Yamanashi City Kyoho Hill Marathon

The Yamanashi City Kyoho Hill Marathon (巨峰の丘マラソン) is one of Japan's most distinctive late-summer road races, combining challenging hill running with one of the country's most celebrated grape-growing regions. Held annually in Makinohara (Makioka), Yamanashi City, the event has become famous for its relentless climbs, spectacular vineyard scenery, and generous post-race hospitality featuring the region's signature Kyoho grapes and Shine Muscat grapes. Rather than chasing fast times, runners come to test themselves on a demanding course while enjoying the unique atmosphere of rural Yamanashi at harvest season.

The race winds through the rolling vineyards of the Makioka district, an area recognized as part of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) for its centuries-old fruit cultivation. Participants tackle a course with approximately 300 metres of elevation change, making it considerably more demanding than a typical road race of similar distance. The climbs are rewarded with panoramic views across vineyards, orchards, and the surrounding mountains, offering one of the most scenic race experiences in central Japan.