We have fabricated a photonic crystal rod (PCR), which is a novel optical connecting component with a two-dimensional photonic crystal structure, by drawing a preform made of a multicomponent alkali-borosilicate glass. A hot vacuum (725°C, 10 hPa) stacking method was developed for the fabrication of the preform, which enables self-organization of the inner structure of the preform. PCRs with sub-micrometer dimensional accuracy were successfully fabricated by drawing the preform at 820°C, which is a much lower temperature than that used for the drawing of silica glass. The PCRs showed single-mode optical propagation at both wavelengths of 633 and 1550 nm with mode field diameters (MFDs) of 23.1 and 33.4 μm, respectively. The bending strength of the PCR reached 850 MPa after ion-exchange treatment. PCR is expected to be a candidate for precision, high-strength, endlessly single-mode novel optical connecting components with large MFDs.