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The 39th Hikone City Marathon sends runners through the streets of Hikone in Shiga Prefecture on a course that looks across to the National Treasure Hikone Castle. The running is on paved roads throughout, with the start on the road in front of Heiwado HATO Stadium and the finish at the stadium itself. Three distances are offered, roughly 10km, 5km and 3km, so school children, parent-and-child teams, pairs and adult runners all share the same morning. Race packets with the athlete bib and timing chip arrive by post about a week before the event, which means there is no participant check-in on the day, only a strict 07:00 to 08:00 window at the general information desk, and timing is recorded as net time from the start line. Everyone who finishes receives an original T-shirt printed with Hikonyan, and the mascot itself often turns up at the venue when the weather is clear.
Views across to the National Treasure Hikone Castle
The mascot Hikonyan appears at the venue on fine days
Start in front of Heiwado HATO Stadium and finish inside the stadium
Start / Finish
Road in front of Heiwado HATO Stadium, Hikone
Heiwado HATO Stadium, Hikone
Terrain
Route
Getting There
Race Day
What you get
Finisher t-shirt
Chip timing
Original Hikonyan T-shirt
Free admission tickets to Hikone Castle and other sites
Various discount coupons
Prize draw for participants
On the day
Bag drop
Food vendors
Merchandise
Other questions
The event is capped at 3,000 runners in total, made up of about 1,600 for the 10km, 600 for the 5km and 800 for the 3km. Entries close as soon as a distance reaches its limit, even if the entry window is still open.
No. There is no participant check-in. The athlete bib and timing chip are posted to you about a week before the event, so you must bring them with you on the day.
The general information desk at Heiwado HATO Stadium is open from 07:00 to 08:00. That window is strict and a lottery ticket has to be handed in at the desk.
Timing is net time, which starts when you cross the start line rather than at the starting signal.
Yes. A 10km entry is offered as a return gift through the Furusato Choice hometown tax scheme. If you use that route, do not enter through the normal page; complete the donation first and then apply using the URL the race office sends you.
Hikone, Japan
Sunday, November 8, 2026
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