Fukuoka Marathon
Fukuoka, Japan · November · Independent
Why people love it
- Point-to-point from central Tenjin to the Itoshima coast.
- Students around 20 km (12.4 mi) read bib names aloud.
- Seven-hour cutoff, closing at 15:20, and minimal elevation change.
- Record 13,000 marathon runners in 2025.
- Finish area serves Fukuoka and Itoshima specialties.
Watch out for
- Finish is far from the city; shuttle buses queued badly in the 2014 debut.
- Few runners have written about it in English, so details are thin.
- Cold rain and light drizzle hit the first edition in November.
- Easy to confuse with the separate elite Fukuoka International Marathon.
- Entry method and fee not confirmed; check the official site.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.6
No runner reviews found and RaceRaves has no ratings. Local and official sources praise crowds and the coastal route; the 2014 debut had shuttle queues. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.5
The 2014 debut finished 97.3% of 9,898 starters but had long shuttle queues and 5 runners treated for cold. Organisers now run three shuttle types. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.8
Seven-hour cutoff (about 9:58 min/km, 16:02 min/mi), minimal elevation change and a 97.3% finish rate in 2014. Official sources call it beginner-friendly. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.9
Flat to gently rolling, cool November weather. Winners in the 2014 mass race ran 2:27:57 and 2:53:23 in light rain. · Low confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful3.7
From Tenjin past Seaside Momochi and Fukuoka Tower, then the Iki-no-Matsubara pine coast to Itoshima. A mix of city, sea and hills. · Low confidence
- Room to runRoomy3.7
About 13,000 marathoners start in Tenjin; no congestion reports found, but the field is large for city streets. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood4.0
Paved city and coastal roads. No surface complaints found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed3.8
A 13,000-runner event on arterial roads, so closures are likely; not directly confirmed. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessMostly flat4.3
Described as minimal elevation change; no figures published, so assumed under 100 m (330 ft) of gain. · Low confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Point to point from Tenjin to Itoshima but no known net drop. · Low confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.6
Central Tenjin start at 8:20 by subway. Finish is far out in Itoshima, with shuttle buses that queued badly in 2014. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.5
No pace group or tracking details found. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportStrong4.0
Students at the 20 km (12.4 mi) campus stop read bib names aloud, and runners hear them. Spectators line parts of the course. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.5
Local specialties served at the finish. Detailed aid station information not found. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind3.2
Coastal route with exposed stretches. No wind complaints found. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant4.2
November start; the 2014 high was 18.4 °C (65 °F), called comfortable. Rain and cold hit a few runners that year. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.5
Held in all weather. One edition had intermittent light rain; no recorded cancellations. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.2
Point to point, so friends cannot follow easily, though the 20 km (12.4 mi) campus and city sections are viewable. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.9
Fukuoka and Itoshima are at or near sea level. · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.0
Large city with many hotels around Tenjin, though race weekend can book out. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueGood3.8
Fukuoka is moderately priced. No race data. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.2
Start in Tenjin is walkable; the finish in Itoshima needs a shuttle and train back, which queued in 2014. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.2
Fukuoka Airport is a few km (about 3 mi) from Tenjin by subway. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.2
Remote finish area and shuttle system, with 2014 delays. Improved since. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.6
Fukuoka is known for its food, and the finish serves Fukuoka and Itoshima specialties. · Medium confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inRegister early2.9
Likely oversubscribed with a record 13,000 runners; a foreign-resident slot of 200 was added in 2015. Details not confirmed. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.6
Fee not found. Local specialties at the finish. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Fukuoka, Fukuoka, Japan
- Typical month
- November
- Latest or next date
- 9 November 2025
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 13,000 athletes
- First held
- 2014
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Start time
- 08:20
- Cutoff
- 7 hours
- Surface
- Paved city and coastal roads
- How to get in
- mixed
- Sells out
- Yes
- Air temperature
- 9–18 °C (48–64 °F)
- Humidity
- Moderate
- Altitude
- 5 m (16 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Fukuoka (FUK), 5 km (3 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Tenjin, Hakata, Nakasu
- Booking
- Hotels around Tenjin and Hakata; book early for race weekend.
What racers and reviewers say
- Japan Running News first-edition reportRaced 2014 · article · mixed-positive
Debut drew 11,173 marathon entrants, 97.3% finished, spectators cheered warmly, and a high of 18.4 °C (65 °F) with intermittent rain was called comfortable. Five runners needed treatment, many linked to long shuttle queues.
- Kyushu University Ito Campus reportarticle · Positive
Students line the route about 20 km (12.4 mi) in and read out names from runners' bibs, which runners can hear.
- RunJapan Top 100 race profileRaced 2025 · aggregator · Positive
Describes a route from the business district to coastal Itoshima with city, sea and mountain views and crowds calling out bib names. Promotional, no individual reviews.
Raced Fukuoka Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
Training for Fukuoka Marathon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.