The 2026 Kumamoto Castle Marathon will take place on Sunday, February 15, 2026, in Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. The event is scheduled to start at 9:00 AM and will be held rain or shine. On this date, the expected weather in Kumamoto is generally mild, with average temperatures ranging between 6°C and 12°C. The marathon course is a JAAF-certified road race with a hilly profile, offering runners a scenic route that begins near Kumamoto Castle and traverses through the city's historic district. Participants will experience a mix of downhill and flat sections before a challenging uphill finish at Ninomaru Square, which is located at the base of the reconstructed Kumamoto Castle. The event includes multiple race categories, such as the Full Historical Marathon, the Kanaguri Memorial Kumamoto Day 30 km Road Race, and the Castle Town Fun Run, each with distinct requirements and participation limits.
What distances are available for this event?
→Full Historical Marathon (42.195 km)
→Kanaguri Memorial Kumamoto Day 30 km Road Race (30 km)
→Castle Town Fun Run (shorter recreational distance)
How much does registration cost?
→¥13,750 for domestic participants
→¥20,000 for overseas participants (plus payment processing fees)
→¥5,500 for the Kanaguri Memorial Kumamoto Day 30 km Road Race
→¥3,500 for the Castle Town Fun Run
What are the race categories and their requirements?
→Full Historical Marathon: JAAF-certified road course, participation capacity of 13,000 runners, time limit of 7 hours, eligibility for runners born before April 1, 2007 (excluding high school students), and must demonstrate ability to finish under 6 hours 40 minutes.
→Kanaguri Memorial Kumamoto Day 30 km Road Race: JAAF-certified road course, participation capacity of 150 runners (JAAF-registered athletes only), strict pace requirement of maintaining sub-4:00/km pace (finish under 2 hours), with a checkpoint cutoff at 28.3 km by 10:58 AM.
→Castle Town Fun Run: Participation capacity of 1,500 runners, eligibility for junior high school students and above, time limit of 1 hour 15 minutes with strict checkpoint cutoffs.
What are the key logistics for the event?
→Packet pickup is available on February 13–14, 2026, at Flower Field Square (Kumamoto Town Square), with facial recognition verification required.
→No race-day pickup or proxy collection is permitted.
→Wheelchair access is not allowed on the course.
→One guide runner is allowed for visually impaired participants; guide dogs are not permitted.
→Accident insurance is provided by the organizers.
What is the significance of the Kanaguri Memorial Kumamoto Day 30 km Road Race?
→The race honors Shizo Kanaguri, a Kumamoto native and legendary marathon runner who is celebrated as the "father of the marathon" in Japan.
→The event commemorates Kanaguri's historic achievement of completing the 1912 Stockholm Olympics marathon 54 years after it was originally run, despite having disappeared during the race.
What is the course profile of the Full Historical Marathon?
→The course is classified as hilly, with a significant elevation gain concentrated on the final ascent.
→The route begins near Kumamoto Castle and crosses the Shirakawa River approximately six times.
→The start is downhill in the early kilometers, followed by relatively flat terrain through the city's mid-sections.
→The final kilometers feature a steep uphill climb to Ninomaru Square at Kumamoto Castle, serving as the dramatic finish line.
What is the time limit for the Full Historical Marathon?
→The total time limit is 7 hours, which includes checkpoint cutoffs throughout the course.
What is the eligibility criteria for the Full Historical Marathon?
→Participants must be born before April 1, 2007, and high school students are excluded.
→Runners must demonstrate the ability to finish the course under 6 hours 40 minutes.
What is the historical significance of the event?
→The 2026 Kumamoto Castle Marathon honors Kumamoto’s marathon heritage through the Kanaguri Memorial race, which celebrates Shizo Kanaguri, a key figure in the history of marathon running in Japan.
→The event also features a course that showcases the historic castle town landscape of Kumamoto, with the iconic finish at Kumamoto Castle.
What is the weather outlook for the event date?
→On February 15, 2026, the typical weather in Kumamoto is mild with average temperatures ranging between 6°C and 12°C.
→The event is scheduled to proceed rain or shine, with no indication of severe weather expected.
