4th Ishioka Tsukubane Half Marathon 2027 - Ibaraki, Japan

The fourth Ishioka Tsukubane Half Marathon takes runners through the heritage streets and rural scenery of Ishioka in Ibaraki Prefecture, at the foot of Mount Tsukuba. The main half marathon offers a challenging, varied course, including steep sections near the Tsukubane foothills, while shorter races welcome local adults, school pupils and families.

Course and race-day arrangements

The half marathon starts at 09:30 Japan Standard Time and has a three-hour overall limit. The organiser provides distance markers at each kilometre and drinks approximately every five kilometres on the half-marathon course. At 19K, runners must pass the checkpoint within two hours and 40 minutes of their start, or withdraw. The 3K general race starts at 10:15 and the junior-high-school 3K at 10:30. Two additional 2.2K events, not represented by an exact ARC database distance category, start at 10:50 for primary-school pupils and 10:55 for parent-child pairs. Parent and child must finish together holding hands.

Registration, collection and access

Entry is advertised from 1 September to 30 November 2026, subject to capacity, via the official organiser's entry page and its linked entry providers. Runners receive their race bibs and registration instructions by post before the event; there is no on-the-day registration desk. Report to your start assembly area at least 30 minutes before your race. Timing transponders are attached to the bibs. The organiser provides changing space and a baggage deposit area but does not accept responsibility for valuables. Parking is allocated through participant instructions; public transport is encouraged, and Ishioka Station is within walking distance of the venue.

The organiser awards the leading eight finishers in each event. Half-marathon entrants receive an event T-shirt; shorter-distance entrants receive a commemorative hand towel. Personal changes of category, cancellations and transfers are not permitted after entry. Check the official site for the course map, any final traffic arrangements and weather-related updates.