What is the Otagatoge Practice Session?

Although the 2026 Otagatoge Practice Session has concluded, I would like to introduce the Otagatoge practice sessions that I organize, which have been quite lively lately.🙋‍♂

■ What is the Otagatoge Practice Session?

Otagatoge is located in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture.
Many of you might recognize the name if I mention Korankei.
The Otagatoge practice session is a hill climb training session with a basic menu of 'climbing this pass twice'.

It is held every year from the beginning of March to the end of May.
Its primary purpose is practical training for the Fuji Hill Climb.

With the spread of platforms like Zwift and MyWhoosh, it has become possible to perform high-level training from home. However, the Fuji Hill Climb is not just a simple test of power.

The Fuji Hill Climb is often called a 'train game'.
(Perhaps that is just something I, as the organizer, say...)

Getting into a group that is slightly faster than you.
Matching your pace within the group.
Positioning yourself appropriately.

Such techniques, unique to real-world riding, significantly impact your time.
No matter how much power you can output in a virtual space, you cannot perform at your full potential if you cannot synchronize with the other riders during the actual event.

Of course, there are riders with such overwhelming ability that they can overcome these factors.
However, for many participants, communication during real-world riding and getting used to group riding are crucial elements for improving their times.

The Otagatoge practice session is a place for such practical training, and it is the element that I, as the organizer, prioritize the most.

■ Why Otagatoge?

Otagatoge is not a pass with a constant gradient that goes on forever.
It has a good balance of gentle slopes, steep gradients, and changing inclines, making it very suitable for practicing pace control and drafting.
Also, by riding with multiple people, it is possible to practice rotations.

Pulling at the front.
Resting at the back.
Switching at the right timing.
Shaving off time.

You can repeatedly practice the group riding techniques required for the actual Fuji Hill Climb.
It is not just simple hill climb practice, but practical training to achieve results in a race.
That is the reason for choosing Otagatoge.

■ Why climb it twice?

The reason is simple.
It is said that 'the time it takes to climb Otagatoge twice is your Fuji Hill Climb time'.

Of course, the conditions are not exactly the same, so it does not always match perfectly.
However, in reality, there is a high correlation, and many participants use it as a benchmark before the Fuji Hill Climb.

The first climb is for everyone to go for a fast time.
The second climb is to push yourself again from a fatigued state.
That accumulation leads to the tenacity required for the actual event.

■ Achievements to date

Many results have been born from the Otagatoge practice sessions.

2026 Fuji Hill Climb
- Fuji Hill Platinum Ring achievers: 3
- Fuji Hill Gold Ring achievers: 9
　(Many prize winners too!)
- Many participants achieved personal bests

Of course, not everyone is aiming for the podium.
Those aiming for Bronze.
Those aiming for Silver.
Those targeting Gold or Platinum.
Everyone rides toward their own goals, and as a result, many personal bests are being set.

■ How to Participate

Please send a reply to the organizer, "Sumochi," in response to the event announcement.
Once you receive a "like" from the organizer, your participation is confirmed.

Experience and ability do not matter.
Team affiliation is also irrelevant; we consider this a place for interaction where we can work hard and improve each other without discrimination, all for the sake of the Fuji Hill Climb race.

We will also divide participants into groups based on target times and leg strength, so please rest assured.
You want to get the best time possible at Fuji Hill Climb.
If you have that feeling, you are very welcome.

[CLIMB TWICE, GET STRONGER]
Let's climb Ototaga Pass together.