Kagawa Marathon 2027

Kagawa Marathon 2027 returns for its second edition on 21 March 2027, bringing an 11,000-runner full marathon to Takamatsu and Ayagawa in Kagawa Prefecture. The Japan Association of Athletics Federations-certified 42.195K course starts in front of Anabuki Arena Kagawa in Takamatsu's Sunport waterfront district and finishes inside the arena's main hall. It is designed as a relatively runnable urban and regional course, with organisers deliberately minimising elevation changes while showing runners a broad cross-section of Kagawa.

From the arena, the marathon heads through central Takamatsu, including the city's Chuo-dori avenue, before taking in views and landscapes associated with the Seto Inland Sea and its islands, the nationally renowned Ritsurin Garden, satoyama countryside and the Sanuki Plain. The unusual indoor arena finish gives the race a distinctive finale. The marathon starts at 10:00 JST and has a six-hour limit. Nine published intermediate gates progressively close from 5.3K at 11:01 through to 41.6K at 16:00, so runners need to stay ahead of the organiser's road-reopening schedule.

The same morning also includes the Takamatsu Fun Run, with an approximately 3K race starting at 10:30 and an approximately 1K race at 11:30. The combined Fun Run field is 1,000 participants and includes general and family entry options. Timing chips are used, with gross times recorded for the Fun Run. The marathon records both gross and net times, with overall rankings based on gross time and age-group rankings based on net time.

Marathon entry is first come, first served. Kagawa-resident priority entry opened on 29 September 2026, while general and overseas entry opens on 15 October and is scheduled to run until 23 November unless capacity is reached earlier. Marathon runners must complete identity-verified check-in at Anabuki Arena Kagawa on Saturday 20 March from 10:00 to 19:00; there is no marathon check-in on race morning. Fun Run bibs are mailed in advance. The venue is particularly accessible for travelling runners, around a four-minute walk from JR Takamatsu Station and Kotoden Takamatsu-Chikko Station, and the organiser asks participants to use public transport because race-day traffic restrictions will apply.