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PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONJP / RACE GUIDE

Harunako Marathon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

JPSeptember 202742.195km

Yones · Public domain

Race date Sep expected: September 2027
City · Distance: Takasaki · 42.195km
Entry fee: 【フルマラソン】8000円【ペアリレー】13,000円From the 2026 edition
Status: SoonSee how to enter ↗

2027Date September 2027 · expected · Soon

2026Date Sep 27, 2026 · Entry Apr 24, 2026 ~ Aug 2, 2026 · Entry fee ¥8,000 · Start 09:00

Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 8, 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 the highest-elevation certified full marathon course in Japan.

It's a course around Lake Haruna, run while facing the plateau winds.

A finisher certificate is issued for each lap completed, so even if you can't complete the full marathon, your record up to that point remains.

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

カグヤRan in 2025 · Finish time 5時間21分

“I completed the absurdly long 42.195 km course on my own two feet.”

For their first full marathon, the author ran the Haruna Lake course. They alternated running with walking because of knee pain after 30 km, but finished in 5 hours 21 minutes.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

42.195kmという謎に長い道のりを、自分の足で踏破した。

Read the original on note

demu@agelessRan in 2025 · Finish time 04:04:25

“The result was 4 hours 4 minutes 25 seconds (chip time 4 hours 4 minutes 16 seconds), which was very disappointing.”

demu@ageless ran the full marathon at the Haruna Lake Marathon on September 28, 2025. On a course sitting around 1,000 meters above sea level with 561 meters of total climbing, they finished in 4:04:25 (4:04:16 chip time) — the 23rd prefecture checked off toward their goal of racing in all 47.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

結果は、4時間4分25秒（ネット4時間4分16秒）と大撃沈。

Read the original on note

トモゾーRan in 2024 · Finish time 2時間51分23秒

“I was able to achieve a sub-3-hour finish with confidence.”

トモゾー wrote that the uphill sections were difficult even during the final lap of the five-lap course. トモゾー passed the 40 km point in 2 hours 42 minutes 37 seconds and finished in 2 hours 51 minutes 23 seconds, with the 5th lap being the fastest. It rained throughout the race and トモゾー's body became cold, but they used their entry benefits to have a hot meal and took a shuttle bus to Takasaki Station.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

しっかりとサブスリーを達成することができました。

Read the original on フルマラソン　サブ３　４７都道府県制覇の旅路

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.

第11回榛名湖マラソン　テニスコート付近　テニスコート駐車場入り口付近で撮影した動画です。

aaq@takasaki

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 2026 edition

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 42.195km I'll run

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

From the 2026 edition

Runners start · local timeFrom 09:00

Time limit6 hours

6 hours (ends at 15:00), cut-off point 13:45

Event	Start	Time limit
第14回榛名湖マラソン42.195km	09:00	6h

[full marathon] 8000 yen [Pair relay] 13,000 yen/group

START

In front of Mt. Haruna Ropeway

Start · Google Maps

FINISH

In front of Prefectural Haruna Park parking lot

Runners start · local time — (42.195km) / 09:00(Pair Relay)

The 14th Haruna Lake Marathon is held on the certified course around Lake Haruna in Takasaki.

The start is in front of the Haruna Mountain Ropeway, and finish is in front of the prefectural Haruna Park car park.

At an altitude of more than 1,000 m, you pass the lake and natural scenery while completing several laps of the undulating course.

In the pair relay, runners change at designated relay points and complete five and a half laps of this course.

The field limit is 1,900 participants for full marathon and 50 teams, or 100 participants, for the pair relay.

The full marathon time limit is 6 hours, but after 1:45 pm (4 hours 45 minutes after the start), you cannot begin another lap.

You therefore need to manage your pace so that you have enough time to complete an additional lap later in the race.

The 2026 event is the 14th edition and includes age-group full marathon categories for men and women and a two-person pair Relay.

Field size: [full marathon] 1900 people [Pair relay] 50 groups 100 people

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

From the most recent edition

Timing chip 2026

Finisher certificate 2026

This may change for the next edition.

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

Pick up your bib at the expo

Contact: Organizing Committee 027-374-6715 (weekdays 08:30~17:15)

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

Takasaki Station (JR, 高崎駅)

Venue is Lake Haruna, a mountain lake with no train station nearby.

Official site confirms a free shuttle bus between Takasaki Station and the venue race day.

Getting to the finish

Takasaki Station (JR, 高崎駅)

Same lakeside venue serves as start/finish; return shuttle implied.

Road closures

Free shuttle bus Takasaki Station East Exit → Haruna Lake Multipurpose Playground;

Lakeside course Traffic Control

More details

Free shuttle bus between Takasaki Station and the Lake Haruna venue.

Free participant parking also available (requires advance application, fills up).

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.

The start on 27 September is at 9:00 am, with assembly from 8:30 am to 8:45 am.

Because the race takes place at an altitude of at least 1,000 m, prepare layered clothing to allow for temperature changes in the highlands in late September.

Bib and the timing chip are sent in advance in mid-September, and there is no race-day registration.

After putting on both items, go directly to the start line in front of the ropeway.

If you are travelling from Takasaki Station, you can use the free shuttle you requested during registration.

It departs from platforms 7 and 8 on the first floor of the east exit from 6:15 am, and the journey takes approximately 75 minutes.

If you drive, use the parking permit provided when you applied;

you cannot apply for both the shuttle and parking.

Aid is available at the aid station in front of the Visitor Centre and near Haruna Lake Onsen Yuyusuge,

and at the aid station behind Haruna Fuji and near Harunakoso.

Special drinks cannot be handed in, and the quantity of food is limited, so bring any gels and other items you need.

You must return the timing chip after finishing.

Times are local to Takasaki. 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.

Ikaho Onsen Sanyo Hotel - Vacation Stay 26406V

Hotel · 4.8km

2.3/10(3)

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

Lauberge A Relaxation Salon in Tachikawa Tokyo

₩166,138

Harunako Marathon

About Harunako 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