18th Iwaki Sunshine Marathon 2027

The 18th Iwaki Sunshine Marathon returns to Fukushima Prefecture on 28 February 2027 with an 8,000-runner programme led by a Japan Association of Athletics Federations-certified 42.195K course. The full marathon starts at Iwaki Athletics Stadium and finishes at Onahama Port Aquamarine Park. The 10K, 5K and 2K events start and finish at Aquamarine Park.

The marathon begins at 09:00 and has a six-hour limit. Shorter races begin sequentially from 08:30. The 10K has a 90-minute limit, while the 5K and 2K have no fixed cut-off unless operations require runners to stop. Published capacity is 5,000 for the marathon, 1,100 for 10K, 500 for 5K, 400 for 2K and 500 family pairs across the two family divisions.

The course mixes city running with Iwaki's Pacific coast. Current organiser material highlights fishing flags and sea breeze around Ena Port, a steep climb before Misaki Park and ocean views after the climb. Full-marathon support is planned to include 13 hydration points including start and finish, nine food stations and 19 toilet locations. Marathon baggage is transported from the stadium to Aquamarine Park.

There is no pre-race expo or race-day check-in. Number cards and timing chips are mailed roughly three weeks before race day. Shuttle buses are planned from Iwaki, Yumoto and Izumi stations and between the two race venues. There is no parking at the start or finish; full-marathon parking costs JPY 500 and must be reserved during entry.

Registration is first-come, first-served through RUNNET and closes at 23:59 JST on 15 October 2026, or earlier when a category fills. By 1 October, only about 800 full-marathon places remained.