47th Tamba Sasayama ABC Marathon

Tamba Sasayama, Japan

Expected March 2028

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

09:30

Cutoff

6:30 (checkpoints: 6.8 km 1:10, 18.2 km 2:35, 24.1 km 3:25, 30.6 km 4:25, 36.3 km 5:25)

Terrain

Road

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

Overview

The race sets off from the east side of Tamba Sasayama City Hall at 09:30 and finishes in the Sannomaru Plaza of the Sasayama Castle ruins. Runners cover a certified 42.195 km road course that threads through the historic castle town and the satoyama countryside of Tamba Sasayama, a little over an hour from Kobe, Osaka and Kyoto. A two-person relay follows the same route, with a first leg of about 19 km and a second of about 23 km, and teams may be mixed. Anyone finishing inside the 6 hour 30 minute limit receives a Tanba-yaki ceramic medal, and a photo finisher certificate can be made online free of charge after the event.

Certified 42.195 km road course
Historic Sasayama castle town
Satoyama countryside scenery
Finish at Sasayama Castle Ruins Sannomaru Plaza
Tanba-yaki ceramic finisher medal

The practical side

Start / Finish

Start

East side of Tamba Sasayama City Hall, Tamba Sasayama, Hyogo

Finish

Sannomaru Plaza, Sasayama Castle Ruins, Tamba Sasayama, Hyogo

Terrain

Paved road course on public roads through the historic castle town of Sasayama and the satoyama countryside around Tamba Sasayama, in Hyogo Prefecture.

Route

Starts on the east side of Tamba Sasayama City Hall and finishes at Sannomaru Plaza in the Sasayama Castle ruins, over an officially certified 42.195 km course through the old castle town streets and rural scenery of Tamba Sasayama. Checkpoints sit at 6.8 km, 18.2 km, 24.1 km, 30.6 km and 36.3 km.

Getting There

The marathon bus from the Keihanshin (Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto) area is a comfortable option and requires a separate paid application. Further details are on the official race website.

Race Day

The opening ceremony is held at 08:30, and both the marathon and the relay start at 09:30 from the east side of Tamba Sasayama City Hall. The finish is at Sannomaru Plaza in the Sasayama Castle ruins, with checkpoints along the course and an overall limit of 6 hours 30 minutes. Awards go to the top eight men and women overall and to the top three in each age group.

Good to know

What to bring

Athlete bib

Timing chip

What you get

Finisher medal

Finisher certificate

Race photos

Participation uniform

Tanba-yaki ceramic finisher medal for finishers

Athlete bib, timing chip, participation guide and baggage bag posted in advance

Free online photo finisher certificate after the race

Chip timingThere is no registration desk on race day. The participation guide, athlete bib, timing chip and baggage bag are posted to entrants in mid-February 2027. Runners who are not wearing their bib and chip will not be allowed to start.

On the day

Merchandise

ParkingParking at the venue is limited, so runners are strongly encouraged to use public transport or the paid marathon bus from the Kobe, Osaka and Kyoto area, which needs a separate application. Details are on the official race website.

ShuttleMarathon bus (separate paid application required)

Public transportThe marathon bus from the Keihanshin (Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto) area is a comfortable option and requires a separate paid application. Further details are on the official race website.

AccessibilityWheelchairs are not permitted. Visually impaired runners who find it hard to run alone may use a guide runner, but they must contact the race office before entering so a guide runner bib can be issued. Guide dogs may not accompany runners, and bicycle escorts are not allowed.

Bag dropYes, there is a baggage area, but valuables cannot be stored and your bag must fit inside the dedicated baggage bag posted to you in advance.

First aid on courseThe event provides a health check corner, a foot and knee consultation corner, AEDs along the course and medical runners, and the organisers hold marathon insurance.

Before you enter

TransfersPlaces may be passed on only through RUNNET's Yuzureru transfer scheme, open from 3 October 2026 to 22 December 2026. The scheme starts after the entry deadline or once the field is full. Transferring a place or running under another person's name outside that scheme is prohibited.

Minimum ageMarathon entrants must have been born on or before 1 April 2008, and relay entrants on or before 1 April 2011. Relay teams may be mixed gender.

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47th Tamba Sasayama ABC Marathon

Overview

The practical side

Good to know

When does entry open and close?

Do I need to be registered with the JAAF?

What do finishers receive?

What is there to see and eat in Tamba Sasayama?

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