Shimonoseki Kaikyo Marathon 2026

Shimonoseki Kaikyo Marathon 2026 is an established road race on the western tip of Honshu, centred on the Kanmon Strait waterfront in Shimonoseki. The programme combines a Japan Association of Athletics Federations-certified 42.195 km marathon with a non-competitive 2 km fun run. The marathon field is capped at 10,000 runners and the fun run at 1,000, and both reached capacity well before race day.

The marathon starts and finishes on O-Vision Kaikyo-dori in front of Kaikyo Messe Shimonoseki. From the waterfront, runners first head east towards the Chofu-Sotoura turnaround, then return through Higashi-Yamato-cho before crossing the Hikoshima Ohashi Bridge and continuing onto National Route 191 and the Shimonoseki North Bypass. After the Kajikuri interchange turnaround, the route retraces the western section back to Kaikyo Messe. The organiser describes the event as one of western Japan's notably difficult marathon courses because of its repeated climbs and descents, particularly in the later stages. Course-side landmarks include the Kanmon Strait area, Akama Shrine, Mimosusogawa Park, Karato Market, Kamon Wharf and views towards Ganryujima.

The marathon starts at 08:30 JST and has a six-hour overall time limit from the gun. Timing is by electronic tag and official results use gross time. The 2 km fun run begins at 08:45 and is not competitively timed, although participants wear a timing tag for attendance confirmation.

Registration was first-come, first-served. The 2 km race filled on 27 May and the marathon reached its 10,000-runner capacity on 1 July, ahead of the advertised 12 July closing date. Race bibs, timing chips and participation items are mailed to entrants in advance in early to mid-October, so there is no normal expo-style bib collection. Only packs returned to the secretariat as undeliverable can be collected at the venue information desk on 31 October or race morning.

The event provides course drink stations and locally supplied food at selected aid points. There is no dedicated participant parking at the venue, so runners are directed to use public transport.