Tohoku Food Marathon & Festival 2027

The Tohoku Food Marathon 2027 takes place on Sunday 18 April in Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture. It is a spring running festival with a distinctive focus on regional food, farming and hospitality. Inspired in part by France's Marathon du Médoc, the event was established to introduce Tohoku's food culture to visitors and contribute to the region's recovery and tourism economy following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The start, finish and festival grounds are at Naganuma Futopia Park, beside Lake Naganuma.

Races and course

The 2027 programme includes a full marathon, half marathon, 5 km run and 500 m parent-child run. There is also an invitation-only Kids Smile Run for children with disabilities and their running partners. The organiser lists capacities of 1,500 marathon runners, 3,000 half-marathon runners, 1,000 in the 5 km and 200 parent-child pairs. The countryside and lakeside route includes a second-lap point at about 21 km for the full marathon. Runners can sample Tohoku produce at aid stations, with water and sports drinks provided along the course.

The marathon begins at 08:30 JST and has a 6 hour 30 minute limit, closing at 15:00. A later start before 09:00 is possible, but cut-offs are calculated from 08:30. Marathon checkpoints close progressively at approximately 21 km (12:00), 27.1 km (12:50), 31.9 km (13:40), 36.4 km (14:20), 38 km (14:30) and 41 km (14:50). Half-marathon runners start in assigned 30-minute windows between 09:00 and 11:00, with a 3 hour 30 minute limit. The parent-child race starts at 11:30 and the 5 km at 13:00. Marathon and half-marathon entrants must be at least 16, 5 km runners at least 13, and the parent-child race pairs an adult over 18 with a child aged 12 or younger.

Registration and race-day logistics

Entry is first come, first served, with the published deadline 14 March 2027 or earlier if places fill. The organiser's 2027 participant guide says bibs and timing tags are mailed in advance, while the international registration page still describes a race-day help desk. Overseas entrants should confirm which arrangement applies to them. For runners who ordered an event shirt, the planned T-shirt exchange is at the park from 07:30 to 14:00. Digital finisher certificates are available online.

The venue has changing tents, portable toilets and baggage storage, with collection closing at 15:00. Shuttle buses are planned from Kurikoma-Kogen Station (approximately 30 minutes), Semine Station (approximately 15 minutes), Tome City Hall and designated parking areas. Parking requires advance booking. The accompanying Tome Food Festival and Tohoku Sake Festival feature local dishes and regional breweries, providing a reason to stay after the run. Awards are planned for the top three men and women in the marathon, half marathon and 5 km, alongside costume awards and a finisher lucky draw. Check the organiser's latest 2027 guide for any timetable or transport changes.