Shimada Oigawa Marathon RUN-cation, 4 days

Welcome to Shimada City, located in the middle of Shizuoka prefecture in Japan. Shizuoka is known for the iconic Mt. Fuji and its many onsen hot spring resorts. It is also Japan’s biggest provider of green tea with its rolling green tea plantations.

Shimada City is blessed with the clear, abundant water of the mighty Oi River, which is recognised as UNESCO Geo Park, flows from the Minami Alps and runs through the heart of Shimada city. The marathon course “Liberty” follows the path of the Oi River with impressive views of the natural beauty of Shizuoka prefecture. It is the first riverside marathon of its type in Japan. More than 10,000 runners from Japan and around the world will experience “Shimada-style hospitality” hosted by the locals. The annual sport event has become the best and the most highly regarded marathon competition in Japan.

Duration: 4 days

Run Category: 42.195 KM and 10 KM

Interested in this trip? <EMAIL AN ENQUIRY> to find out more.

Itinerary

Trip Highlights
~ visit Nihondaira and Kunozan Toshogu Shrine;
~ apple picking experience at an apple orchard;
~ visit a family-owned green tea plantation;
~ visit Kadode Ooigawa Food Park;
~ walk the longest wooden bridge in the world;
~ take part in Shimada Oigawa Marathon in Liberty, 10 KM or 42.195 KM;
~ access to the “Great Aid (food) Station” for 42.195 KM runners;
~ specially crafted finisher’s medal for runners – a Travel Wander Exclusive;
~ onsen stay.

Day 1 Arrive Tokyo Haneda – Shimada City

Assemble at Tokyo Haneda Airport, Terminal 3 Arrival Hall at 8.00 AM for our group transfer by coach to Shimada City.

Enroute, we will make a stop at Nihondaira – once a true plateau, nature has turned Nihondaira into a gently rolling hill. This hill overlooks the Pacific and the vast fields of tea and flowers, with the World Heritage Site—magnificent Mount Fuji in sight (weather permitting), along with the Southern Alps, and the Izu Peninsula are also visible when the weather is clear.

Take a cable car to the historically significant site, Kunozan Toshogu Shrine – dedicated to the famous leader Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616) who brought a long period of civil wars to an end and united all of Japan. Marvel at the shrine complex which consists of a large number of bright red buildings decorated with gold accents and colourful carvings and paintings. Look at the museum which exhibits some of Ieyasu’s personal belongings and shrine treasures, such as swords, armors and hanging scrolls.

Visit an apple orchard and try our hands in apple picking. Taste freshly picked apples as you learn from the farmers how apples are grown and harvested in the region.

A briefing on the marathon event will take place during dinner in a 150-year-old traditional Kappo restaurant. Dinner will be served in a traditional Japanese way.

Meal: Lunch, Dinner

Stay: 3* hotel, Shimada City

Day 2 Shimada City

This morning, visit the family-owned green tea plantation located on the Makinohara Plateau which is the largest tea farming region in Japan. Learn from the owner how green tea is grown and harvested, hands-on experiences may be available for everyone to pick the tea leaves from the plantation!

Thereafter, learn about tea appreciation and lunch will be served at the owner’s residence. Before you go, receive a personalised tea bag souvenir.

Visit Kadode Ooigawa, a food theme park focused on local foods and products, especially green tea and vegetables. Join a guided simulation tour as you transform into a ‘tea leaf’ and experience how harvested tea leaves are sent to the factory, where they go through the “steaming”, “rubbing” and “heating” processes.

Then take part in a green tea digital survey to find out your green tea blend is suitable to your personality. With your tea blend, you can Brew-It-Yourself (B.I.Y) on the spot, hot or cold as you prefer.

A drive-through will show us the part of the marathon route before making a stop at Ooi Shrine to pray for a safe run. The shrine is well visited by the locals and houses the guardian who protects the Oi River.

Take a walk along the world’s longest wooden bridge as recorded in the World Guinness Record. The Horai Bridge is considered a lucky bridge because its length, 897.4 metres, can be read in Japanese as “yakunashi” (free from misfortune) and the long length translates to a bridge of long life. The bridge is particularly beautiful during sunset.

This evening, be invited to the official marathon opening party.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Stay: 3* hotel, Shimada City

Day 3 Shimada Oigawa Marathon in Liberty

Today’s the day! Simply take a short walk and make your way to the start line.

This is one marathon that runners can achieve one of their Personal Bests (PB). The course is mostly flat and almost traffic-free.

Starting in front of Shimada Daisan Elementary School for 42.195 KM runners, run across the townscape of the old Tokaido to the Oigawa Kawagoshi ruins. Feel the atmosphere of “Shimada-juku” where people stopped by to cross the Oi River in the Edo period. See the Oi River as you enter the marathon-only course “Liberty”, run across the world’s longest wooden pedestrian bridge “Horaibashi”. The hardest push begins at 30-KM mark with the famous large aid station! Push on until 37-KM point and race your way to the finish line.

There will be a total of 15 aid stations locations along the route with a full range of services. At the 6th Station which serves as a “fruit station”, there will be melons, pineapples, Kanza mandarin oranges and more kinds of fruits waiting for runners.

Station 12, commonly known as the “Great Aid Station,” is a water supply and food station located around 32-KM mark, which satisfies the hunger of the 42.195-KM runners. It is possibly the longest aid station runners can possibly find in marathons. With the heart of Japanese hospitality, look forward to a menu with 30 kinds of food variety such as small buns, rice balls, oden, yakisoba, inari sushi, mini chicken ramen, rice porridge, soup, shimadashi soup and more.

