Kanazawa Marathon
Kanazawa, Japan · October · Independent
Why people love it
- Passes Kanazawa Castle Park, Kenrokuen and the Tsuzumi Gate at the station.
- Local food at aid stations, including sasazushi, curry and sweet potato sweets.
- Generous 7-hour limit in a field of about 13,000.
- Overseas runners enter first come, first served, without the lottery.
Watch out for
- Separate start and finish linked by a shuttle that gets crowded.
- About 280 m (919 ft) of gain, with the climbs in the first half.
- Lodging is scarce and pricey around race weekend.
- Autumn drizzle is common; pack a throwaway layer.
- Few athletes have written about this race in English.
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: Tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.7
One RaceRaves rating of 3.0. An organiser survey reports 97.6 percent satisfied, and travellers praise the sights and food. Few athletes have written about it. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.6
A 2023 first-timer found it well organised with a crowded but easy expo. Survey complaints: toilets, crowded shuttle buses and lodging cost. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.6
A 7-hour limit and many aid stations help, but the first half climbs and entry is by lottery or an overseas window. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialAverage3.1
About 280 m (919 ft) of gain, with climbs in the first half, and 13,000 runners. Not marketed as a PB course. · Low confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful4.1
Passes the castle park, Kenrokuen district, Higashi Chaya and the station's Tsuzumi Gate. The one RaceRaves rating gave scenery 3.0. · Low confidence
- Room to runRoomy3.5
Large field in waves; one runner took about 7 minutes to reach the line. No congestion reports mid-race. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood4.0
City asphalt, with no surface complaints found. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.1
The organiser lists traffic restrictions across Kanazawa on race day. Runners have not confirmed this. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessRolling3.4
About 280 m (919 ft) of gain. A 2021 traveller says the first half climbs and the second half is flat. · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Separate start and finish, with no net drop reported. · Low confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting3.2
Separate start and finish linked by a crowded shuttle, with baggage transfer. Toilet scores slipped in the 2025 survey. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.6
Chip timing and pacers likely for a 13,000 field, but no detailed reports. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportStrong3.7
Cheering, applause and anime costumes along the route, per a promotional guide and one runner. Few independent reports. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.2
Local food stations serve sasazushi, curry and sweet potato sweets, and a runner called aid plentiful. Reports are few. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindMostly calm3.6
No wind complaints found. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant3.8
Late-October lows of 9 to 15 °C (48 to 59 °F) and highs of 17 to 22 °C (63 to 72 °F), with drizzle common. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.9
Past editions saw light rain, while 2022 and 2023 cleared. Showers are possible. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.5
City sights near the start and finish, but separate venues make it harder to see a runner at both. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level4.8
Kanazawa is near the coast at about 20 m (65 ft); a runner log put the course high point at 67 m (220 ft). · Medium confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early2.8
Survey and visitor comments cite scarce, expensive lodging around race weekend. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueNormal2.6
Survey respondents say lodging prices surge around the race. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.3
A shuttle is needed between start and finish, though Kanazawa Station is near the course. · Low confidence
- Travel easeEasy3.9
Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa Station; Komatsu airport is 40 km (25 mi) away. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.5
A crowded but easy expo in 2023, crowded shuttles and a baggage transfer. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.6
One of Japan's best-preserved castle towns, with Kenrokuen, Higashi Chaya, Omicho market, seafood and sweets. · 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 early3.2
Domestic lottery with estimated odds near 59 percent; overseas runners enter first come, first served. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyGood value3.5
The 14,000 JPY (US$95) fee includes local food at aid stations and a liked finisher towel; the medal and shirt are weak. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan
- Typical month
- October
- Latest or next date
- 25 October 2026
- Organiser
- Independent
- Field size
- About 13,000 athletes
- First held
- 2015
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Climbing
- 280 m (920 ft)
- Start time
- 08:30
- Cutoff
- 7 hours
- Surface
- City asphalt
- How to get in
- mixed
- Sells out
- Yes
- Entry fee
- About $95
- Air temperature
- 10–20 °C (50–68 °F)
- Humidity
- Autumn, often drizzly
- Altitude
- 20 m (66 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Komatsu (KMQ), 40 km (25 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Around Kanazawa Station, Korinbo, Omicho
- Booking
- Official survey respondents complained about lodging prices and scarcity; book months ahead. Hokuriku Shinkansen stops at Kanazawa Station beside the course turnaround.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRavesRaced 2023 · aggregator · Mixed
1 rating, 3.0 overall, all sub-scores 3. First-timer called it well organised, expo crowded but easy, course not too hard, shuttle between separate start and finish, plentiful aid, nice finisher towel but weak medal and shirt, entry by lottery.
“Recommended allowing time to see Kanazawa.”
- YAMAP activity logRaced 2023 · blog · Positive
Wet morning cleared to sun by the 08:30 start; about 7 minutes to cross the line. Local aid foods included sasazushi, sweet potato sweets and curry. Stomach trouble forced toilet stops near 25 and 30 km (15.5 and 18.6 mi). Called the 67 m (220 ft) high point a highlight.
- Organiser participant surveyRaced 2025 · survey · Positive
A summary of the organiser's 2025 participant survey reported about 97.6 percent satisfied and 93.3 percent wanting to return, with complaints about toilets, crowded shuttles and lodging prices. Organiser data.
- Rakuten Travel guidearticle · Positive
Describes a course through seven themed zones of the castle town, enthusiastic applause from spectators, anime costumes and a food-focused atmosphere. Promotional.
- 4travel reviewRaced 2021 · forum · Positive
A 2021 post said the first half has climbs and the second half is flat and easy to run, with Kanazawa sweets at aid stations. Few details.
Raced Kanazawa 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 Kanazawa Marathon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.