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44th Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Marathon race photo

44th Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Marathon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

JPOct 18, 202610km · 5km · 3km +2 more events
Race date in 1 day
Oct 18, 2026 Sun
City · Distance
Sukagawa · 10km · 5km · 3km +2 more events
Entry fee
ハーフ一般5000円Varies by event and entry period
Status
ClosedMon, June 15, 2026 ~ Sun, August 2, 2026See how to enter ↗
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About 44th Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Marathon — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

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

The start and finish are both at the Sukagawa “Danbocchi” “Danbo Uru” Arena, the Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Arena.

Half marathon, the 10km and the 5km are run on a Japan Association of Athletics Federations-certified course.

Course passes along the training road used by Kokichi Tsuburaya, the 1964 Tokyo Olympic marathon bronze medallist.

Six distances—half marathon, 10km, 5km, 3km, 2km and a 1.4km adult-and-child pair race—start in separate waves by category.

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.

44th Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Marathon runner reviews and race reports

Stories from runners who've been there.

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

Race reports: 3
tomo.run|マラソンブロガーRan in 2018 · Finish time 01:24:01
“The climbs and descents were harder than expected, and I nearly gave up at 16km mark. However, I regained pace during the final 5km and set a new half marathon personal record.”

The runner entered the half marathon and finished with a net time of 1 hour 23 minutes 57 seconds and a gross time of 1 hour 24 minutes 1 second. The ups and downs over the 16km section were the most difficult, and they recovered their pace over the final 5km.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

予想以上にアップダウンがキツく、16kmあたりで心が折れかけましたが、ラスト5kmはペースを持ち直し、ハーフの自己ベストを更新することができました。

Read the original on ともらん
PBを目指して!Ran in 2018 · Finish time 00:39:54
“The Kokichi Tsuburaya Marathon course runs right through downtown Sukagawa. There's lots of support in town.”

The runner entered the 10km event and experienced the course in the city centre, along with plenty of support from the spectators. Despite struggling with the uphill sections and stomach pain, the runner broke the 40-minute barrier with a time of 39 minutes 54 seconds.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

円谷幸吉マラソンのコースは須賀川市の町中を走るコースです🎵町中は応援がいっぱい😃

Read the original on PBを目指して!
走れることに感謝してRan in 2018 · Finish time 00:20:28
“I was able to win the general women's 5km event in 20 minutes 28 seconds.”

The runner entered the 5km event for the 13th time and won in 20 minutes 28 seconds. They also recorded their experience of the pace for each section from 1km to 5km and the challenging uphill sections.

Quoted from the original · translated

Original quote

一般女子の部5㎞20分28秒で優勝することができました

Read the original on 走れることに感謝して

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.

円谷幸吉メモリアルマラソン大会【大会公式プロモーションビデオ】

須賀川市公式チャンネル

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 enter 44th Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Marathon — registration routes

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 Mon, June 15, 2026

Registration platform RUNNET

Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

44th Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Marathon course map and elevation

Your 10km

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

Runners start · local timeFrom 09:30
Time limit2 hours 30 minutes
Show more

2 hours 30 minutes (cut-off point available)

EventStartTime limit
Half21.0975km09:302h 30m
10K10km09:40—
5K5km08:50—

Half marathon General 5000 yen High school 2000 yen 10 km General 4500 yen High school 2000 yen 5 km / 3 km General 4000 yen High school 2000 yen Junior high school 1000 yen 2 km 1000 yen 1.4 km pair 4000 yen

START · FINISH

Sukagawa “Danbocchi” “Danbo Uru” Arena

Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Arena

Start · Google Maps
Show more

Runners start · local time — (half marathon) / 09:40(10km) / 08:50(5km) / 09:20(3km) / 09:10(Elementary school boys 2km) / 09:00(Elementary school girls 2km) / 09:50(1.4km)

Both the start and finish are at the Sukagawa “Danbotchi” “Danbo Uru” Arena, officially the Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Arena.

Half marathon, 10km and 5km are Japan Association of Athletics Federations-certified course.

For half marathon, aid station are located near the start at the City Cultural Centre,

outside Grancia Sukagawa at about 3km, outside the City Central Gymnasium at about 5.5km,

along Airport Road at about 10km and 13km, outside the City Central Gymnasium again at about 17.5km, and near Dondon Marutaya at about 20km.

The City Central Gymnasium point is passed twice, at 5.5km and 17.5km.

The 10km course uses the same point at 5.5km and 6.5km, passes near Dondon Marutaya at about 9km, then returns to the arena.

Half marathon are placed every 1km from 1km through 21km.

The 10km uses the same markers as half marathon through 6km, then switches to remaining-distance markers from 7km onward.

The signs are yellow and positioned at the roadside.

The event was launched in 1983 to honour Sukagawa native Tsuburaya Kokichi, who won the bronze medal in the marathon at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

The 2026 edition is the 44th.

Field size
Half marathon 800 runners; 10km 800; 5km 800; 3km 800; 2km boys (grades 4–6) 250; 2km girls (grades 4–6) 250; 1.4km pairs 400 pairs (800 runners)
Typical race-season temperature: around 13°C (55°F)
Short sleeves or light long sleeves + arm warmers

Participant benefits

Event T-shirt

Where and when to collect your 44th Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Marathon race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

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

Pick up your bib at the expo

Registration and bib information for the Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Marathon could not be confirmed from publicly available sources.

