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PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONJP / RACE GUIDE

4th Sakudaira Half Marathon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

JPOct 18, 20265km

Irvin · CC BY 4.0

Race date in 10 days: Oct 18, 2026 Sun
City · Distance: Saku · 5km
Entry fee: ¥7,500Varies by event and entry period
Status: ClosedFri, May 15, 2026 ~ Mon, August 3, 2026See how to enter ↗

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.

The start is a 5-minute walk from Sakudaira Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen.

It is a half marathon that runs through the old streets of a former Nakasendo post town,

past views of Mt. Asama and the Yatsugatake range, and through rice paddies.

There are also tie-in features with a popular manga and interaction events with invited runners.

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

TKGRan in 2025

“There were quite a few ups and downs.”

TKG took part in the half marathon. The steep section after 6K and the climbs continuing past 17K were tough, and they said they stopped to walk twice along the way. Their time was in the 1:23 range. They said the Fist of the North Star theme and the commemorative race T-shirt left a strong impression.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

結構なアップダウンがありました。

Read the original on TKGと名乗るも卵かけご飯については全く触れないブログ

FLIGHT KYOTORan in 2025

“There is a steep climb early on, and the final 4km continues uphill, making it a fairly difficult course.”

FLIGHT KYOTO took part in the third half marathon for the first time. Saku is linked to the creator of Fist of the North Star, so the theme carried through the manholes and busts near the station and the race T-shirt. Their pace dropped sharply on the steep climb early on, and they were mindful of the final uphill too, but after finishing they looked around near the station.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

前半に急坂、ラスト4kmはずっと上りと、なかなか難しそうなコースです。

Read the original on FLIGHT KYOTO

henry王子Ran in 2023

“The final 5km continued uphill, making it a tougher course than expected.”

The runner took part in the inaugural half marathon. With a generous 3-hour-10-minute cutoff, they had plenty of room to spare. The course dropped sharply over the first 5K, climbed back up, and then kept climbing for the final 5K. It doubled as a travel-style trip, with lodging near Sakudaira Station, easy transit around the station, and stops at local restaurants.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

最後の5kmほどはずっと登りだったりと意外とタフそうなコースです。

Read the original on てきとーに走ったりする日記

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.

佐久平ハーフマラソン｜大会概要紹介

佐久平ハーフマラソン【公式】

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.

Registration history

The 2026 race opened entry on Fri, May 15, 2026

Half

Entry cost ¥7,500

subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

5K

Entry cost ¥4,000

subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Registration platform RUNNET

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

The 5km I'll run

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

Runners start · local timeFrom 09:00

Time limit3 hours 10 minutes

3 hours 10 minutes, cut-off point 5 locations

Event	Start	Time limit	Field size
Half21.0975km	09:00	3h 10m	2,800
5K5km	09:20	45m	700

Half marathon 7,500 yen 5 km 4,000 yen (High school students and younger 3,000 yen) 1 mile 2,000 yen (Family division 3,500 yen)

not the start line

We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet.

START

Near citizen exchange plaza

Start · Google Maps

FINISH

Sakudaira Sun Square

Iwamurata, Saku City, Kamihibashi

Cut-off
3.9km 09:38 · 6.6km 10:03 · 11.1km 10:42 · 14.4km 11:11 · 17.4km 11:38

Runners start · local time — (half marathon) / 09:20(5km) / 09:10(1 mile)

5km·half marathon events are held together.

Start line is set near 市民交流ひろば, and the start time is 9:00 a.m. local time.

The finish area is Saku Daira Sun Square (Saku City Iwamurada Aza Kamihibashi).

The finish time limit is 3時間10分, with cut-off point aid stations.

Field size: Half marathon 2,800 people 5km 700 people 1 mile 500 people
Typical race-season temperature: around 12°C (54°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

Sakudaira half marathon’s reception/jetken information has not been confirmed in public data.

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the start

JR/Hokuriku Shinkansen Sakudaira Station (佐久平駅)

Start/finish venue is about a 5-minute walk from Sakudaira Station (Shinkansen stop), per the official access page.

4th edition confirmed for 2026-10-18 on the official site.

Getting to the finish

JR/Hokuriku Shinkansen Sakudaira Station (佐久平駅)

Finish is in the same venue area, near Sakudaira Station.

More details

Free shuttle buses run between designated remote parking lots (lots 2-4) and the main venue.

Outbound runs roughly 6:30-8:30 AM;

return runs roughly 11:00 AM-2:30 PM.

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 is a 5-minute walk from Sakudaira Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen.

Course elevation ranges from a gentle 622 to 693 m, with only 71 m of cumulative elevation gain, so the elevation difference is not large.

The Saku region of Nagano Prefecture has an average annual temperature of 10.6°C, showing the cool climate typical of highland areas.

Registration for the 2026 race ran from May 29 to August 3.

Times are local to Saku. 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.

Hotel Route-Inn Saku Minami Inter

Hotel · 4.9km

8.1/10(217)

View on Booking.com

Mount Fuji Classic Tour | Arakurayama Sengen Park/Mount Fuji 5th Station, Oshino Hakkai & Gotemba Premium Outlets/Hot Springs Day Trip | Departing from Tokyo/Shinjuku

¥733

4th Sakudaira Half Marathon

About 4th Sakudaira 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