Kuresaka Pass

Overview

Kuresaka Pass is a Category 1 climb in Japan, covering 8 km from base to summit. It starts at 457 m and tops out at 1,092 m, delivering a net elevation gain of 635 m. That combination — a stiff length paired with a substantial vertical haul — puts it firmly in the range where sustained fitness matters more than a single hard effort.

The number to watch, though, is the gap between net gain and total ascent. You climb 635 m net, but the total ascent is 890 m. That extra 255 m means the road gives back roughly a quarter of its work along the way, so the profile undulates rather than climbing cleanly. Every metre you lose to a dip is a metre you re-climb, and those re-climbs land while you are already fatigued. Expect the effort to feel harder than the net gain alone would suggest.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 7.89% average is a blend, not a constant. With 255 m of extra ascent folded into the profile, the true climbing pitches are steeper than the average implies — the flatter and downhill sections drag the mean down, so the ramps that remain bite harder to compensate. The steepest recorded pitch hits 22.8%, a wall that demands you are already in your lowest gear before it arrives.

• Flatter or recovery sections where the road dips or eases, letting the average sit below the real climbing gradient
• Repeated short climbs stacked back to back, courtesy of the undulating terrain
• A maximum ramp of 22.8% — pick your line, stay seated where you can, and do not let cadence collapse

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, even-speed pacing is a trap: holding a constant speed forces your power to spike on every steep re-climb and sag on every descent. Target an even effort instead, anchored to your sustainable power output. Let your speed rise and fall with the grade while your power stays close to steady.

That means easing slightly before the 22.8% ramps so you do not overshoot, and resisting the urge to hammer the flatter recovery sections. If you do not know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator first so your target is a real number rather than a guess.

Gearing

The 22.8% maximum dictates your setup. At that gradient, standard gearing will grind you to a halt. Fit a compact (34-tooth inner) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 low gear gives you the room to spin rather than lurch through the steepest pitch. Check your chainring and cassette before the ride, not at the base of the wall.

Summary

• Length: 8 km
• Average gradient: 7.89%
• Maximum gradient: 22.8%
• Net elevation gain: 635 m
• Total ascent: 890 m
• Category: 1

Kuresaka Pass rewards riders who respect its undulation. Pace to effort, gear for the 22.8% wall, and the 635 m of net gain becomes a rhythm rather than a fight.