2nd "MAY31cycling Aso Mountain Hill Climb" Entries Now Open. Application Deadline August 14

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The "2nd MAY31cycling Aso Mountain Hill Climb," organized by the Kumamoto Prefecture Cycling Federation, will be held on September 13, 2026 (Sun) in the Aso region and Minami-Aso area of Kumamoto Prefecture. Entries are currently being accepted, with the application deadline on August 14 (Fri).

In addition to the official hill climb race "Aso Mountain Hill Climb," which will be conducted under traffic control, the event will also feature ride categories around Aso. We are inviting a wide range of participants, from cyclists in Japan and other Asian countries like China and South Korea who want to challenge their records and rankings, to those who wish to enjoy riding while experiencing the natural beauty of Aso.

The title sponsor is MAY31cycling|IYS Corporation, and LocalGain Inc. will serve as the operational partner.

Event Overview

Event Name

2nd MAY31cycling Aso Mountain Hill Climb

Date

September 13, 2026 (Sun)

Venue

Kumamoto Prefecture Open-Air Theatre ASPECTA / Aso Mountain Area

Categories

1 Hill Climb & Ride

Distance: 120km, Elevation Gain: 2323m A long ride course that circles the magnificent nature of Aso after ascending the Aso Panorama Line.

2 Aso Mountain Hill Climb

Distance: 11.6km, Elevation Gain: 630m A challenging hill climb course ascending from the Minami-Aso side towards the Aso summit.

3 Aso Loop Ride Distance: 89km, Elevation Gain: 1,631m A fun ride course to enjoy the grand nature of Aso.

Application Period

May 15, 2026 (Fri) - August 14, 2026 (Fri)

Target Participants

1000 people

How to Enter:

Entries accepted via the official event website: https://aso-hillclimb.jp/

MAY31 Official Accounts:

Aso hill climb ins: https://www.instagram.com/may31cycling.asohillclimb/

MAY31cycling Homepage: https://may31cycling.com

INS: https://www.instagram.com/may31cycling.ims/

X: https://x.com/MAY31cycling/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MAY31cycling

Hill Climb Event Set in Aso

Aso is one of Japan's premier scenic areas, boasting a world-class caldera topography with vast grasslands and volcanic landscapes. In recent years, it has also become known as a cycling spot attracting attention from road bike enthusiasts and cyclists nationwide.

One of the major attractions of this event is the opportunity to challenge a genuine hill climb race ascending towards the Aso summit amidst its magnificent natural environment. Participants can savor the unique scenery of Aso and a sense of accomplishment while riding the course with its significant elevation changes.

Proven Response and Participation Experience from the 1st Event

The first event, held in 2025, saw a total of 351 participants from Japan, China, South Korea, Italy, the United States, and other countries, with a hill climb race and rides held against the backdrop of Aso's natural beauty. The event was broadcast live by Kumamoto Television, achieving over 11.24 million total views across social media and media coverage, and over 59,300 total engagements. Despite being the inaugural event, it received a significant positive response from domestic and international cyclists, media, and sponsoring companies.

Furthermore, all participants received event commemorative items such as cycling jerseys and socks, ensuring that they could take home not just the race experience but also a memento of the event itself.

The first event was highly praised by many participants as an event that offered both the tension of challenging one's limits as a competition and the freedom of enjoying a day in Aso with fellow participants.

Initiative Connecting the Region and Cycling

This event aims to promote the Aso region through cycle sports and support the local economy. By having participants visit, ride, stay in, and experience the food, hot springs, and tourist resources of Aso, we create opportunities to connect sports with regional tourism.

As the title sponsor, MAY31cycling will connect the Japanese and Asian cycling communities by promoting the appeal of this event and through overseas recruitment, disseminating a new cycle sports culture from Aso.

About MAY31cycling

MAY31cycling is a brand founded in Japan on May 31, 2023, centered around cycling and outdoor culture. Based in Japan, it connects Asia and promotes the appeal of Japan's natural, cultural, and tourist resources to cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts worldwide.

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Since its inception, it has developed high-value private cycling tours for inbound tourists and collaborated with brands and cycling clubs in China, South Korea, Singapore, and other countries. It has guided overseas participants to the Mt. Fuji Hill Climb for three consecutive years and conducted monitor tours for overseas participants for the Tour de Kyushu in 2024. Starting in 2025, it became the title sponsor for the "MAY31cycling Aso Mountain Hill Climb" and will be responsible for public relations and overseas recruitment for the 2026 event.