Stations & transport near the venue

  • Getting to the startJR Sukagawa Station (須賀川駅), then ~10 min by car or ~20 min by community bus, or ~30 min walk
  • Getting to the finishSame venue (arena) as start; shuttle buses run in both directions after the race.

Source · checked Aug 22, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

JR Sukagawa Station (須賀川駅), then ~10 min by car or ~20 min by community bus, or ~30 min walk

Venue is Sukagawa Arena / Tsuburaya Koukichi Memorial Arena, 1 min drive from Sukagawa I.C. on the Tohoku Expressway.

Arena has no on-site parking; two designated participant parking lots require an advance-mailed parking permit. Free shuttle buses run from JR Sukagawa Station to the arena, and from the two parking lots to the arena, roughly 6:30 AM-2:00 PM.

Contact: 0248-76-8111. On race day, shuttle buses run between each parking lot, JR Sukagawa Station, and the race venue (Danbocchi Arena).

Getting to the finish

Same venue (arena) as start; shuttle buses run in both directions after the race.

Shuttle service back to JR Sukagawa Station and to parking lots is provided from the arena.

Start shuttle

Free shuttle buses: (1) JR Sukagawa Station ↔ Arena, (2) Parking lots ↔ Arena. Operates approx.

6:30 AM-2:00 PM.

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.

Start times vary by category.

The schedule begins with the 5 km at 8:50 a.m.,

followed by the primary school girls’ 2 km at 9:00, primary school boys’ 2 km at 9:10, 3 km at 9:20, half marathon at 9:30, 10 km at 9:40 and the 1.4 km pair event at 9:50.

Runner assembly closes 10 minutes before each category’s start;

late runners must start from the back.

The half marathon time limit time limit is 2 hours 30 minutes.

A cut-off point is located at 17 km mark (the roundabout in front of Megastage) and closes at 11:30, two hours after the start.

Runners who fail to pass cut-off point must remove their bib and take the sweeper bus to the main venue;

continuing on foot is not permitted.

There is no time limit for the other categories, but traffic restrictions are lifted at noon.

There is no race-day registration desk.

Bib, the timing tag and participant gifts are mailed approximately two weeks before the event.

Contact the secretariat if they have not arrived by one week before race day.

If you forget your bib or timing tag, replacements can be issued for a fee at race headquarters.

Registration is online only and closes when the capacity for each event is reached.

The capacity is 800 runners each for half marathon, 10 km, 5 km and 3 km;

250 boys and 250 girls for the primary school 2 km;

and 800 runners in 400 pairs for the 1.4 km pair event.

Events cannot be changed or cancelled after registration.

Entry fee fees are half marathon 5,000 yen, 10 km 4,500 yen, 5 km and 3 km 4,000 yen, 2 km 1,000 yen and 4,000 yen per pair for the 1.4 km event;

high school students pay 2,000 yen and junior high school students 1,000 yen (as of 2026).

The baggage storage area is inside the main arena.

The men’s changing area is behind the stage on the first floor of the main arena, while the women’s area is in the second-floor sub-arena.

There are 360 returnable 100-yen lockers for men and 390 for women.

Portable toilets are installed at half marathon 10 km mark, and a conditioning room staffed by physiotherapists is also available.

Results are ranked by gross time, while net time is listed as a reference time alongside finisher certificate.

This race is affiliated with the general category of RUN as ONE Tokyo Marathon 2027.

Three Tokyo Marathon 2027 entries will be awarded by lottery to finishers of half marathon.

Costs such as Entry fee are the participant’s responsibility.

Times are local to Sukagawa. 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.

Kairakuen Main Garden Admission Ticket Ibaraki

₩1,038

View on Klook

Hotels near the 44th Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Marathon start line in Sukagawa

Hotels that make race morning easy

View all →

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

The start and finish are in the same place
We picked stays around that one spot.

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

Trip.comClosest to the start lineView on Trip.com

Time for you, before and after the finish

View all →

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Kairakuen Main Garden Admission Ticket Ibaraki

₩1,038

View on Klook

Total cost and budget for 44th Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Marathon

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

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

Runner stories and questions about 44th Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Marathon

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Sukagawa runners' room

Frequently asked questions about 44th Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Marathon

FAQ
When does 44th Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Marathon 2026 take place?

It takes place on Sun, October 18, 2026 in Sukagawa, Japan.

What is the time limit for 44th Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Marathon 2026?

2 hours 30 minutes (cut-off point available).

What distances does 44th Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Marathon 2026 offer?

10K · 5K · Half.

What time should I arrive at the 44th Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Marathon 2026 start area?

Check-in: none *athlete bibs mailed in advance.

Where does 44th Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Marathon 2026 start?

Sukagawa “Danbocchi” “Danbo Uru” Arena.

What is the 44th Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Marathon 2026 course like?

Both the start and finish are at the Sukagawa “Danbotchi” “Danbo Uru” Arena, officially the Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Arena.

Half marathon, 10km and 5km are Japan Association of Athletics Federations-certified course.

Where does 44th Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Marathon 2026 finish?

Sukagawa “Danbocchi” “Danbo Uru” Arena (Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Arena).

When does registration for 44th Tsuburaya Kokichi Memorial Marathon 2026 open?

Registration runs from Mon, June 15, 2026 to Sun, August 2, 2026.

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