The 10-KM course is suitable for anyone who wishes to run or walk. It is a safe and flat course that is easy to run or walk and follows along the riverbed.

After the run, rest and relax at the event’s hospitality area peppered with food kiosks, local produce etc. Travel Wander Exclusive! All runners with Travel Wander will receive vouchers worth 2,000 JPY redeemable at the hospitality area.

The afternoon, you may wish to take a free shuttle bus to Itawari-no Yu Onsen to take a shower and soak in the hot bath. There are indoor and outdoor public hot springs. There are also spacious restaurant*, relaxation area and massage services* available. After the last runner crosses the finishing line, a transfer will take everyone to our award-winning onsen resort.

Celebrate our achievement as we dine in a local restaurant tonight to experience kaiseki-ryōri – a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner, meticulously crafted to reflect the changing seasons of Japan.

Meal: Breakfast, Dinner

Stay: 4* onsen hotel, Kawane

*dining at restaurant and massage services are extra cost at visitor’s own expense.

Day 4 Shimada City – Tokyo. Depart Tokyo or extension

Simply rest and relax until check-out time at 11.00 AM. A group transfer by coach will take us to Shizuoka Train Station, Tokyo Train Station and Haneda Airport; and the trip concludes.

Do not schedule your flight departure before 7 PM.

Meal: Breakfast

Inclusions

~ one-way arrival group transfer by coach from Tokyo Haneda Airport Terminal 3 on day 1;

~ one-way departure group transfer by coach to Shizuoka Train Station, Tokyo Train Station and Tokyo Haneda Airport Terminal 3 on day 4;

~ 3 nights accommodation stay;

~ 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 3 dinners;

~ event race entry fee, event’s T-shirt;

~ specially crafted finisher’s medal for runners – a Travel Wander Exclusive;

~ specially crafted finisher’s T-shirt for 42.195-KM runners – a Travel Wander Exclusive;

~ event hospitality vouchers worth JPY 2,000 – a Travel Wander Exclusive;

~ sightseeing and experiences as mentioned in the itinerary;

~ necessary admission fee to attraction(s) and venue(s);

~ service of an English Speaking Guide.

Exclusions

~ airfare to Tokyo, Japan;

~ personal travel insurance;

~ any other expenses of personal nature;

~ anything not specified in the itinerary and inclusion.

Important Notes

~ A deposit, SGD 300 is required at the time of booking. Deposit paid is non-refundable unless trip is withdrawn or cancelled by Travel Wander.

~ Full or balance payment is 60 days prior to departure.

~ Only book your air ticket to Tokyo, Japan when you have been informed to do so.

~ Private group can be arranged.

~ Should you require a visa to enter Japan, it is your responsibility to obtain such document before departure. Check your entry requirement and apply for your visa HERE if you require.

~ For runners who are travelling alone and have opted for twin-share occupancy, Travel Wander will do our utmost to pair you with another runner of the same gender to share the room. If this is not possible, runners are required to top up the difference for a single room. Should you choose not to go on this trip, there is no refund of the deposit paid.

~ Every effort is made to ensure the trip and included experiences take place during the ideal time or period of the year, however certain sights/experiences are subject to weather conditions and seasonal variations that are not within the control of Travel Wander. Although you may get to see and/or experience, we cannot guarantee the sightings and/or experience.

~ Provision of meals during the trip showcases local authenticity, cuisine and food culture of the places we are visiting. All food allergies and dietary restrictions must be disclosed to Travel Wander at the time of booking. We will use reasonable efforts to accommodate special requirements or requests but this is not always possible given the nature of the destinations visited and availability of options. We cannot guarantee that dietary needs or restrictions can be accommodated. Travel Wander is not liable for failure to accommodate or fulfil such requests. Meal supplementary charges may be imposed to meet your dietary needs.

~ If circumstances (such as bad weather for example) beyond our control make changes necessary, Travel Wander and the race event organiser reserve the right to make change to the inclusion of the itinerary / race route. There will not be refund should you decide to discontinue with the trip.

~ Because running requires a certain level of cardio and stamina exertion, it is not suitable for participants with chronic and/or acute disease. Please consider your physical condition before booking. Runners must ensure they are medically and physically able to run.

~ The full marathon (42.195 KM) will start at 9.00 AM and must be completed within 7 hours. The 10-KM run will start at 10.15 AM and must be completed within 90 minutes.

~ Runners who do not wish to take part in included activities/experiences, there is no refund.

~ Generally, people who have tattoo(s) are not allowed to use the onsen facilities regardless within the included accommodations or self-expense public onsen in Japan. This is Japan’s customs, and visitors are required to respect the culture. If you have a small tattoo that can be fully covered by a band-aid or plaster, you may still enjoy the onsen. In this itinerary, runners who have tattoo(s) are allowed to use the onsen facilities included in the programme.

~ Purchasing comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended. See HERE for details.

~ By making a payment to Travel Wander LLP, you (and on behalf of the rest of travelling companions) acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree to Travel Wander’s Booking Conditions and Other Important Information: Cancellation and Amendment, Modes of Payment, Privacy Policy, Indemnity Policy, and Terms & Conditions.

Activity	More Interest
Season	10 – October
Country	Japan

Shimada Oigawa Marathon RUN-cation, 4 days