12th Saku.AC Makomanai Marathon Sapporo 2026

The 12th Saku.AC Makomanai Marathon takes place on Sunday, 8 November 2026 in southern Sapporo, Hokkaido. Organised by the Saku.AC Makomanai Marathon Executive Committee, it brings road runners to Makomanai Sekisui Heim Stadium for a cool-season race based around the park and the Toyohira River.

Course and race-day experience

The full marathon follows four 10 km circuits beside the right bank of the Toyohira River, followed by an additional 2.195 km inside Makomanai Park. The 10 km event uses a single riverside circuit. There is also a separate 2.8 km solo-or-pair run around the park, starting at 09:15. That shorter distance is included in the programme but has no exact matching ARC distance tag.

The marathon starts at 09:00 JST, while the 10 km starts at 12:00. The full marathon has a six-hour limit, finishing at 15:00, with checkpoints at 32.5 km by 13:20 and 40 km by 14:30; the 10 km must finish by 13:30. Marathon pace groups range from approximately 2:50 to finish-focused pacing. Start and finish are at the same stadium.

On-course support and safety

Drinks stations appear roughly every 3–4 km, with I Lohas water and Aquarius sports drink. The participant guide also specifies snacks at several points, first aid at the main venue and course turnaround, and temporary toilets along the route. Marathon runners are instructed to keep right on riverside sections, including when taking refreshments. Early November in Sapporo can be very cold, with changeable rain or snow; bring suitable layers and monitor the organiser's 05:00 race-morning weather decision.

Getting there and participant logistics

The organiser recommends public transport because stadium parking is likely to fill. From Makomanai Station on Sapporo's Namboku subway line, Jotetsu buses reach Makomanai Kyogijo-mae in approximately 6–7 minutes. Runner check-in and bib collection happen on race day using the RUN PASSPORT QR voucher; bibs are not posted beforehand. A changing room and simple bag-drop are provided, but valuables remain the runner's responsibility.

Registration closed on 6 October 2026. Entrants should consult the organiser's official 2026 participant guide for start procedures, checkpoints, route maps and travel information.