Distance
Start Time
Cutoff
Terrain
Difficulty
The race starts and finishes in Yamashiro Comprehensive Sports Park (Taiyo-ga-Oka) in Uji, Kyoto, with the half marathon and 10 km setting off from the central road near the steam locomotive and the 5 km from the road just outside the Uji-side gate. The route follows the Uji River through the town that the Tale of Genji's Uji chapters made famous, past a tea-growing townscape and close to the World Cultural Heritage sites of Byodo-in and Ujigami Shrine, on a profile that rolls up and down rather than sitting flat. Runners assemble fifteen minutes before their start, and the day opens with a departure ceremony in the central plaza. Every entrant may choose either an original Ujigawa Marathon T-shirt or a knapsack printed with the "Uji, town of Murasaki Shikibu" key visual created by Kyoto Animation, with a special extra gift for runners aged 75 and over. Guest runner Eric Wainaina joins the event, and a prize lottery runs after the races.
Scenic course along the Uji River
Runs through places linked to the Uji chapters of the Tale of Genji
Passes near the World Cultural Heritage sites Byodo-in and Ujigami Shrine
Course rich in ups and downs
Finish at the Yamashiro Comprehensive Sports Park (Taiyo-ga-Oka) athletics stadium
Qualification
Start / Finish
Yamashiro Comprehensive Sports Park (Taiyo-ga-Oka), on the central road near the steam locomotive for the half marathon and 10 km; on the road outside the Uji-side gate for the 5 km
Yamashiro Comprehensive Sports Park (Taiyo-ga-Oka) athletics stadium
Race Day
What to bring
Participation notification (participation prize exchange voucher)
What you get
Finisher t-shirt
Finisher certificate
Chip timing
Race photos
Original Ujigawa Marathon T-shirt (S, M, L, LL) or a knapsack printed with the "Uji, town of Murasaki Shikibu" key visual by Kyoto Animation, one item of choice
Special participation prize for runners aged 75 and over
Prize lottery from 10:30 to 13:20 in front of the gymnasium
Sports accident insurance taken out by the organiser
Live results shown to all participants
On the day
Changing facilities
Food vendors
Merchandise
First aid on course
Before you enter
Other questions
Entry through RUNNET runs from 9:00 on 19 October 2026 to 23:59 on 14 December 2026. The race office deadline is also 14 December 2026 (postmark valid), and applications by postal transfer (yubin furikae payment form) are accepted.
The half marathon and 10 km start on the central road near the steam locomotive at Yamashiro Comprehensive Sports Park (Taiyo-ga-Oka). The 5 km starts on the road outside the Uji-side gate. All races finish at the park's athletics stadium.
Tea soba, Uji tea and ame-yu (sweet ginger tea) are provided to participants as part of the event service, and a shop is open on site.
No. Participation in costume, or carrying flags, banners or similar items, is not permitted.
Local sights include Byodo-in, Ujigami Shrine, the Uji River, the Genji Monogatari Museum and the Chazuna tea and history park. Local specialities include Uji tea, tea dango, tea soba, tea candy and matcha sweets. For accommodation enquiries, contact the Uji City Tourism Association on 0774-23-3353.
Uji, Japan
Sunday, February 28, 2027
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entry fee