Races

PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONJP / RACE GUIDE

Tamba-Sasayama ABC Marathon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Tambasasayama
JP

Saigen Jiro · CC0Baku13 · CC BY-SA 3.0Mti · CC BY-SA 3.0Baku13 · CC BY-SA 3.0先従隗始 · CC0

Race date in 113 days: Mar 7, 2027 Sun
City · Distance: Tambasasayama · 42.195km
Entry fee: ¥12,000Varies by event and entry period
Status: OpenSee how to enter ↗

2027Date Mar 7, 2027 · Entry Oct 1, 2026 ~ Dec 20, 2026

2026

2026Date Mar 1, 2026

Official website ↗

Instagram

D-day as of Nov 14, 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.

An early-March full marathon through the castle town of Tambasasayama in Hyogo Prefecture.

It has a field of 10,000 and a course certified by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF).

Highlights include wild boar soup served on the course, a Tamba ware finisher's medal, and passionate support from local residents.

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

かぼちゃRan in 2026 · Finish time 3:26:29

“The crowd support along the roadside is fantastic.”

This is a report from a runner returning to full marathon after 8 years. Portable toilets along course were spaced every 2–3 km, which made things easy, and the runner packed arm sleeves and gloves for the cold.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

沿道の応援が凄い。

Read the original on かぼちゃのトレイル日和

まんうぃずRan in 2026

“I was glad that I ran my first full marathon in Tanba-Sasayama.”

A report from a first full marathon finished by mixing walking and running. Arriving late, the runner found that some of the snacks and the wild boar soup had run out, but was grateful for the cheering from local residents.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

初めてのフルマラソンが丹波篠山で良かったと思いました。

Read the original on YAMAP

aya@徒歩愛好家Ran in 2026 · Finish time 3:55:54

“You run through early-spring village and countryside scenery in Chengha, and the gentle ups and downs make it an easy course to run for pace.”

A report from a runner who broke 4 hours at their first full marathon. They were glad that residents lining the course were so loud and enthusiastic with their cheering.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

早春の城下町と田園風景を駆け抜け、ゆるやかなアップダウンがあってペースを作りやすいコース。

Read the original on note

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46回丹波篠山ABCマラソン】〜ここで、やらんと、いつやんねん！！〜
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.

First come, first served

Entry cost ¥12,000

Entries are taken first come, first served on RUNNET, and close early once the field is full.

Born before 1 April 2008, and able to finish within the time limit

Organizer's page

Charity

Entry cost ¥40,000

This is an entry slot reserved for Furusato Nozei (hometown tax) donors.

It comes with early entry and a commemorative bib benefit.

Donors must apply in person

Organizer's page

Overseas residents

Entry cost ¥24,000

Overseas runners enter through JTB Sports Station or Run Japan.

This is the overseas runner fee according to the official race guide;

check the entry site for detailed eligibility.

Organizer's page

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

Your 42.195km

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

Runners start · local timeFrom 9:30

Time limit6 hours 30 minutes

6 hours 30 minutes (gun time; full marathon closes at 16:00)

Event	Start	Time limit	Entry fee	Field size
フルマラソン42.195km	09:30	16:00	¥24,000	10,000
リレーマラソン42.195km	09:30	16:00	¥15,000	300

START · FINISH

Sasayama Castle Ruins Sannomaru Plaza

Start · Google Maps

Cutoff
6.8km 10:40 · 18.2km 12:05 · 24.1km 12:55 · 30.6km 13:55 · 36.3km 14:55

Runners start · local time — Full marathon Single start at 9:30 (opening ceremony at 8:30); start blocks follow estimated finish time, and relay teams start at the very back

The Tamba-Sasayama ABC Marathon starts and finishes at the Sannomaru Plaza on the site of Sasayama Castle.

The broadcaster ABC is in the name, and 2027 is the 47th edition.

The course is JAAF-certified, and times are taken at 5 km, 10 km, 20 km, the halfway point, 30 km, the turnaround (30.6 km) and 40 km.

It alternates between the old streets of the castle town, rice fields, and villages ringed by mountains.

Reviews often say the gentle ups and downs make it easy to hold your pace and that the roads are wide.

Some runners, though, found the out-and-back stretch mentally the toughest.

The local support is remarkable, with everyone from kids to grandparents lining the roadside, plus taiko drums and brass bands.

On the course and at the finish, volunteers hand out the local specialty, wild boar soup (shishi-jiru).

Finishers receive a Tambayaki pottery medal.

The cap is 10,000 runners, and the full marathon has a 6-hour-30-minute time limit.

A 2-person relay (150 teams) is also held.

Plenty of reviews come from runners who ran their first full marathon here.

Overseas runners pay more than domestic entrants but get the same course and the same aid.

Held in early March, it also draws runners looking to close out the marathon season.

With the start and finish in the same plaza, your bag and your route are easy to manage.

Field size: Full marathon 10,000 people, 150 relay teams
Typical race-season temperature: around 6°C (43°F): Long sleeves + a throwaway layer for the start

Participant benefits

Timing chip

Medical support

Aid stations

Finisher medal

Event T-shirt

Finisher certificate

Bag drop

Start shuttle

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

The official site has no expo information

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the startJR Sasayamaguchi Station (West Exit)

Source · checked Nov 8, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

JR Sasayamaguchi Station (West Exit)

Take the paid Wing Shinki route bus from the west exit; extra runs operate on race day. Parking is very limited, so the organizers strongly recommend public transport.

A paid round-trip marathon bus runs from Shin-Osaka, Sannomiya, Himeji, Kyoto (6,500 yen) and Sanda (4,500 yen); web booking closes 5 Feb 2027.

Map

Getting to the finish

JR Sasayamaguchi Station (West Exit)

Same route bus back; the paid marathon bus returns to Shin-Osaka, Sannomiya, Himeji and Kyoto from 14:00 (last 17:00).

Map

Source · checked Nov 8, 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.

Parking is scarce on race day, so the organizers officially recommend public transport or the marathon bus.

At the west exit of JR Sasayamaguchi Station, you can take the local route bus, which runs extra services on race day.

Marathon buses leave early in the morning from Shin-Osaka, Sannomiya, Himeji and Kyoto, and return buses run from 14:00 to 17:00.

The round-trip fare is 6,500 yen, and web booking is open until 5 February 2027.

Your bib and timing chip are mailed to your home in mid-February, so be sure to bring them.

If you lose them, you can get replacements for a fee at the help desk between 7:30 and 9:30 on race day.

Baggage drop is open from 8:00 to 16:30, and you can only use the dedicated bag sent to you in advance.

Valuables cannot be checked.

The opening ceremony is at 8:30, and everyone starts together at 9:30.

Start blocks are assigned according to the finish time you entered.

The time limit cut-offs are 10:40 at 6.8 km, 12:05 at 18.2 km, 12:55 at 24.1 km, 13:55 at 30.6 km and 14:55 at 36.3 km, and the finish closes at 16:00.

The time limit is based on gun time, so include your walk to the start line in your calculations.

It is chilly in early March, and many runners brought a arm sleeves and gloves.

One report says portable toilets were available every 2–3 km.

Runners who came in at a slower pace reported that snacks and soup had run out, so it helps to carry your own supplies.

The official site lists 12 accommodations in Sasayama city;

you must book them directly by phone.

Times are local to Tambasasayama. 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.

Arima Onsen Taikoyu

¥2,201

Tamba-Sasayama ABC Marathon

About Tamba-Sasayama ABC 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