Tour de Fukushima

Date
Saturday 13.06.2026 - 14.06.2026
Distances
15 - 80 - 140 km
City
Fukushima
Country
Japan
Website Contact

Launched in 2024 as a two days event, the Tour de Fukushima is a rather young race but very succesful after two editions.  With the 2026 UCI Gran Fondo World Championships awarded to Niseko, Tour de Fukushima will become the unique UCI home qualifier for Japanese riders with the ambition to qualify for the World Championships.

Besides offering a serious competitive platform for amateur racers, the race was also built to help promoting regional recovery in Fukushima after the 2011 earthquake and nuclear disaster.

Time Trial

The 15.7km time trial on Saturday takes place in the town of Soma, 50km east of Fukushima on a flat course along the coastline.  After the start, riders first head north to a turning point after 4km to then follow the coastline south along the shore to a second southern turning point after 11.3km to then take the other side of the road to finish again where the start was given.  

Granfondo - Mediofondo

Located about an hour south of Soma—where the time trial was held—the Sunday granfondo sets off from the town of Naraha. The route initially follows the coastline for 40 km before turning inland for a gradual, multi‑step ascent toward the highest point of the course. Riders reach this summit after 84 km at an elevation of 617 m. The final 5 km before the top are the most demanding, featuring gradients up to 12%. After cresting the first climb and descending slightly, riders face a second ascent of 2.5 km averaging 6%, reaching another peak at the 92 km mark. A longer but gentler third climb brings them to the final high point after 107 km. The run back to the finish in Naraha is predominantly downhill. The granfondo distance serves as the qualifying route for all men aged 19–49. The mediofondo shares the same course from the 57 km mark onward, offering the same finishing section. This distance is the qualifier for all female categories and for male competitors aged 50 and above.

Fukushima


The Tour de Fukushima takes place primarily in Hamadori, the eastern coastal region of Fukushima Prefecture. This area is unique in Japan for its mix of Pacific coastline, rugged inland highlands, ancient cultural traditions, and a powerful story of recovery after the 2011 earthquake and nuclear disaster.

Hamadori stretches along the Pacific coast, bordered by the Abukuma Highlands to the west. This creates a mix of:

  • Coastal plains
  • Mountainous inland terrain

The region has a mild climate, long coastlines, and scenic areas such as Iwaki’s Seven Beaches Route and restored seawall-top bike paths.

Recovery & Modern Identity

 

Hamadori was heavily affected by the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster, but has seen ongoing reconstruction. Visitor numbers have been rising again since 2023.

Important recovery landmarks include:

Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Disaster Memorial Museum (Futaba)
— telling the story of the disaster and reconstruction.

 Culture
 

The region is home to historic traditions such as the Soma Nomaoi samurai horseback festival, over 1,000 years old.