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PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONJP / RACE GUIDE

36th Bando City Masakado Half Marathon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

JPNov 8, 202610km · 5km · 3km +1 more events

Hideyoshi Kobayashi · YouTube

Race date in 32 days: Nov 8, 2026 Sun
City · Distance: Bando · 10km · 5km · 3km +1 more events
Entry fee: ハーフ5000円From the 2025 edition
Status: ClosedWed, July 1, 2026 ~ Mon, August 31, 2026See how to enter ↗

Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 7, 2026

About the race Runner stories How to enter Course Race Prep Travel

Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

Held in Bando City, Ibaraki Prefecture.

It's known as a course with little elevation change, making it easy to post a good time.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Stories from those who ran it first.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 3

nobuRan in 2025 · Finish time 01:34:09

“I achieved my goal with a net time of 1 hour 34 minutes 09 seconds (gun time: 1 hour 34 minutes 28 seconds).”

The runner took part in their first half marathon and their first race after recovering from a herniated disc. The runner found the shuttle bus from Moriya Station, the waiting area in the gymnasium and the ample toilets convenient. The runner achieved their goal with a net time of 1 hour 34 minutes 09 seconds on the almost flat course, which has an elevation difference of about 6 m. The runner said that the cheering helped them increase their pace during the latter half of the race.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

タイムはネットで1時間34分09秒（グロス：1時間34分28秒）で設定した目標を達成！！

Read the original on 山と社寺、そして、富士山

けーたろーRan in 2025 · Finish time 01:17:48

“The Masakado Half is an officially certified race with little elevation change, which makes it a good course for chasing a PB, and the ¥5,000 entry fee is appealing too.”

They took part in the 2025 Masakado Half and finished in 1:17:48. They rated it positively as a certified race with little elevation change that makes chasing a fast time easier, and called the entry fee reasonable. They could get there from Moriya Station by a direct bus in about 30 minutes, but felt the restroom and queueing arrangements could have been better on a rainy day.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

将門ハーフは公認レースかつ起伏が少ないコースということで記録も狙えるのと、エントリーフィー5000円のお手頃な価格が魅力。

Read the original on note

noyk1976Ran in 2022

“The race has the friendly atmosphere typical of a rural event, and its relatively few climbs make it flat and easy to run. I would recommend it to recreational runners.”

The runner took part in a half marathon. Their pace dropped in the second half due to hot weather, and their legs nearly cramped, but they finished with encouragement from local residents. Their time was in the 1:47 range. They cited the flat, easy-to-run course and the atmosphere of a local festival as highlights.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

ですが、田舎ならではのほのぼのとした大会で、坂が少なくフラットで走りやすく、是非市民ランナーの皆さんにお勧めしたい大会です。

Read the original on 目指せナイスミドル！

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

坂東市将門ハーフマラソンスタート2017

Hideyoshi Kobayashi

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

From the 2025 edition

Registration history

The 2026 race opened entry on Wed, July 1, 2026

We'll fill this in once the official entry rules are out.

Registration platform RUNNET

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

The 10km I'll run

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

From the 2025 edition

Runners start · local timeFrom 10:00

2 time 30 minutes ※15.7km2 time 10 minutes

Half marathon 5000 yen 10 km 4500 yen 5 km 4000 yen Elementary / junior high school 1000 yen Parent-child 2000 yen

START

Bando City Iwai Community Center Wind Fortress East Road

Start · Google Maps

FINISH

Yasaka General Park Athletics Stadium

Runners start · local time — (half marathon) / 10:10(10km) / 10:20(5km) / 10:30(5km junior high school) / 10:40(3km) / 09:45(1km) / 09:50(parent-child pair 1km)

The events are 10km, 5km, and half marathon.

The start takes place on the road east of 坂東市立岩井公民館風の砦 at 10:00 a.m. local time.

The finish is at 八坂総合公園陸上競技場.

Field size: Half marathon 3100 people 10km 1000 people 5km 1000 people 5km junior high school, 3km, 1km, no capacity for parents and children
Typical race-season temperature: around 11°C (52°F): Short sleeves or light long sleeves + arm warmers

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2025 edition

Pick up your bib at the expo

Details on registration and athlete bibs could not be confirmed in the publicly available information.
Since advance mailing or same-day collection is common for races in Japan, check the event guide (participant notification).

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

Moriya Station (守谷駅, Tsukuba Express line)

Venue is Yasaka Sogo Park (八坂総合公園) in Bando City, Ibaraki.

Direct organizer bus runs from Moriya Station (Tsukuba Express) to the venue,

round-trip fare ¥1,500, departing 7:00-8:00 AM (bundled with race packet for those who apply).

Race date 2026-11-08, start 10:00 AM, Bando City, Ibaraki, Japan.

Getting to the finish

Moriya Station (守谷駅, Tsukuba Express line) via shuttle

Return leg of the same shuttle bus arrives at Iwai Bus Terminal (岩井バスターミナル) rather than directly back to Moriya Station —

runners then need a further local connection.

More details

Confirmed organizer shuttle bus: Moriya Station <-> venue, ¥1,500 round trip.

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026

READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

Registration is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis from July 1 to August 31, with a cap of 3,100 participants.

The start and finish are at Yasaka Sogo Park in Bando City, with a 10:00 a.m. start.

The nearest station is Moriya Station on the Tsukuba Express line.

Times are local to Bando. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Hotels that make race morning easy

1 places

Distances are straight-line from the start.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

Hotel S-Cube (Adult Only)

Hotel · 4.2km

8.2/10(77)

View on Booking.com

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

View on map →

Time for you, before and after the finish

56 experiences

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

RECOVERY & SPA7SIT-DOWN TOURS7CARB LOADING7LOCAL TRANSIT7FAMILY PASS7TRAIL & OUTDOOR7CITY TOURS7EASY WALKING7

Tokyo Dry Head Spa Specialist King's Nap Kitasenju West Exit Branch

₩69,785

36th Bando City Masakado Half Marathon

About 36th Bando City Masakado Half Marathon — what makes it special

A day you'll remember,long past the finish line.

The road to your own record

When the city cheers

The trip that follows the run