You will know that summer has come

Mount Zao is known for its emerald green, mysterious crater lake named Okama, and hard rime on trees, known by locals as Ice Monsters. Zao Bodaira Highlands are apart of Mt. Zao and are situated 1,000 m above sea level, which provides a cool climate for running in summer.

One of the best places to run in the highlands is the natural grass cross-country course within the Zao Bodaira Athlete Village. This 3 km course has a good number of hills, so it’s not an easy course to run but it gives you a good cardio workout and is a great place to build leg strength. The adjacent all-weather sports ground and other facilities make this place even better. I’m able to combine various types of training, so camp training in summer here is an absolute must for my team. I recommend this spot for anyone from amateurs to top level athletes.

Here in spring you can enjoy the new leaves as they form, in early summer the Japanese azaleas are stunning, while in autumn you can take in the amazing autumn leaves, but for training, summer is best. We often train early in the morning, and sometimes we are able to see a sea of clouds floating beneath us. It’s as if you are running on the clouds themselves. You will know that you are running in the semi-highlands and know that summer has come.