What is the Kanazawa Marathon elevation profile?

The Kanazawa Marathon has 150 metres of total climbing and 140 metres of descent over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). The course is rolling with moderate climbs, with 10 metres of net climb from start to finish.

How long is the Kanazawa Marathon?

The Kanazawa Marathon is the standard marathon distance of 42.195 kilometres (26.2 miles), certified to World Athletics rules. Historic course from central Kanazawa to the western city sports complex.

What time does the Kanazawa Marathon start?

The 2026 Kanazawa Marathon starts at 9:00 am local time on Sunday, 4 October 2026. Arrive early for baggage drop and corral access — official race communications on www.kanazawa-marathon.jp/ confirm any last-minute schedule changes.

Where does the Kanazawa Marathon start and finish?

Starts in central Kanazawa and finishes at the western city sports complex. Updated course maps are published at https://www.kanazawa-marathon.jp/ each year.

When is the Kanazawa Marathon and how do I register?

Kanazawa Marathon is typically held in October. Registration opens through https://www.kanazawa-marathon.jp/ and may use a lottery or tiered entry when demand exceeds capacity.

Is the Kanazawa Marathon course flat?

The course includes rolling with moderate climbs. Study the official course profile at https://www.kanazawa-marathon.jp/ before setting pace targets.

What weather should runners expect at Kanazawa Marathon?

Typically cool with light coastal humidity and comfortable fall temperatures.

Kanazawa Marathon

Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan

Overview

The Kanazawa Marathon is one of the world's largest marathons, drawing approximately 14k finishers each October on a historic urban road in Kanazawa, Japan. The race is especially known for blending modern boulevards with preserved samurai-era city scenery. The course passes Kenrokuen approaches, Kanazawa Castle Park, and traditional districts near the Asano and Sai rivers. Samurai-era districts and river crossings give way to steady climbs between Kenrokuen approaches and the castle park above downtown Kanazawa.

Kanazawa Marathon is a certified 42.195 km (26.2 mile) marathon — the standard World Athletics marathon distance.

Kanazawa Marathon 2026 race day

The next Kanazawa Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, 4 October 2026 with a 9:00 am start. The certified course covers 42.195 km (26.2 miles) with 150 m of climbing on a rolling with moderate climbs layout.

Kanazawa Marathon course route

Starts in central Kanazawa and finishes at the western city sports complex. The course passes Kenrokuen approaches, Kanazawa Castle Park, and traditional districts near the Asano and Sai rivers. Castle-park rollers and river-bank rises shape the middle miles, while Kenrokuen-area spectators cheer the home stretch.

Kanazawa Marathon elevation profile

The Kanazawa Marathon course is rolling with moderate climbs over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). Runners cover 150 metres of climbing and 140 metres of descent, with a net climb of 10 metres from start to finish.

Entry requirements

The Kanazawa Marathon uses a lottery system through kanazawa-marathon.jp and RUNNET, with applications typically accepted during a window that opens in April for the October race. The field of roughly 14k runners is capped and domestic demand through RUNNET makes lottery acceptance uncertain. International runners can apply through Run Japan or official travel packages when general lottery entry is oversubscribed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Kanazawa Marathon elevation profile?: The Kanazawa Marathon has 150 metres of total climbing and 140 metres of descent over 42.195 km (26.2 miles). The course is rolling with moderate climbs, with 10 metres of net climb from start to finish.
How long is the Kanazawa Marathon?: The Kanazawa Marathon is the standard marathon distance of 42.195 kilometres (26.2 miles), certified to World Athletics rules. Historic course from central Kanazawa to the western city sports complex.
What time does the Kanazawa Marathon start?: The 2026 Kanazawa Marathon starts at 9:00 am local time on Sunday, 4 October 2026. Arrive early for baggage drop and corral access — official race communications on www.kanazawa-marathon.jp/ confirm any last-minute schedule changes.
Where does the Kanazawa Marathon start and finish?: Starts in central Kanazawa and finishes at the western city sports complex. Updated course maps are published at https://www.kanazawa-marathon.jp/ each year.
When is the Kanazawa Marathon and how do I register?: Kanazawa Marathon is typically held in October. Registration opens through https://www.kanazawa-marathon.jp/ and may use a lottery or tiered entry when demand exceeds capacity.
Is the Kanazawa Marathon course flat?: The course includes rolling with moderate climbs. Study the official course profile at https://www.kanazawa-marathon.jp/ before setting pace targets.
What landmarks does the Kanazawa Marathon pass?: The course passes Kenrokuen approaches, Kanazawa Castle Park, and traditional districts near the Asano and Sai rivers.
What weather should runners expect at Kanazawa Marathon?: Typically cool with light coastal humidity and comfortable fall temperatures.

Last updated 18 July 2026. Edition dates and course details are reviewed regularly.

Nearby Marathons

Other races closest to Kanazawa.

Toyama, Toyama, Japan· 55 km away

Toyama Marathon

The Toyama Marathon is one of the world's largest marathons, drawing approximately 13k finishers each November on a bay-to-city road in Toyama, Japan. Clear-weather views of the Northern Alps are the signature visual payoff of the race. The route passes Toyama Bay views, river crossings, and long roads with the Tateyama mountain range as a backdrop. Toyama Bay views, river crossings, and long roads with the Tateyama range as backdrop reward runners on a bay-to-city course with subtle grade changes.

Next race: Sunday, 1 November 2026

Fukui, Fukui, Japan· 69 km away

Fukui Sakura Marathon

The Fukui Sakura Marathon is one of the world's largest marathons, drawing approximately 12k finishers each March on an urban road in Fukui, Japan. The event was launched to showcase Fukui during cherry-blossom time and immediately drew a large field. The course passes castle ruins, river sections, and streets that line up with the city's sakura season. Castle ruins, river sections, and sakura-lined March streets showcase Fukui during cherry-blossom season on a course that stays largely level.

Next race: Sunday, 7 March 2027

Kurobe, Toyama, Japan· 81 km away

Carter Memorial Kurobe Meisui Marathon

The Carter Memorial Kurobe Meisui Marathon draws approximately 10k finishers each May on a scenic coastal and rural road in Kurobe, Japan. Named for Jimmy Carter, it is famous in Japan for exceptionally pure mountain-water aid stations. The route passes snowmelt-fed river sections, Toyama Bay views, and roads backed by the Northern Alps. Snowmelt-fed river sections, Toyama Bay views, and Northern Alps backdrops frame a course famous for exceptionally pure mountain-water aid stations each May.

Next race: Sunday, 2 May 2027

Omachi, Nagano, Japan· 112 km away

Omachi Alps Marathon

The Omachi Alps Marathon draws approximately 1,800 finishers each October on a mountain basin road in Omachi, Japan. Snow-capped mountain backdrops are the race's defining visual feature on clear days. The course passes agricultural basin roads, spring-water areas, and constant views of the Northern Alps. Agricultural basin roads and spring-water areas climb beneath constant views of the Northern Alps on clear October days in Omachi.

Next race: Sunday, 4 October 2026

Nagano, Nagano, Japan· 140 km away

Nagano Marathon

The Nagano Marathon draws approximately 10k finishers each April on an urban and plain road in Nagano, Japan. Its Olympic-city backdrop still shapes the event's image years after the 1998 Games. The route passes Zenkoji-area approaches, broad valley roads, and snow-capped mountain views around the basin. Zenkoji-area approaches, broad valley roads, and snow-capped mountain views around the Olympic-city basin make April's race scenic yet largely runnable.

Next race: Sunday, 4 April 2027

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