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The 24th Obuse Mini Marathon (小布施見にマラソン) returns on Sunday, 11 July 2027 in Obuse, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Despite its playful English name, this is a half marathon (21.0975 km), not a short-distance fun run. The organising committee confirmed the date at its September 2026 general meeting. The event is a distinctive local running festival: instead of concentrating solely on speed, it celebrates seeing Obuse, meeting residents and enjoying the town on foot.
A half marathon with character
The organiser's longstanding course concept translates as running along embankments, through country paths and along small lanes. Previous editions have taken participants past rice fields, chestnut orchards, residential backstreets and the Chikuma River, with musicians, volunteers and local supporters creating a lively, welcoming atmosphere. Costumes and creative outfits are a familiar part of the celebration. This is a particularly appealing destination race for runners who want to discover a small Japanese town rather than just chase a personal best.
The 2026 edition used a route starting near Obuse Station and finishing at Obuse General Park, with a five-hour time limit and an 8,000-person entry cap. Those are previous-edition details, not yet confirmed arrangements for 2027. The 2027 start and finish locations, flag-off time, route, checkpoint times and participant cap are still awaiting release.
2027 entries and planning
The organiser has officially announced that registration opens on Sunday, 13 December 2026 at 10:00 am Japan Standard Time. The published fees are ¥8,800 for general entrants and ¥4,400 for high-school students, both tax-inclusive. Registration is not yet open as of 20 October 2026. The 2027 application link, closing date, eligibility conditions, bib collection, transport arrangements and race-pack inclusions have not yet been announced.
July can be warm and humid in Nagano. Runners travelling from elsewhere in Japan or overseas should plan accommodation and transport around Obuse and nearby Nagano City, and check the organiser's website again once the 2027 race guide is released. The calendar's displayed midnight is a date-only placeholder, not an announced race start time.