Running Tours That Grant Your Wish to Run on Vacation
Yamashina Tourism Sweets Run
Many people who run like to keep in the habit while on vacation. That goes for Japanese people and visitors from abroad. While anyone can jog their way around the big sights of an unfamiliar town using the map app on their phone, understanding the history, culture and lifestyles is more difficult for the tourist to do alone. Guided tours are a great way to acquire knowledge but limit the locations one can visit, and using transportation to get from place to place, can’t provide the satisfaction of a run. Yamashina Tourism Sweets Run is a new type of event born from the needs of vacation runners that combines running and sightseeing.
Tour Hidden Sights of Yamashina, the District Where History and Nature Come Alive
Despite its location just one station and five minutes from Kyoto Station, the Yamashina area where the tours take place is one Kyoto’s hidden gems offering respite from the bustle of the city. Boasting a longer history than Nara or central Kyoto, it was an imperial estate until the Meiji Era. It is also a place of natural beauty, with the Yamashina Canal which carries water to Kyoto from Lake Biwa running through the area.
Yamashina Tourism Sweets Run is a special experience tailored to those with an interest in running, sweets and Japanese history, and an ideal opportunity to interact with Japanese people.
This unique experience is led by a trio of experts: Mr. Azuma of Yamashina Ryokan, a sightseeing guide who knows the area inside out; Mr. Ando, a running instructor and sub-three runner; and Ms. Hachiyama, owner of the popular Café Hatch in Yamashina. Together they offer more than just a sightseeing tour, but an enriching time full of new discoveries about the deeper charms of Yamashina.
Enjoy Running, Sweet Rewards and Deeper History
The route varies but is normally approximately 5 kilometers. It’s run at a beginner-friendly pace of approximately 7-8mins/km and takes in some of Yamashina’s best-known attractions with a professional guide providing information at each point of interest. Participants enjoy chatting with each other as they run, and even less-confident runners reach the finish line before they know it. A “sweet spot” is provided either part-way through or at the end of the run where runners can reward their tired bodies with scrumptious treats and socialize with each other.
An experience unlike any in central Kyoto, Yamashina Tourism Sweets Run is the perfect way to indulge in running, sightseeing and delicious sweets while experiencing the scenery and history of tranquil Yamashina.
