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PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONJP / RACE GUIDE

Nagano Marathon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Nagano
JP

Christophe95 · CC BY-SA 4.0Christophe95 / CC BY-SA 4.0micah craig / CC BY-SA 2.0663highland / CC BY-SA 3.0663highland / CC BY-SA 3.0

Race date in 194 days: Apr 18, 2027 Sun
City · Distance: Nagano · 42.195km
Entry fee: Fee TBDVaries by event and entry period
Status: OpenSat, September 12, 2026 ~ Sun, November 1, 2026See how to enter ↗

Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 6, 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.

The Nagano Marathon is a certified full marathon event that brings together the legacy of the Nagano Winter Olympics and the spring scenery of Shinshu.

The 29th race in 2027 starts at Nagano Sports Park, passes Zenkoji Temple and the Olympic venues, and finishes at Nagano Olympic Stadium.

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: 2

あっきーRan in 2026

あっきー, a 2026 participant, found it hard to post a good time because of the intense heat and sun, and noted plenty of aid stations and cheering spectators. They said they dropped out at 30K.

Their race in brief

Read the original on あっきーのマラソン日記

ShinobeeRan in 2025

Shinobee, a 2025 finisher, highlighted the descent at Zenkoji Temple and the support in the city, but noted that cramps in the later stages and the rolling sections were tough. There was no race-week registration or expo the day before the race in 2025.

Their race in brief

Read the original on Shinobee.net

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.

2026 Full recap

Nagano Marathon · Full recap

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.

General entry, first come, first served

Entry cost ¥14,300

RUNNET entries open from 10:00 am on 12 September 2026 to 11:59 pm on 1 November 2026 JST, with a maximum of 9,700 entrants.

Entries may close early if the limit is reached.

You must be at least 18 on race day (high school students are not eligible) and able to finish within 5 hours.

Organizer's page

Charity entry

Entry cost ¥15,300

A charity entry option that includes a donation to the Japanese Red Cross.

The organizer’s official JTB page says that JPY 1,000 of the Entry fee JPY 15,300 entry fee will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross.

Check the application page for eligibility requirements and remaining places.

Check the charity entry requirements on the official application page.

The JPY 1,000 donation is included.

Organizer's page

Accommodation package with race entry

Entry cost TBD

This package was limited to the first 300 people who registered between 5 September and 11 September 2026, and entries are now closed.

It includes the Entry fee for JPY 14,300, a JPY 500 registration fee, hotel accommodation, and a dedicated bus from the hotel to the start venue on race day.

The total package price varies by accommodation.

Accommodation package costs are additional.

Check the official package page for availability and terms.

Organizer's page

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 08:30

Time limit5 hours

Event	Start	Time limit	Entry fee	Field size
Marathon42.195km	08:30	5:00:00	¥14,300	10,000

START

Nagano Sports Park

長野運動公園, Yoshida, Nagano City

Start · Google Maps

FINISH

Nagano Olympic Stadium

Finish

Finish · Google Maps

The race starts at 8:30 am on 18 April 2027 and features a single 42.195 km event.

It is certified by the JAAF and AIMS course, with a time limit cut-off of 5 hours and 9 cut-off point approximately every 5 km.

The field is limited to 10,000 runners, including the visually impaired division.

You must be at least 18 on race day to enter;

high school students are not eligible.

The Entry fee costs JPY 14,300, plus a separate registration fee.

The start is at Nagano Sports Park, and the finish is at Nagano Olympic Stadium.

AIMS Certified: Member race of the AIMS (Association of International Marathons and Distance Races)
Typical race-season temperature: around 7°C (45°F): Long sleeves + a throwaway layer for the start

Participant benefits

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

International runners can collect their bib and T-shirt at a designated desk at Hotel Metropolitan Nagano on 17 April, or near the start venue on 18 April.
The operating hours have not yet been announced, so check the email information sent before race day.
The bib and timing tag will be mailed to runners in Japan.
17 April 2027 · 18 April 2027

Hotel Metropolitan Nagano

Google Maps

Free public transit

Marathon

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

Nagano Station

Participants ride free on race day to Kita-Nagano (about 6 min, then 20 min walk) or Shinano-Yoshida (about 10 min, then 25 min walk);

organizer mails boarding tickets in advance.

Getting to the finish

Nagano Olympic Stadium

Free post-finish shuttles with the mailed ticket: Nagano Station East Exit about 60 min;

Shinonoi Station West Exit about 20 min.

More details

Nagano Station shuttle may be delayed by traffic;

the organizer suggests using the Shinonoi shuttle plus JR as an alternative.

Source · checked Sep 26, 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.

First, check your race-morning transport and how participant belongings will be sent. Then review the latest participant information for heat and hydration plans.

Getting to the start area

Participants can travel free by train from Nagano Station on race day.

It takes about 6 minutes to reach Kita-Nagano Station on the Hokushinano Line, followed by a walk of about 20 minutes.
It takes about 10 minutes to reach Shinano-Yoshida Station on the Nagano Electric Railway, followed by a walk of about 25 minutes.
The organizer says that tickets for free travel will be mailed to participants in advance.

Check the 5-hour time limit and cut-off point

You must finish within 5 hours, and you cannot continue the race after the cut-off point cut-off.

There are generally 9 cut-off point, about every 5 km.
Start corrals are assigned based on your estimated finish time and personal best.
In the visually impaired category, one guide runner may run alongside you. If you have two guides, they may switch only at the 25.1 km mark.

Baggage · bib · supplies

Check the mailing details for domestic participants separately from the desk arrangements for international participants.

