• The Golden Trail World Series returns to Japan with the debut of Myoko Trail, a spectacular new race that will traverse the slopes of the Myoko Mountain Range, one of the country's most renowned regions for mountain sports and outdoor culture.
• Myoko Trail will kick off a decisive three-race Asian block and offer a total prize purse of €40,800, further underscoring the GTWS commitment to the growth of trail running and its international expansion across Asia.
• "Being part of the GTWS is a dream for any race organiser. The partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery has given us an even more powerful platform to showcase the race and promote Myoko to audiences around the world," said the organisers.

With more than half of the season already completed, the Golden Trail World Series (GTWS) enters its decisive phase with a historic three-race Asian swing set to shape the outcome of the 2026 campaign.

The first chapter will be written on 20 September at Myoko Trail, the sixth race of the season and a brand-new addition to the circuit that will bring the world's best trail runners to one of Japan's most iconic mountain regions for the very first time, renowned for its rich sporting heritage and deep-rooted connection to the outdoors.

The GTWS therefore returns to Japan for a third consecutive year, further reinforcing its commitment to Asia and international expansion within the trail running world. After two seasons with Kobe Trail serving as the series' Japanese showcase, 2026 marks a new milestone with the debut of Myoko Trail. This will traverse the spectacular slopes of the Myoko Mountain Range, and introduce the sport's elite athletes to a region where the mountains are more than just a backdrop, they are an integral part of the local culture, identity and way of life.

FROM JAPAN'S 100 FAMOUS MOUNTAINS TO THE GOLDEN TRAIL WORLD SERIES

The '100 Famous Japanese Mountains' (Nihon Hyakumeizan) are among the most celebrated landmarks of Japan's mountain culture. Selected in 1964 by writer and mountaineer Kyuya Fukada, these one hundred peaks were chosen for their unique combination of beauty, elevation, history and character.

© Myoko Trail

Since the publication of the book that inspired the list, and particularly following the boom in hiking and outdoor recreation in Japan during the 1980s, climbing these mountains has become a lifelong challenge and rite of passage for generations of outdoor enthusiasts and mountaineers.

Among them lies the Myoko Mountain Range, a spectacular massif in Niigata Prefecture that is deeply intertwined with the region's identity and natural heritage. Its peaks, forests and lakes will provide the backdrop for Myoko Trail, a 23.5-kilometre course featuring 1,935 metres of elevation gain, offering the world's best trail runners the opportunity to discover one of Japan's greatest mountain landscapes.

Yet the appeal of the race extends far beyond its stunning scenery. The Myoko Trail course features a demanding format built around two major climbs and two major descents across the slopes of the mountain range, to the point that it can almost be viewed as two vertical races rolled into one.

The action will begin at Suginohara Ski Resort, where athletes will first tackle a gruelling climb up the Myoko Mountain Range. After approaching the summit, runners will face a long and technical descent with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and Lake Nojiri, one of the region's most distinctive natural landmarks. After returning to the finish area, the course heads back towards the Myoko Mountain Range for a second ascent before tackling another thrilling descent back down the mountain.

© Myoko Trail

Ken Chan, Founder and CEO of PCG, the event's organising company, said: "PCG is delighted that Suginohara Ski Resort will serve as a key venue for the GTWS Myoko Trail. Hosting an event of this calibre will not only help further grow the popularity and culture of trail running in Japan, but also showcase Myoko's outstanding natural beauty and world-class terrain to a global audience. It is another important step towards our long-term vision of establishing the region as one of the world's leading year-round mountain destinations."

This relentless sequence of ascents and descents will test not only the athletes' physical abilities but also their pacing and race management skills. Spectators, meanwhile, will be treated to an exceptional viewing experience. Thanks to the course design, fans will be able to access multiple strategic viewing points and follow the race from the mountainside itself using the ski lifts at both resorts.

A NEW FLAGSHIP EVENT FOR TRAIL RUNNING IN JAPAN

Myoko Trail is the natural evolution of the popular Rockin' Bear Myoko race, which has been held in the region for the past five years. Joining the Golden Trail World Series has provided an opportunity to reinvent the event and raise its competitive profile. "We redesigned the course to allow athletes to fully experience this spectacular natural environment while also making it more demanding, with the aim of delivering an even more exciting race for the world's best trail runners," explains Koji Otsuka, the event director.

© Myoko Trail

The GTWS relationship with Japan began in 2024, when the circuit made its first visit to Asia with Kobe Trail, which then opened the 2025 season. Two years later, Myoko Trail takes centre stage, kicking off a decisive three-race Asian block and reinforcing the GTWS commitment to the growth and international expansion of trail running across the continent.

The debut of Myoko Trail also comes at a particularly exciting time for the sport in Japan. "We have been organising trail races for 15 years and participation has continued to grow, especially among younger generations," says Otsuka. While runners aged between 40 and 50 once made up the majority of participants, the number of athletes in their 20s and 30s has increased significantly in recent years, reflecting the sport's growing popularity across the country.

For Otsuka, the arrival of the GTWS in Myoko goes far beyond the sporting dimension. "It is an honour to see our race gain prestige and international recognition by becoming part of the GTWS, but what excites me most is the impact it will have on the local community. I want young people in Myoko to see the world's best athletes up close and dream of one day competing on the international stage, whatever sport they choose to pursue," he says.

The GTWS commitment to developing trail running in Asia will also be reflected in the prize purse. In line with the 50% increase in prize money announced for the 2026 season, both Myoko Trail and the Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race (China) will double their prize funds compared to previous years. Each event will distribute a total of €40,800 among the top 10 finishers in both the men's and women's races, with €6,000 awarded to each winner, further enhancing the sporting stakes as the season heads towards what promises to be a thrilling conclusion.

© Myoko Trail

A YEAR-ROUND PLAYGROUND FOR ATHLETES

Myoko is one of Japan's premier snow destinations, but its sporting culture extends far beyond skiing. Over the decades, the region has produced numerous Winter Olympic athletes and cultivated a deep-rooted sporting tradition, one that places great importance on passing those values on to future generations.

When the snow melts, the same mountains that attract thousands of skiers each winter become the training ground for many of these athletes, naturally embedding trail running into the local sporting culture. In fact, Japanese athletes have been running mountain trails as part of their preparation for winter sports for decades, long before the term 'trail running' became widely known in the country. "That's why hosting a Golden Trail World Series race in Myoko is such a source of pride for the local community," explains Otsuka.

Myoko's volcanic landscapes, vast natural surroundings and ideal conditions for altitude training have made the region a leading destination for athletes from a wide range of disciplines. Every summer, Myoko hosts training camps for marathon runners and ekiden athletes, practitioners of Japan's iconic long-distance relay running discipline that remains an important part of the country's sporting identity.

© Myoko Trail

One of the most renowned training locations is the Sasagamine Plateau, situated at high altitude and famous for its cool summer temperatures and breathtaking views across the mountain range. It is a setting that reinforces Myoko's reputation as a true athlete's playground, capable of attracting sportspeople throughout the year.

Now, that same landscape is preparing to welcome some of the world's best trail runners. "Being part of the GTWS is a dream for any race organiser," says Otsuka. "The Golden Trail World Series already enjoyed tremendous international exposure, but its partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery has taken that visibility to a whole new level, allowing us to showcase both our race and region to a global audience."

As with every GTWS race, Myoko Trail will be broadcast live across Warner Bros. Discovery's platforms, including HBO Max, Eurosport and TNT Sports, as well as through an extensive network of international broadcasters, bringing the action to trail running fans around the world.