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The Ohtawara Marathon is run on a JAAF-certified road course that starts and finishes at DI STADIUM in Mihara Park, in the city of Ohtawara in Tochigi Prefecture. Runners choose between a full marathon with a strict four-hour limit and checkpoint cut-offs, and a 10 km race with a one-hour limit. There is no athlete reception on race day at all: bibs and timing chips are posted to entrants in advance, and the morning begins with an opening declaration at 9:45 before the marathon starts at 10:00 and the 10 km at 10:40. Course aid stations serve drinks only, with sports drink, water and a special drink on offer, so runners carry their own food if they need it.
Starts and finishes at DI STADIUM in Mihara Park
JAAF-certified road course through Ohtawara City
A four-hour marathon time limit that draws a serious, fast field
Qualification
Start / Finish
DI STADIUM (Mihara Park Athletics Stadium), Ohtawara City
DI STADIUM (Mihara Park Athletics Stadium), Ohtawara City
Terrain
Route
Getting There
Race Day
What you get
Finisher t-shirt
Chip timing
Commemorative participation T-shirt
Limited-edition eleven-spice chilli pepper blend
Sports massage service
Live race commentary on Tochigi Broadcasting
On the day
Merchandise
First aid on course
Before you enter
Other questions
No. This race has no athlete reception on the day. Your athlete bib, timing chip and other items are posted in advance to the address you gave when you entered.
Runners who have a JAAF-certified record of 2:25:00 or faster for men, or 3:00:00 or faster for women, set in a race on or after 1 October 2024, can declare it themselves. After selection, a small number of the fastest applicants are accepted as preferential athletes and receive free entry plus accommodation arranged by the race office. The application deadline was 6 July and details are handled directly by the race office. If you apply through this system, do not also enter through RUNNET, as normal entry fees cannot be refunded.
No, but there is a separate JAAF-registered division. To enter it, record your 2026 JAAF registration details and JAAF ID in your RUNNET member information first, since the entry button does not appear without a JAAF ID. Runners whose registration is still being processed should update their member information before the entry deadline.
Every entrant receives a commemorative participation T-shirt and a limited-edition eleven-spice chilli pepper blend. A web record certificate is issued after the race.
The opening declaration takes place at 9:45, the 42.195km starts at 10:00 and the 10km at 10:40. Both start and finish are at DI STADIUM in Mihara Park, Ohtawara City.
Ohtawara, Japan
Monday, November 23, 2026
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