Gravel Races in Japan

International cycling event on Japan's most scenic route. 70km connecting six islands via suspension bridges between Hiroshima and Ehime.

The Eroica experience in Japan. Vintage bikes and retro cycling through the beautiful countryside of Ibaraki Prefecture, combining Italian cycling tradition with Japanese culture.

Biennial unsupported, untimed ultra-distance cycling adventure across Japan, starting at the foot of Sakurajima volcano in Kagoshima Bay and finishing in the Japanese Alps. Riders must pass mandatory checkpoints and ride fixed mountain segments but otherwise choose their own route. No ranking and no official finishing times. The 2025 edition ran from 3 October over 13 days, around 2,300 km with more than 46,000 m of climbing. A 2027 edition is confirmed by the organiser but the date and route have not yet been published.

First edition of Fuji Gravel's Yamanashi event, on 11 October 2026 in Nanbu Town, a green-tea region in Yamanashi's south. A non-competitive guided gravel ride (not timed) with guides handling navigation, aid and mechanical support across forest roads and satoyama with Mt. Fuji views, offered as Short (~49km) and Hard (~69km) courses.

A beginner-friendly two-day gravel event held 3-4 October 2026 in Hakuba against the backdrop of the Northern Japan Alps, organised by local volunteers together with iRC TIRE. Day 1 (Kamishiro course) is ~25-30km and Day 2 (Kitajo course) ~20-27.7km, for a two-day total of about 45km standard or ~58km with optional extensions (~650-1,060m climbing). It emphasises riding, food and community rather than competition, and is open to riders from elementary-school age up.

Long-running off-road endurance event on the forest and gravel fire roads of Mt. Ontake. The autumn 2026 edition runs 21-23 September, with the Cross Mountain Bike race on 22 September (start 06:00, 10-hour limit). It has an official gravel-bike class (drop bars, tyres up to 45mm) in the Long (~100km) and Middle (~51km) categories.

Autumn gravel riding through Hokkaido lavender fields, birch forests, and volcanic landscapes. Japan northernmost island offers wide-open roads and dramatic mountain scenery.

Hybrid gravel event through Hokkaido's magnificent landscapes on paved and unpaved forest and farm roads.

UCI Gravel World Series event in rural northern Japan. Mountain gravel through cedar forests and rice paddies near the Yakurai volcano.

Coastal gravel ride on the Kochi peninsula of southern Japan.

Gran fondo through the Japanese Alps region.