2026 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon - Dec 6

2026 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon - Dec 6 Countdown

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Race Information

Race2026 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon - Dec 6
CityHofu
Date2026-12-06 at 10:40
Field Size~3,500 runners
Time Limit4 hours
Cutoff pace5:41/km
Course speed
Fast course Speed index 0.94 — median of the last 5 winners' times against the global same-year median. Winner times track elite fields and prize money, so this reads the course as a proxy, not a pure measurement.
TimezoneAsia/Tokyo
Official SiteHofu Yomiuri Marathon Organizing Committee (防府読売マラソン大会実行委員会)

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Race Day Weather

Average Temperature9.7°C / 49°F
Humidity75%
Wind18.6 km/h
Rain Chance30%
Typical ConditionsCool, mostly dry early-December conditions on the Seto Inland Sea side of Yamaguchi, typically 6-12C at the 10:40 AM start with low rain chance and light wind.

What to Prepare: Pack for a chilly start that warms slightly by midday: arm sleeves and gloves you can shed, plus a throwaway top in the corral. The dry, cool air is ideal for chasing a fast time, so dress to race, not to stay warm.

Based on historical averages for race week. Use our Weather Score Calculator and What to Wear Guide for personalized advice.

Wind Impact on Race Day

Wind at 18.6 km/h can affect your marathon pace by 5-15 seconds per kilometer. Headwinds slow you down exponentially — a 20 km/h wind costs more than twice a 10 km/h wind.

Calculate your wind-adjusted pace →

Race-Week Climate

Based on 20 years of race-week weather (2005-2024), MERRA-2 reanalysis

Cooler Typical Warmer
Temperature 6.3°C 9.7°C 12.8°C
Dew point 1.7°C 5.1°C 10.1°C
Wet-day chance: 30% Runnability: 76/100

Recent actuals: 2023 9.9°C / 2024 10.9°C / 2025 11°C (morning avg)

Data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis), NASA Langley Research Center

Course Profile

Course TypeOut-and-back road marathon
Elevation Gain40m
TerrainRoad
ProfileA relatively flat, fast course through Hofu City that is built for time goals. The only real undulations are two roughly 10-meter rises near the Mitajiri-Ohashi area and the Uematsu overpass, each crossed twice. Start and finish are at the Hofu City Sports Center.
Boston QualifierYes — Check your BQ time

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Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is the Hofu Yomiuri Marathon 2026?

The Hofu Yomiuri Marathon 2026 (57th edition) is held on Sunday, December 6, 2026, with a 10:40 AM start. It is an out-and-back course through Hofu City in Yamaguchi Prefecture, starting and finishing at the Hofu City Sports Center near the Seto Inland Sea coast.

Is there a qualifying time to enter, and how does the lottery work?

Yes. Unlike most big-city Japanese races, Hofu has a performance standard for general entry: a recorded marathon time under 4:00:00 or a half marathon under 1:33:00 from a qualifying period in recent seasons. General entry is then decided by lottery (about 3,000 of the roughly 3,500 total places), so you must both meet the standard and be drawn. A smaller first-come allotment is tied to a furusato-nozei hometown-tax donation. Check whether you clear the bar with our race time predictor.

What is the time limit, and is this a beginner race?

The cutoff is a strict 4 hours from the gun (10:40 to 14:40). Combined with the entry standard, that makes Hofu a serious-runner and PR-chasing race rather than a first-timer event. If you are comfortably under four hours and want a fast, no-frills course, it is an excellent target. Build your splits with our pace calculator.

Is the course good for a personal best, and is it certified?

It is one of Japan's classic fast courses. The route is relatively flat with only two modest rises, and the cool, dry early-December air suits hard efforts. The course is certified by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations and recognized by World Athletics and AIMS, so an official chip time counts toward Boston Marathon qualifying. See where you stand with our Boston qualifying calculator.

How do overseas runners enter, and how do I reach Hofu?

Entry is handled online through the official site and Japanese race platforms; international runners should register early in the window and be ready to upload proof of a qualifying time. Hofu is on the Sanyo Shinkansen line in western Japan: from Tokyo it is roughly four to five hours by bullet train, or fly into Yamaguchi Ube or Hiroshima and connect by rail. Many nationalities can enter Japan visa-free for short tourist stays, and no ESTA or eTA is currently required.

What is the race known for?

Founded in 1970, Hofu is one of Japan's most storied December marathons and a long-time proving ground for emerging elite men, having produced fast winning times and served as a selection race within the national marathon championship pathway. For citizen runners it is prized for the same reason: a flat, honest course and cool conditions that reward a well-paced effort.

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