniques from Nikko Toshogu
Legend has it that many of the "carved festival floats" preserved in Kanuma were created by sculptors
from Nikko Toshogu Shrine, home to numerous national treasures. These floats are entirely adorned with
bold and intricate carvings, passed down over 200 years to the present day. Seeing them along the course
is sure to boost your spirits!
In addition, race participants receive free admission to the Carved Float Exhibition Hall and the
Kawakami Sumio Art Museum.
Enjoy the local specialty strawberries!
Kanuma is known as a “city of strawberries.” At the venue, runners are treated to Tochiotome
strawberries—grown in Japan and rarely available elsewhere—whose juicy sweet-and-tart flavor soothes
post-race fatigue.
Around the venue, you can also savor Kanuma's renowned soba noodles. The satsuki flowers (a type of
azalea), which give the event its name, are in full bloom, and out-of-city participants receive satsuki
seedlings as a gift!
The "Kanuma Satsuki Festival," held nearby around the same time, features beautiful bonsai-style satsuki
displays, allowing you to enjoy Japan's unique flower culture. Bonsai enthusiasts should definitely
check it out!
Easy access and sightseeing in Kanuma!
Great accessibility from Tokyo—about 2 hours via the Tohoku Shinkansen and Tobu Line. Nearby Nikko, with its World Heritage site Toshogu Shrine and more, makes it perfect for combining with race travel. Shuttle buses run from JR Kanuma Station and Tobu Shin-Kanuma Station for peace of mind, and parking is fully available for those using rental cars.
