2026 Nara Marathon - Dec 13

2026 Nara Marathon - Dec 13 Countdown

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Race Information

Race2026 Nara Marathon - Dec 13
CityNara
Date2026-12-13 at 09:00
Field Size~11,750 runners
Time Limit6 hours
Cutoff pace8:32/km
TimezoneAsia/Tokyo
Official SiteNara Marathon Organizing Committee (奈良マラソン実行委員会)

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Race Day Weather

Average Temperature5.1°C / 41°F
Humidity83%
Wind18 km/h
Rain Chance24%
Typical ConditionsCold, mostly dry mid-December morning in the Nara basin, typically 4-10C at the 9:00 AM start, warming a little through the day with light winds.

What to Prepare: Expect a cold inland start and a hilly course that will heat you up fast: race in a long-sleeve plus a throwaway top layer for the corral, and skip the heavy jacket so you do not overheat on the climbs.

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 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 1.3°C 4.9°C 8.8°C
Dew point -2.1°C 1.8°C 7.2°C
Wet-day chance: 24% Runnability: 66/100

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

Course Profile

Course TypeOut-and-back road marathon
Elevation Gain400m
TerrainRoad
ProfileA demanding rolling course from Konoike Stadium out to a turnaround in Tenri and back, with constant undulation, a sustained climb around 16-18 km, a long return grade, and an uphill finish into the stadium. Total climbing is roughly 400 m, making it one of Japan's toughest big-city marathons.
Boston QualifierYes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2026 Nara Marathon - Dec 13

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Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is the Nara Marathon 2026?

The Nara Marathon 2026 is the 17th edition, held on Sunday, December 13, 2026, with a 9:00 AM start. The full marathon starts and finishes at Roth Field Nara (Konoike Athletic Stadium) and runs out to a turnaround in neighboring Tenri City before returning, passing some of the ancient capital's most famous World Heritage scenery along the way.

How do I enter the Nara Marathon, and is there a lottery?

There is no lottery: general entry is first-come, first-served, so the field can fill before the deadline. The 11,750 full-marathon places are split between a Nara-prefecture resident frame, a hometown-tax frame, and a general frame, with general entry opening in early June through RUNNET — the 2026 edition sold out across all categories by early July. The base full-marathon fee is 13,500 yen (up 1,000 from 2025; 14,250–15,000 yen with participation gifts, handling fee extra). Plan a realistic goal first with our race time predictor.

What is the time limit, and is the Nara Marathon hard?

The time limit is 6 hours, enforced at multiple cut-off points along the route. Combined with the hills, this makes Nara a more demanding race than its 6-hour cap suggests, so it is better suited to runners who can hold a steady pace on rolling terrain than to first-timers chasing a relaxed finish. Map out your splits with our pace calculator and bank effort wisely before the climbs.

What makes the Nara course so challenging?

The course climbs roughly 400 m in total over an out-and-back layout, with rolling hills from the start, a sustained climb around 16-18 km on the way toward Tenri, a long return grade, and an uphill stretch into the finishing stadium. Runners regularly rank it among Japan's toughest big-city marathons, so the reward of the scenery comes at a real physical cost.

Is the Nara Marathon a Boston-qualifying race?

Yes. The course is certified by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF / 日本陸連公認), and the official record is gross (gun) time, so a qualifying finish can be used for Boston Marathon entry if you meet your age-group standard. Check where you stand with our Boston qualifying calculator.

Do I need a visa or travel authorization to run as a foreign visitor?

Many nationalities (US, UK, EU, Australia and others) can enter Japan visa-free for short tourist stays; confirm your own nationality's requirement before booking. Japan does not currently require an ESTA or eTA. Nara sits in the Kansai region, an easy day trip from Kyoto or Osaka, so it pairs naturally with a wider Kansai running-and-sightseeing trip.

What World Heritage sights does the course pass?

Nara was Japan's 8th-century capital, and the race threads through its historic core: runners pass landmarks associated with the Todai-ji temple area and the reconstructed Suzakumon Gate at the Heijo Palace site, with the deer-filled parkland of the old city never far away. It is one of the few marathons where the route itself is effectively a tour of a UNESCO World Heritage city.

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