13th Ryoma Dappan Marathon

Yusuhara, Japan

Expected October 2027

Our best guess from a single past year. We'll firm it up when the organiser confirms.

Choose your distance

Marathon

Distance

42.2km

Start Time

09:00

Cutoff

6 hours (turnaround approx. 21.095km at 3:10, checkpoint approx. 33km at 4:45)

Terrain

Road

From last year's edition. Details may change once confirmed.

Overview

The Ryoma Dappan Marathon is based at Yusuhara Town Hall in the mountains of Kochi Prefecture, where the full marathon, half marathon and 10km all start and finish at the same point. The course runs through the landscape that Sakamoto Ryoma crossed when he left his domain, and the organisers describe it as a demanding route that challenges a runner's own limits. The full marathon turns at roughly 21.095km, with deadlines at the turnaround and at a checkpoint around 33km, and a six-hour limit overall. Number cards, participant guides and timing chips are sent by post beforehand, so there is no race-day reception: the opening ceremony begins at 8:00 and the first start goes at 9:00, with the half marathon at 9:30 and the 10km at 10:00.

Start and finish in front of Yusuhara Town Hall
Grand mountain scenery around Yusuhara in Kochi Prefecture
Route tied to the road Sakamoto Ryoma took when he left his domain
Close to the Shikoku Karst plateau and the source of the Shimanto River
Town architecture by Kengo Kuma, including the Cloud Library

The practical side

Qualification

Runners must be 18 or older on race day (high school students are excluded) and healthy enough to complete the course within the time limit. Visually impaired runners must run with a guide runner. Wheelchair participation is not permitted. The entry listing notes that a certificate must be presented.

Start / Finish

Start

In front of Yusuhara Town Hall (梼原町役場前), Yusuhara, Kochi Prefecture

Finish

In front of Yusuhara Town Hall (梼原町役場前), Yusuhara, Kochi Prefecture

Terrain

A demanding course through the grand natural scenery of the mountains around Yusuhara, which the organisers describe as a route that tests a runner's limits.

Route

Starts in front of Yusuhara Town Hall and finishes at the same point. The route turns at roughly 21.095km; the turnaround closes after 3 hours 10 minutes and there is a further checkpoint around 33km that closes after 4 hours 45 minutes. Full checkpoint details are set out in the race information document.

Expo

Pre-race eve festival (zenyasai) on Saturday 10 October 2026 from 18:00 to 20:00 on the second floor of the Yusuhara Yume Miraikan, the building in front of the race venue. Local food and hospitality, 3,000 yen per person, with up to two accompanying guests (junior high school age and older 3,000 yen, primary school children 1,500 yen, younger children free). Capacity 120 including guests; a minimum of 60 people is needed for it to go ahead. It cannot be booked on its own.

Race Day

There is no race-day reception because number cards, participant guides, prize vouchers and timing chips are posted in advance. The opening ceremony is at 8:00, followed by starts at 9:00 (42.195km), 9:30 (half marathon) and 10:00 (10km), all from in front of Yusuhara Town Hall.

Recovery

Participants receive a hot spring bathing ticket valid on race day, and the town's onsen are available for recovering after the run.

Good to know

What you get

Finisher medal

Finisher t-shirt

Finisher certificate

Chip timing

Original T-shirt

Gift certificate valid in Yusuhara town (race day only)

Hot spring bathing ticket (race day only)

Finisher medal for those who complete the course

WEB record certificate for those who finish within the time limit

Bento box

Food after the finishA bento box, a gift certificate valid in Yusuhara town on race day and a hot spring bathing ticket valid on race day are provided to participants.

On the day

Bag drop

Food vendors

Merchandise

AccessibilityWheelchair participation is not permitted. Visually impaired runners may take part in every category with a guide runner.

Before you enter

RefundsIf the event is cancelled, refunds of paid entry fees are decided by the organiser after considering the costs incurred up to the point of cancellation; whether a refund is made and at what amount is confirmed at that time.

If the race is cancelledIf the event is cancelled, the organiser decides whether and how much of the paid entry fee is refunded after taking into account the costs incurred up to the point of cancellation. A decision on whether the event will go ahead is planned no later than three days before race day.

Time limitThe full marathon allows six hours, with intermediate deadlines of three hours ten minutes at the turnaround (about 21.095km) and four hours forty-five minutes at the checkpoint around 33km. The half marathon allows three hours and the 10km allows two hours. Full checkpoint details are given in the race information document.

Other questions

Entry for the 13th Ryoma Dappan Marathon opens on 3 July 2026 at 0:00 and closes on 21 August 2026 at 23:59. Entry closes early if the field fills, even before the closing date.

No. The number card, participant guide, prize voucher and timing chip are posted to entrants in advance, so there is no reception desk on race morning. Bring your number card with you.

Everyone receives an original T-shirt, a gift certificate valid in Yusuhara town on race day, a hot spring bathing ticket valid on race day and a bento box. Finishers receive a medal, and those who finish inside the time limit also receive a web record certificate.

Yes, a baggage area is provided where staff are on hand. It is a place to leave your bag only, and valuables cannot be left there.

Yes. A zenyasai is held on Saturday 10 October 2026 from 18:00 to 20:00 on the second floor of the Yusuhara Yume Miraikan, the building in front of the race venue. Local food and hospitality are provided for 3,000 yen per person, with up to two accompanying guests (junior high school age and older 3,000 yen, primary school children 1,500 yen, younger children free). Capacity is 120 people including guests and a minimum of 60 is needed for it to run. It cannot be booked on its own, so indicate your wish when you enter.

Entry fee

Registration isn't open yet. We'll show pricing when the organiser confirms.

Expected

Yusuhara, Japan

Expected October 2027

Provisional date, around Oct 10

We'll keep this updated as the organiser confirms.

Ryoma Dappan Marathon Organising Committee

View organiser page →

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13th Ryoma Dappan Marathon

Overview

The practical side

Good to know

When does entry open and close?

Is there registration on race day?

What do participants receive?

Is there somewhere to leave my bag?

Is there a pre-race eve festival?

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