Yokohama Triathlon (age group, WTCS weekend)
Yokohama, Japan · May · World Triathlon (age-group races run alongside WTCS Yokohama)
Why people love it
- Race on closed city streets and in the harbour beside Yamashita Park.
- Water was 18.7 to 21.7 °C (65.7 to 71.1 °F) in 2024 to 2026: wetsuit weather.
- Age-group standard (1.5 km (0.9 mi) / 0.93 mi swim) and sprint (750 m / 0.47 mi) both offered.
- Hotels at Minato Mirai and Kannai are a short walk from the venue.
- Haneda airport is 25 km (16 mi) away, about 30 minutes by train.
Watch out for
- No athlete parking; use trains and walk.
- Entry opens 5 Nov 2026, first come first served; the sprint is capped at 280.
- April online briefing is mandatory; swim cut-offs are 45 minutes (standard) and 25 minutes (sprint).
- Rain is common in mid-May. Few age-group racers have written about this race.
- Bike check-in the day before is recommended; course PDFs are mostly in Japanese.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 30% of the overall score.
Toughness: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.6
One 2011 age-grouper rated it 3.6 of 5 in hot conditions, and other sources are official or about the elite race. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.9
A 2011 racer found it very well organised, and the age-group field is capped at 1,250 with a set briefing and bike check-in. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.0
45 minute swim cut-off for 1.5 km (0.93 mi), wetsuit and a road or triathlon bike required. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast3.6
Flat 40 km (25 mi) bike, though the loop is technical. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually4.4
Race-day water was 18.7 to 21.7 °C (65.7 to 71.1 °F) in 2024 to 2026, and the organiser says wetsuits are mandatory. · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureIdeal4.5
Race-day readings of 18.7 to 21.7 °C (65.7 to 71.1 °F), near the comfortable range. In 2011 the water was 28 °C (82 °F). · Medium confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.0
Sheltered harbour with no chop reported. · Low confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.0
1.5 km (0.93 mi) in a sheltered harbour. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceGreat3.6
City skyline start, though a 2011 racer disliked a fuel smell in the harbour. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood3.6
Pontoon start in a harbour at a World Triathlon event, with swim socks allowed. Safety details are not published. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceGood4.0
City asphalt. The elite course was changed in the wet for safety. · Low confidence
- Road closuresFully closed4.6
Closed city circuit for the World Triathlon weekend, with marshalled crossings. · Medium confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.7
Waterfront and city streets; the route reaches the Cup Noodle Museum. · Low confidence
- WindMostly calm3.5
Waterfront course with no wind data. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedFast3.5
Flat but technical loops. · Low confidence
- Bike flatnessMostly flat4.4
Flat, though gain is not published. · Low confidence
- Bike simplicitySome technical parts2.6
Forum commenters call the elite loop technical with many corners, though wide. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.8
Thousands of spectators were reported at the weekend, but not specifically for age-group racers. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood3.5
Standard aid; no detail found. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.8
Waterfront park and port. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsEasy3.8
Mild May weather. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessFlat4.5
Flat 10 km (6.2 mi). · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant4.0
Mid-May highs are about 22 to 25 °C (72 to 77 °F). The 2011 September race reached 35 °C (95 °F). · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.2
Rain on the elite days in 2022 and 2023, and the rainy season starts around then. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.0
Yamashita Park, Marine Tower and the Minato Mirai skyline. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy4.4
Multi-lap city course at a park venue, open to spectators. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Sea level. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityBook early3.4
Large city, with many hotels at Minato Mirai but strong weekend demand. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.2
No race-week price data found. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.1
Hotels at Minato Mirai and Kannai are walkable to Yamashita Park. There is no athlete parking. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.3
Haneda airport is 25 km (16 mi) away, about 30 minutes by train. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity3.0
Mandatory April online briefing, bike check-in the day before and no parking. One venue helps. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.6
Chinatown, Minato Mirai and Motomachi are close to the venue. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
- Typical month
- May
- Latest or next date
- 16 May 2027
- Organiser
- World Triathlon (age-group races run alongside WTCS Yokohama)
- Field size
- About 1,250 athletes
- Entry fee
- About $220
- First held
- 2009
- Distances
- 1.5 km (0.9 mi) swim, 40 km (24.9 mi) bike, 10 km (6.2 mi) run
- Cutoffs
- Swim 45 min, Finish 3:45
- Swim venue
- Yokohama Bay (harbour) off Yamashita Park (harbour)
- Water temperature
- 19–22 °C (66–71 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Legal; organiser entry rules state wetsuit wearing is mandatory
- Swim start
- pontoon start
- Air temperature
- 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
- Humidity
- Humid; rainy season begins late May
- Altitude
- 3 m (10 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Tokyo Haneda (HND), 25 km (16 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Minato Mirai, Kannai, Motomachi-Chukagai
- Booking
- No athlete parking at the venue. Hotels at Minato Mirai and Kannai are within a short walk; Tokyo is about 30 min by train.
What racers and reviewers say
- Racecheck: World Triathlon Championship Series YokohamaRaced 2011 · aggregator · Mixed
Age-grouper's 2011 review (rated 3.6/5), when the race was held in a hot season. Very well organised with a great pontoon start and city-centre venue, but the harbour smelled of fuel and 28 °C (82 °F) water with 35 °C (95 °F) air made a wetsuit unbearable. Advice: bring a short-sleeve suit.
- Slowtwitch forum: 5 Takeaways from WTCS YokohamaRaced 2026 · forum · Mixed
Elite-race thread from May 2026. Commenters describe the bike as technical with many corners but generally wide. Useful for the layout, not for age-group experience.
- World Triathlon: Wet and Wilde at WTCS YokohamaRaced 2023 · article · Positive
Elite race report. Two-lap 1.5 km (0.93 mi) swim in just under 20 °C (68 °F) water with wetsuits for all; rain on the day; a 40 km (24.9 mi) bike that kept a large pack together; finish on a blue carpet with spectators. Elite format, not age group.
- Japan Triathlon Union: 2017 WTS Yokohama age group resultsRaced 2017 · article · Positive
Official note on the 2017 age-group day: 1,674 age groupers raced standard and sprint distance at Yamashita Park after a para race. Shows the event has run age-group fields of 1,600-1,800 for years; no conditions or opinions reported.
- Taiken Japan: Yokohama TriathlonRaced 2016 · article · Positive
Visitor-oriented description of 2016: two-lap harbour swim, bike route reaching the Cup Noodle Museum, run finishing in Yamashita Park, with thousands of spectators. Standard 51.5 km (32 mi) and sprint about half. Promotional, no athlete testimonials.
Show 1 more
- Organiser: age group entry and FAQ 2027 (not independent)Raced 2026 · article · Positive
Used for facts only. Standard capacity 1,250 (fee from about 33,000 yen), sprint 280; swim cut-offs 45 and 25 min; mandatory online briefing; no athlete parking; bike check-in the day before recommended. Past age-group race-day water temperatures 18.7 °C (65.7 °F) in 2024, 19.2 °C (66.6 °F) in 2025, 21.7 °C (71.1 °F) in 2026.
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Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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