Goto Nagasaki International Triathlon (A-type, 'Baramon King')

Goto (Fukue Island), Japan · June · Independent

Why people love it

Not a standard full: 3.0 km (1.9 mi), 160 km (99.4 mi), 42.2 km (1.9 mi, 99 mi, 26.2 mi), and not IRONMAN-affiliated
Entry requires a prior triathlon of 51.5 km (32 mi) or longer; fee about JPY 50,425
Few English reviews; cut-offs, elevation gain and wetsuit rule unverified
Remote island travel by air or ferry

2.9Good

How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 27% of the overall score.

Racer satisfactionLoved3.5
Only one athlete report (2012, who called the venue awesome and the bike tough) and no recent reviews. 595 people took part in 2024. · Low confidence
OrganizationWell run3.5
Established, with 600-1,000 entrants and a prior-experience entry gate. No reviews; the bike has varied from 180.2 km (112 mi) to 160 km (99 mi). · Low confidence
First timer friendlyDemanding1.7
Entry requires a previous triathlon of 51.5 km (32 mi) or longer. The 160 km (99 mi) bike is hilly, with a 13.5 h limit. · Medium confidence

PR potentialSlow1.8
A hilly two-lap 160 km (99 mi) bike, humid June weather and a non-standard 3.0 km (1.9 mi) swim mean times are not comparable. · Low confidence
Course easeVery tough2.1
A 160 km (99 mi) bike with long, high hills (gain not published), humid rainy-season weather and a 13.5 h limit. Shorter than a full. · Low confidence

3.8Very good

Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 15% of the overall score.

Wetsuit legalUsually3.8
The prefecture quotes mid-June water at 21-25 °C (70-77 °F), straddling the 24.5 °C (76.1 °F) limit. Wetsuit rule unverified. · Low confidence
Water temperatureComfortable4.4
Water of 21-25 °C (70-77 °F) is comfortable to slightly warm. A 2012 athlete saw 20-21 °C (68-70 °F). · Low confidence
Calm waterMostly calm4.2
A sheltered harbour swim at Tomie port, flat in 2012. That is one data point. · Low confidence
Swim easeEasy3.9
A flat harbour swim, but 3.0 km (1.9 mi) is long and sighting conditions are unknown. · Low confidence
Swim experienceGreat3.5
An island harbour setting. Little has been written about the swim. · Low confidence

3.6Very good

Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 19% of the overall score.

Road surfaceMixed3.3
Japanese public roads are generally well kept. No race-specific surface reports. · Low confidence
Road closuresPartly closed3.2
A sanctioned event on island roads, but the level of closure is not documented. · Low confidence
Bike scenerySpectacular4.5
The Goto island coast is scenic, according to both the prefecture and a 2012 athlete. · Low confidence
WindSome wind2.8
An exposed island and coast, with wind not documented. Typhoon season comes later. · Low confidence

Bike speedSlow1.9
Two laps of a hilly island loop. A 2012 athlete described countless long, high hills. · Low confidence
Bike flatnessHilly1.9
Hills are described as high and long, with no gain published. Treat it as roughly 2,000-2,500 m (6,600-8,200 ft) over 160 km (99 mi), unverified. · Low confidence
Bike simplicitySome technical parts2.8
Hilly coastal roads suggest bends and descents. No detailed data. · Low confidence

3.4Good

Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.

Crowd supportDecent3.0
No data on crowds. Local Japanese events usually have warm support. · Low confidence
Aid stationsGood3.5
No data. Large Japanese events typically have dense aid. · Low confidence
Run sceneryBeautiful4.0
Coastal run that passes Dozaki Church. · Low confidence
Run conditionsHard2.4
Comes after a hard 160 km (99 mi) bike in humid mid-June, with a 13.5 h limit. · Low confidence

Run flatnessRolling2.8
A coastal run through Fukue City, Oda and Dozaki Church on island terrain. No profile published. · Low confidence

3.1Good

Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 15% of the overall score.

Air temperatureWarm or cool2.9
Mid-June rainy season, likely 20-26 °C (68-79 °F) with high humidity. · Low confidence
Weather reliabilityUnsettled2.4
The race falls in the June rainy season, so rain is likely. No race-day weather data found. · Low confidence
Venue beautyStunning4.5
The Goto Islands, a remote coastal national park region. · Low confidence
Spectator friendlySome viewpoints2.5
A two-lap island loop spread across several towns. No spectator information found. · Low confidence

Low altitudeSea level4.9
A sea-level island, with hills of a few hundred metres at most. · Medium confidence

2.5Below par

Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 11% of the overall score.

Hotel availabilitySells out early2.0
A remote island hosting up to about 1,000 athletes, so rooms are limited. · Low confidence
Hotel valueNormal3.0
No pricing data found. · Low confidence
WalkabilitySome driving2.5
Swim at Tomie port and race office at Goto Civic Gymnasium in Fukue are about 15 min apart by car. Unverified. · Low confidence
Travel easeAwkward2.0
Remote island. Fly to Fukue (FUJ) from Fukuoka or Nagasaki, or take a ferry. Multiple legs from abroad. · Medium confidence
LogisticsFiddly2.4
Swim, bike start and run are in different towns. · Low confidence
Town and foodGood3.9
Goto udon, seafood and Catholic heritage sites are on offer. Unverified. · Low confidence

Location: Goto (Fukue Island), Nagasaki, Japan
Typical month: June
Latest or next date: 14 June 2026
Organiser: Independent
Field size: About 600 athletes
Entry fee: About $330
Distances: 3.8 km (2.4 mi) swim, 180 km (112 mi) bike, 42.2 km (26.2 mi) run
Cutoffs: Finish Finish by 20:30 (start 07:00 = 13.5 h)
Swim venue: Tomie port park, Tomie (ocean)
Water temperature: 21–25 °C (70–77 °F)
Bike laps: 2
Humidity: High (Japanese rainy season, mid-June)
Altitude: 0 m (0 ft)
Nearest airport: Fukue (FUJ)
Where to stay: Fukue
Booking: Island access by air or ferry from Nagasaki/Fukuoka; not verified.

Matangi TongaRaced 2012 · article · Mixed
A Tongan athlete described flat water at 20-21 °C (68-70 °F), an overcast but dry day, and a hard bike with countless long, high hills. Finished in the top 114 of over 1,500 triathletes; said the venue was awesome. Article states the race replaced Ironman Japan on the same island.
“The cycling was tough.”
Matangi Tonga
Nagasaki Prefecture event listing (PDF)Raced 2024 · article · Positive
Official-source search snippet: bike goes around Fukue Island on a scenic undulating course; swim at Tomie harbour; 595 participants; mid-June water 21-25 °C (70-77 °F). (Page not directly fetched; rate-limited.)
Japan triathlon report, 2002 Ironman Japan Goto NagasakiRaced 2002 · blog · Mixed
Participant report on the earlier IRONMAN-licensed Goto event: 180.2 km (112 mi) bike, top 50 got Kona slots. Search snippet only; page not read. Useful for history.

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