Japan · Niigata
Distance
160 km
Date
Entry fee
JP¥48,000
€ / km
€1.59
New date pending
This race has already occurred. A new date for next year’s edition is pending.
Deep Japan Ultra 160km is a point-to-point mountain race through the remote Niigata highlands in Japan, starting June 25, 2026, from Otochiyama, Uonuma City. The 160km course gains 10,000m over 160km — 62.5m per kilometre — placing it among the most elevation-dense courses in the DTR database.
Distance-weighted average gradients are 13.4% uphill and 13.2% downhill; only 19.0% of the course is flat, and 14.3 km sits above 20% gradient. Entry costs ¥48,000 JPY (€1.59/km per the DTR AUTO calculation) and is qualification-gated — a minimum of 10 ITRA points is required. The 2026 edition is sold out. The course traverses remote mountain ridges and traditional Niigata villages, with aid stations up to 28km apart.
A Plan B 80km course activates in extreme weather. June race timing coincides with Japan's rainy season (tsuyu), with daytime highs up to 33°C recorded in past editions. Nearest airport is Niigata KIJ, 114 minutes from the start. First held in 2022 — approximately its fourth edition in 2026 — the race logged 63 finishers in 2025. Asia Trail Master series event. Suits highly experienced ultra runners comfortable with remote navigation, self-sufficiency, heat, and extreme gradient.
Total Meters
10,000m
D+/KM
62.5m/km
For context, the Tor des Géants 330 loop has 73 D+/km.
Avg Uphill Gradient
13.4%
Avg Downhill Gradient
-13.2%
| 2–5% | 18.8 km | |
|---|---|---|
| 5–10% | 18.0 km | |
| 10–15% | 11.3 km | |
| 15–20% | 7.2 km | |
| 20%+ | 14.3 km |
| 40.2% | Uphill |
|---|---|
| 19.0% | Flat |
| 40.7% | Downhill |
| 1 | 13.6 km · 1,274 m gain starts km 145 · avg 9.4% · max 60.2% |
|---|---|
| 2 | 7.3 km · 1,076 m gain starts km 54 · avg 14.8% · max 55.7% |
| 3 | 4.1 km · 901 m gain starts km 19 · avg 22.2% · max 70.1% |
| 1 | 13.5 km · 1,273 m drop starts km 63 · avg -9.4% · max -56.6% |
|---|---|
| 2 | 13.7 km · 1,214 m drop starts km 23 · avg -8.9% · max -67.8% |
| 3 | 8.3 km · 1,084 m drop starts km 159 · avg -13.0% · max -63.9% |
Extremely hard. The course covers 160km with 10,000m of gain (62.5m/km) through remote Niigata mountain ridges, with only 19% flat terrain and 14.31km at 20%+ gradient. Distance-weighted average gradients are 13.39% uphill and 13.24% downhill. A 1,274m climb arrives at km 145 — after 145km and roughly 40 hours on course. 46-hour time limit; estimated ~50% DNF rate.
A minimum of 10 ITRA points from a maximum of 3 races within the eligibility window, or 6+ ITRA points from a single race. The minimum age is 20. These requirements apply to the 160km distance — the 80km and 30km distances have different rules. Verify current requirements at deepjapanultra.com/regulations-en before applying.
Yes — the 2026 edition is sold out. The entry window ran from September 26, 2025 to February 27, 2026, and is now closed. The race sells out despite its small field (~63 finishers in 2025) and qualification requirements. Watch the official site (deepjapanultra.com) for 2027 registration opening.
Niigata Airport (KIJ) is the closest airport at approximately 114 minutes from the Uonuma start area. Public transport via bullet train to Urasa or Koide plus an official shuttle is feasible but requires advance planning. The race start area has limited accommodation (rural onsen lodges) — book early. The race is not flagged as FAR but logistics are non-trivial for international runners.
The race runs in late June during Japan's rainy season (tsuyu). Daytime temperatures have reached 33°C in past editions, with high humidity throughout. Some runners have dropped due to heat. Night sections are cooler but remain humid. Mountain sections at altitude can be significantly cooler. Expect heat, moisture, and potentially rapid condition changes.
Nearest airport
Niigata (KIJ)
Notes
Start: ~2–3 hrs by car or train+shuttle to the Uonuma race area / Public transport: workable via Urasa or Koide plus official shuttle options, but timing is less simple than Japan’s bigger city races / Accommodation: limited local lodges and onsen bases make early booking smart, especially if you want to stay close to Irihirose.
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