Races

PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONJP / RACE GUIDE

Fukushima City Half Marathon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Fukushima
JP

Purplepumpkins · CC BY-SA 3.0ja:利用者:Townphoto · CC BY 3.0京浜にけ at Japanese Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0京浜にけ · CC BY-SA 3.0T-KIMURA · CC BY 4.0

Race date in 182 days: May 16, 2027 Sun
City · Distance: Fukushima · 21.0975km · 10km · 3km +1 more events
Entry fee: ¥7,500Varies by event and entry period
Status: SoonSee how to enter ↗

2027Date May 16, 2027 · Entry Dec 1, 2026 ~ Mar 5, 2027

2026

2026Date May 17, 2026 · Entry Dec 1, 2025 ~ Mar 6, 2026

Official website ↗

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D-day as of Nov 15, 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.

This is a half marathon certified by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations, looping through central Fukushima City.

The start and finish are at Shinobugaoka Stadium, and report after report calls the course flat.

Mid-May means heat is the wild card.

The 2027 race is on May 16, a commemorative edition for the 120th anniversary of city status.

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 runners who've been there.

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

Race reports: 3

tigertaizoRan in 2025 · Finish time 1:43:20

“I ran through Fukushima City for the first time, under a scorching sun with a forecast high of 30°C.”

The runner was aiming for half marathon personal best but was pushed back by the heat and finished in 1:43:20. With the legs completely spent by 16 km, it was harder than full marathon.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

予想最高気温は３０℃の炎天下のもと、はじめての福島市を駆け抜けてきました。

Read the original on note

Mランナー(dm-runner)Ran in 2024

“Course is a good, flat, fast course with plenty of straight stretches. The local crowd support is great too.”

With 94 m of cumulative elevation gain, the course was half marathon flat for its class, but the day's high reached 28.8°C, and the heat was the only drawback. Runners aiming for a fast time are advised to pick a race at a different time of year.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

コースは平坦・直線多し・良コース、地元の応援も熱い。

Read the original on Mランナーのブログ(Ameba Blog)

k-taroRan in 2023 · Finish time 2:57

“The city section is almost completely flat. I'd say it's a pretty easy course to run, even among half marathon.”

As this was the first edition, there were some shortcomings, such as shuttle boarding and drop-off and crowding after the finish, but the organizers' drive to grow the race came through. There is also talk that the 8 bridges on the course are where the race is decided.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

市街地はほぼ平坦。ハーフの中でもかなり走りやすいコースだと思います。

Read the original on Infinity(はてなブログ)

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.

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.

First come, first served

Entry cost ¥7,500

Entry is first-come, first-served online through RUNNET, and free membership registration is required.

Once you have applied, you cannot cancel or change events.

Aged 18 or over on race day (high school students excluded) and able to finish within 2 hours 50 minutes

Organizer's page

Other

Entry cost TBD

If you live outside Fukushima City,

you can receive one of 50 half marathon entry slots (first come, first served) through a furusato nozei hometown tax donation.

A donation of ¥26,000 or more gets you an entry slot;

¥28,000 or more gets you an entry slot plus a parking space.

Residents outside Fukushima City

Organizer's page

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Your 21.1km

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

Runners start · local timeFrom 8:00

Time limit2 hours 50 minutes

2 hours 50 minutes (11:15 for the 8:25 start)

Event	Start	Time limit	Entry fee	Field size
ハーフマラソン(日本陸連公認)21.0975km	08:25	11:15	¥7,500	4,000
10km	08:00	09:30	¥5,500	800
3km	08:00	08:30	¥4,000	300
ファンラン 2km ペアの部2km	08:05	08:25	¥3,000	250

START · FINISH

Seidensha WINDY Stadium

Shinobugaoka Stadium

Start · Google Maps

Cutoff
3.2km 08:30 · 3.7km 09:00 · 5.4km 08:50 · 6.1km 09:19 · 8.5km 09:16 · 9.7km 09:47 · 12.5km 10:09 · 15.6km 10:33 · 19.7km 11:05

Runners start · local time — 10 km and 3 km 8:00 a.m. / 2 km pair 8:05 a.m. / half marathon 8:25 a.m. / 1 km 8:05 a.m. (scheduled to end 11:15 a.m.)

The Fukushima City half marathon (ふくしまシティhalf marathon) is a relatively young race that began in May 2023.

