Happy New Year!

We wish you a healthy and fulfilling year in 2026.
Thank you, as always, for your support of the Echigo Country Trail.(commonly known as “Echikan”)

　This year as well, we received a message from our guest runner Yuto Shirakawa, who will be joining the race again.
If you’re thinking “I’d like to run, but I’m a bit nervous…” or “I’m still unsure about entering…”, we hope you’ll enjoy reading his words.

What is “Echikan” like?

Rather than a race, it feels like a countryside trip that you can enjoy at your own pace.
When you think of Niigata, you think of rice fields—and just as you’d imagine, the course is gentle with relatively little elevation gain.
Don’t overthink it—just go ahead and enter!

Rather than a race, it feels like a countryside trip that you can enjoy at your own pace.
When you think of Niigata, you think of rice fields—and just as you’d imagine, the course is gentle with relatively little elevation gain.
Don’t overthink it—just go ahead and enter!

“Not a race, but a journey.” What a wonderful way to put it.
The wide-open rice field scenery, the warm and friendly cheers from local grandpas and grandmas along the course, and the sense of accomplishment after finishing—
Shirakawa’s words perfectly capture the atmosphere of the Echigo Country Trail.

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Which part felt the toughest?

If it rains, the course can get pretty intense.
Niigata mud is really slippery…
But I guess that same mud is what grows such delicious rice.

If it rains, the course can get pretty intense.
Niigata mud is really slippery…
But I guess that same mud is what grows such delicious rice.

A rainy-day Echikan is definitely a challenge.
The course already has many short, steep ups and downs, and because the soil is clay-like, it becomes very slippery when wet.The 2025 race was truly a battle with the mud, and many runners struggled.
Still—this mud is exactly what nurtures Niigata’s famous rice. Let’s hope for sunshine this year!

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Even so, what makes you think “I love this place” or “I want to come back”?

There’s just so much support from the local community.
Neighbors gather all along the course.
Let’s take their energy—and send some power back to Oguni too!

There’s just so much support from the local community.
Neighbors gather all along the course.
Let’s take their energy—and send some power back to Oguni too!

One of Echikan’s greatest strengths is the warmth of the local people and their heartfelt support.
From early in the morning, residents line the course to cheer runners on. Volunteers welcome everyone with smiles at registration and aid stations.
Every year, runners tell us, “The cheers really pushed me forward.” And we, the organizers, feel the same—this race is filled with an ongoing exchange of energy.

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For those worried they might not finish…

Even if you can’t finish, there’s still delicious food waiting for you.
You don’t have to push yourself too hard—just enjoy it.
But… you should still train!

Even if you can’t finish, there’s still delicious food waiting for you.
You don’t have to push yourself too hard—just enjoy it.
But… you should still train!

Exactly! Even if you don’t make it to the finish line, please come enjoy the tasty food at the finish area—supporters are very welcome too!
At Echikan, finishing is not the only goal. The time you spend running, the scenery you see, and the people you meet—all of it will become part of your memories. And then—next time, aim for the finish line!
By the way, next year marks our 10th anniversary.

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See you in Oguni in 2026

Thank you very much, Shirakawa-san, for your wonderful message.

The Echigo Country Trail is a gentle and welcoming race—for first-timers and returning runners alike.

We look forward to seeing you all in Oguni!

We look forward to seeing you all in Oguni!