Marathon Festival WINTER 2026 - Showa Kinen Park, Tokyo

Marathon Festival WINTER 2026 brings a year-end distance-running meeting to Showa Kinen Park in Tachikawa, western Tokyo, on Sunday 27 December 2026. Runners compete on an approximately five-kilometre clockwise lap around the park's leafy internal roads, starting and finishing at the Undō Hiroba (Sports Area). It caters to registered athletes seeking a timed result and recreational runners preparing for a new racing year.

Certified course and race character

The organiser identifies the 30K, half marathon and 10K as Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF)-certified distances; the 5K and parent–child 1K are separate recreational options. The course is relatively flat on the northern section and gently rolling in the south, with around seven metres of elevation change. The event is included in RUNNET's Japan Half Marathon Ranking. Chip-timing splits are advertised at five-kilometre intervals and aid stations are planned approximately every 2.5 kilometres.

The programme begins with parent–child 1K starts at 10:25 and 10:26 JST, followed by the 30K at 10:50, half marathon at 11:00, 10K at 11:50 and 5K at 11:55. Limits are 3h40m for 30K, 3h for the half, 1h40m for 10K, 1h for 5K and 10 minutes for parent–child. A 30K checkpoint at kilometre 25 closes at 13:50; half-marathon entrants cannot begin the fourth circuit after 13:00. Pace leaders are advertised for the half marathon from 1h30m to 2h10m and for the 30K from 2h20m to 3h00m, subject to the final runner guide.

Entry and race-day arrangements

Registration opened 6 June 2026; the advertised deadline is 10 December 2026 at 23:59 JST, or earlier if category capacity is reached. Fees include an adult admission ticket to Showa Kinen Park, otherwise normally JPY 450. The 30K and half marathon require runners aged 18 or older, excluding current high-school students. The 10K accepts high-school-age runners and older; 5K allows junior-high-school age and older. Parent–child entries have separate primary-school and preschool groupings.

The organiser plans to post entry letters and the park ticket approximately a week ahead of race day. Entrants should bring the envelope to bib collection. Park gates open at 09:30; check-in for 30K, half and parent–child begins at 09:30, while the 10K and 5K desks open at 10:40. Temporary changing tents are planned near the race field. Permanent changing rooms are about 500 metres away, with optional paid showers. Do not leave valuables at the unsecured baggage area.

Visiting the venue

The organiser recommends the Nishi-Tachikawa entrance by JR Nishi-Tachikawa Station, where event staff help direct runners. Akishima Gate is physically closer but less accessible by public transport. Allow walking time across the extensive park. The location coordinates are an approximate park reference rather than a precise meeting-point pin; refer to the official venue map for the Sports Area. Check the official 2026 race regulations and entry information for last-minute updates.