It is a course certified by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations,

running through central Fukushima City, with the start and finish at Shinobugaoka Stadium.

A report from the first edition says the city streets are almost flat,

making it a fairly easy half marathon to run, with most of the ups and downs coming on bridges.

A 2024 report measured about 94 m of total ascent on a Garmin and called it very flat.

The course may have differed from report to report, though, so be sure to check the 2027 course in the official PDF.

As the race name suggests, crowd support is strong.

In 2026, 21 cheering groups, including wadaiko (Japanese drum) and dance groups, and about 5,000 local residents cheered from the roadside.

After the finish, the "Omotenashi Stadium" opens with local food and local beer.

In the 2026 half marathon, 4,078 entered and 3,479 finished, and the men's winner ran 1:08:16.

The 2027 race commemorates 120 years of city status, with a total field of about 5,600, including 4,000 in the half marathon and 800 in the 10 km.

Entries are first come, first served, so don't wait.

The guests are Mizuki Noguchi, Athens Olympic marathon gold medalist, and Harry Sugiyama.

Field size: Half marathon 4,000 people
Typical race-season temperature: around 13°C (55°F): Short sleeves or light long sleeves + arm warmers

Participant benefits

Timing chip

Pacers

Medical support

Water stations

Aid stations

Event T-shirt

Finisher certificate

Bag drop

Start shuttle

Changing rooms

Hotels3.6km from the start · ★8.6

To the start line,
step by step.

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

From the 2026 edition

Bib pickup

There is no expo for Packet Pickup, but the day before the race there is Eve Fest in front of Fukushima Station, with a guest talk and a cheering stage.
May 15, 2027 (time not yet announced)

In front of Fukushima Station

eve-of-race event, Eve Fest

Google Maps Directions

Free public transit

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start福島駅西口(Fukushima Station West Exit)
Free public transit

Source · checked Nov 10, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

福島駅西口(Fukushima Station West Exit)

Free shuttle bus from Fukushima Station West Exit to the stadium area, about 15 minutes. Schedule for 2027 to be announced.

Fukushima Station is on the Tohoku, Yamagata and Akita Shinkansen lines. No private cars may enter the venue; participants with a pre-booked parking pass (500 yen) use shuttles from designated lots.

The official site also lists access via Sendai Airport, Fukushima Airport and highway buses.

Map

Getting to the finish

福島駅西口(Fukushima Station West Exit)

Return shuttle to Fukushima Station West Exit and to designated parking lots.

Map

Source · checked Nov 10, 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.

The half marathon starts at 8:25 a.m.,

and the 10 km and 3 km start at 8 a.m. Bib and the participation gift are mailed to your home from late April, and there is no race-day bib pickup.

Reissue costs ¥1,000.

From the station, a free shuttle runs from the west exit of Fukushima Station and takes about 15 minutes.

At the first race in 2023, the first shuttle was at 5:15 a.m. and the last at 6:50 a.m.,

and one report says the road was narrow and getting off took about 10 minutes, so be sure to check the 2027 times.

To catch an early-morning shuttle, a hotel in front of the station is the easiest option.

If you drive, you must use the paid temporary car park (¥500) booked in advance;

street parking is not allowed.

Leave your bag at the baggage area using the designated bag and sticker, and keep your valuables with you.

The changing area is reported to be crowded, so wear your running clothes to the venue.

The half marathon has six cut-off point,

including 3.7 km at 9 a.m., 9.7 km at 9:47 a.m., 15.6 km at 10:33 a.m. and 19.7 km at 11:05 a.m., and the time limit is 2 hours 50 minutes.

The half marathon has seven aid stations, and the "kaburi-mizu" (water you pour over yourself) is well known.

The high hit 28.8°C (84°F) in 2024, and 2025 came close to 30°C (86°F).

Heat is the biggest variable, so bring a short-sleeved top, a hat and sunscreen.

The official guide also mentions patrols in case of bear sightings.

There is an eve festival in front of Fukushima Station the day before, and Iizaka, Tsuchiyu and Takayu onsen are good places to rest.

Ten of the entrants win a Tsuchiyu Onsen lodging subsidy voucher by lottery.

Times are local to Fukushima. 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.

Richmond Hotel Fukushima Ekimae

Hotel · 3.6km

8.6/10(952)

View on Booking.com

Ginzan Onsen 2-Day: The Gaslit Snow Street & Yamagata

¥141,389

Fukushima City Half Marathon

About Fukushima City 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