National Treasure Matsue Castle Marathon 2026

National Treasure Matsue Castle Marathon 2026 is an established destination road race in Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, staged on Sunday, 6 December. The headline marathon has 5,000 places and uses a Japan Association of Athletics Federations certified 42.195 km course, while a separate 4.4 km Fun Run has 300 places. The official event site confirmed on 26 August that the marathon had reached its 5,000-runner capacity and entries were closed early.

The marathon starts at 08:30 in front of Matsue City General Gymnasium and finishes at the same venue, with a six-hour gun-time limit. The route passes National Treasure Matsue Castle, crosses the Lake Shinji Bridge, runs by Matsue Station and Kunibiki Bridge, then continues through Asakumi, Yatsuka, Honjo and Nishikawatsu before returning along Gakuen-dori to the gymnasium.

Official course guidance describes a varied route. The opening kilometres are comparatively flat with views towards Lake Shinji, followed by rolling terrain and tunnel sections. Later kilometres open onto Lake Nakaumi and the Daikonshima area, where wind can be a factor. A key late challenge comes after roughly 35 km with a 700 to 800 metre climb before the course trends downhill again towards the finish.

Eight intermediate marathon checkpoints are scheduled, with the final 41.2 km gate closing at 14:25 and the finish at 14:30. The organiser plans nine aid stations with water, sports drink and foods including bananas, mandarins and umeboshi. Baggage storage and medical support are available.

Runner reception is at Matsue City General Gymnasium from 09:00 to 19:00 on Saturday, 5 December and again from 06:00 to 07:30 on race morning. Marathon finishers within the time limit receive a finisher certificate, medal and large towel, while all marathon entrants receive an original event T-shirt with long- or short-sleeve choice. The 4.4 km Fun Run starts at 08:40 with a 50-minute limit; ARC does not currently expose an exact 4.4 km distance option, so that race is documented here rather than mapped inaccurately.