You can leave non-valuables at the start venue gear check. Keep valuables with you.
Participants in Japan will receive their bib and timing tag by mail 10 days to 2 weeks before the race. International participants can pick them up on April 17 at Hotel Metropolitan Nagano or near the start area on April 18. Operating hours will be announced later.
The official race guide confirms that course water stations will be available, but details such as exact locations, menus and toilets have not yet been confirmed. Only invited runners and elite runners can request special drinks.

Allow time to get away after the finish

Travel times and the potential for delays vary by shuttle destination.

Shuttles run to Nagano Station’s East Exit (about 60 minutes) and Shinonoi Station’s West Exit (about 20 minutes). Participants can ride for free by showing the ticket sent to them in advance.
The shuttle to Nagano Station may be delayed by traffic. The organizers also recommend going to Shinonoi Station and taking the JR train to Nagano Station.

Get a sense of the heat and course from recent runner reports

These reports reflect individual experiences from specific years and do not guarantee conditions at the next race.

2026 participant Akki wrote that the heat and sun were intense, and that they stopped racing at 30 km. They also noted the many water stations and enthusiastic spectators.
2025 finisher Shinobee noted the downhill section at Zenkoji and the crowds cheering in the city center, but recorded that cramps in the latter stages and course ups and downs were tough.

Times are local to Nagano. 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 easyHotels to rest in right after the finish

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

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

Near the startNear the finish

The start and finish are 11km apart.

Maccha House Near Zenkoji Nagano

Accommodation · 3.5km

9.5/10(38)

View on Booking.com

GOAT BASE 仲間と楽しく過ごせる貸切宿 stay

Accommodation · 2.2km

9.5/10(20)

View on Booking.com

Hakoshimizu Retreat - 10mins walk to Zenkoji

Accommodation · 4.4km

10.0/10(9)

View on Booking.com

Accommodation · 4.6km

9.9/10(8)

View on Booking.com

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

View on map →

Time for you, before and after the finish

Christophe95 / CC BY-SA 4.0

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

Checklist Local eSIM · Yesim Flight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelp Pace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Nagano runners' room

FAQ

When does Nagano Marathon 2027 take place?

It takes place on Sun, April 18, 2027 in Nagano, Japan.

How do I register for Nagano Marathon 2027?

Entry routes: General entry, first come, first served · Accommodation package with race entry · Entry information for international runners · Charity entry.

Registration is handled on the official website.

How much is the Nagano Marathon 2027 entry fee?

From ¥14,300, depending on the event and registration period.

What is the time limit for Nagano Marathon 2027?

5 hours. (From the 2026 edition)

What distances does Nagano Marathon 2027 offer?

Marathon. (From the 2026 edition)

What time does Nagano Marathon 2027 start?

The race starts at 08:30. (From the 2026 edition)

Where does Nagano Marathon 2027 start?

Nagano Sports Park. (From the 2026 edition)

When does registration for Nagano Marathon 2027 open?

Registration runs from Sat, September 12, 2026 to Sun, November 1, 2026.

Where can I book a hotel near the Nagano Marathon 2027 start?

You can compare live prices for hotels around the start in Nagano in the STAY section of this page.

PacerTrip connects you to races, stays, flights and tours. You book and pay on each service; when you go through these links we earn a commission.

Nagano Marathon

About Nagano 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

Nagano Marathon runner reviews and race reports

Stories from those who ran it first.

See it on video,feel it through their stories.

2026 Full recap

How to enter Nagano Marathon — registration routes

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

General entry, first come, first served

Charity entry

Accommodation package with race entry

Nagano Marathon course map and elevation

The 42.195km I'll run

Nagano Sports Park

Nagano Olympic Stadium

Participant benefits

Timing chip

Medical support

Water stations

Aid stations

Finisher medal

Event T-shirt

Finisher certificate

Bag drop

Where and when to collect your Nagano Marathon race bib

To the start line,step by step.

Pick up your bib at the expo

Hotel Metropolitan Nagano

Getting to the start

Getting to the finish

More details

From race morning to after the finish.

Getting to the start area

Check the 5-hour time limit and cut-off point

Baggage · bib · supplies

Allow time to get away after the finish

Get a sense of the heat and course from recent runner reports

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

Hotels near the Nagano Marathon start line in

Hotels that make race morning easyHotels to rest in right after the finish

Maccha House Near Zenkoji Nagano

GOAT BASE 仲間と楽しく過ごせる貸切宿 stay

Hakoshimizu Retreat - 10mins walk to Zenkoji

Nagano Villa 凪

Mercure Nagano Matsushiro Resort & Spa

Nagano Villa 翠

Peanuts Nest

Time for you, before and after the finish

Toyama Glass Museum Kansui Park Half Day Private Walking Tour with Sweet Making

Toyama｜Private Airport Pickup/Drop-off Service at Toyama Airport

Have Fun in Toyama Pass

Toyama City Tour Traditional Streetscapes and Local History

Where runners eat in Nagano

Eating well is part of the trip

Soba Juwari Ten

Soba Daizen

Tsumugi

Ogawa no Sho

Suyakame Miso

Hakko Monzen

Meijitei Nagano Station

What to see in Nagano after the race

Seeing Nagano with the medal on

Zenkoji Temple

Togakushi Shrine

Nagano Prefectural Art Museum

Matsushiro Castle Ruins

Obuse town and Hokusai-kan area

Jigokudani Monkey Park

Nagano Olympic Stadium

Total cost and budget for Nagano Marathon

Trip prep too,light and in one place.

Runner stories and questions about Nagano Marathon

With runners who dream ofthe same start line.

Frequently asked questions about Nagano Marathon

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

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

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

To the start line,
step by step.

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

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

With runners who dream of
the same start line.