2026 Otawara Marathon - Nov 23

2026 Otawara Marathon - Nov 23 Countdown

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Race Information

Race2026 Otawara Marathon - Nov 23
CityOtawara
Date2026-11-23 at 10:00
Field Size~3,000 runners
Time Limit4 hours
Cutoff pace5:41/km
TimezoneAsia/Tokyo
Official SiteOtawara Marathon Organizing Committee (大田原マラソン大会実行委員会)

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Race Day Weather

Average Temperature4.8°C / 41°F
Humidity87%
Wind12.8 km/h
Rain Chance30%
Typical ConditionsCold, dry late-November conditions in inland Tochigi, often 6-13C at the 10:00 AM start, with the strong seasonal Nasu-oroshi crosswind being the day's defining challenge.

What to Prepare: It rarely rains, but the dry Nasu-oroshi wind blowing off the highlands can be brutal in exposed sections. Dress for cold, wind-aware racing rather than rain, and treat the wind, not the gradient, as your main pacing variable.

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 12.8 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 1.5°C 4.4°C 8.4°C
Dew point -1.5°C 2.1°C 7.1°C
Wet-day chance: 30% Runnability: 66/100

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

Course Profile

Course TypeStadium-based out-and-back road marathon
Elevation Gain90m
TerrainRoad
ProfileA basin-shaped (suribachi) profile: the first half runs gently downhill to the low point around 25 km, then the second half grinds back uphill to the finish. Total high-to-low elevation difference is under 90 m, so it is fast if you respect the back-half climb and the crosswind.
Boston QualifierYes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2026 Otawara Marathon - Nov 23

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Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is the Otawara Marathon 2026?

The 36th Otawara Marathon is held on Monday, November 23, 2026 (a national holiday), with a 10:00 AM gun start. It starts and finishes at DI Stadium (Mihara Park Athletics Stadium) in Otawara City, Tochigi Prefecture, running an out-and-back course through the Nasunogahara plain north of Tokyo.

Why is the Otawara Marathon known as a serious-runner race?

The defining feature is a strict 4-hour cutoff, far tighter than most large Japanese marathons (which allow 6-7 hours). That self-selects a field of committed sub-3:30 and PR-chasing runners, with no walkers and a fast, focused atmosphere. If your realistic marathon time is over about 3:50, this is not the race for a comfortable finish. Check your projected time with our race time predictor before entering.

How do I enter, and is there a lottery?

There is no lottery: full-marathon entry is first-come, first-served and closes the moment the 3,000-runner cap is reached, so it can sell out inside the entry window. For the 2026 edition, online entry runs from June through August via the official site and RUNNET, with a full-marathon fee of 10,000 yen. Fast runners (men sub-2:25, women sub-3:00) can apply for a priority invitation slot with complimentary entry.

What makes the course fast, and what is the catch?

The course is famously "basin-shaped": you descend gently for the first roughly 25 km, then climb back to the stadium finish over the second half. Net elevation change is small (under 90 m high-to-low), so it is genuinely fast, but the back-half climb and the Nasu-oroshi crosswind punish anyone who banks too aggressively early. Plan a disciplined split with our pace calculator.

Is the Otawara Marathon a Boston-qualifying race?

Yes. The course is certified by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF / 日本陸連公認), so an official chip time can be submitted for Boston Marathon qualifying if you meet your age-group standard. Given the strict 4-hour cutoff, almost every finisher is in BQ-relevant territory anyway. See where you stand with our Boston qualifying calculator.

How do foreign runners get there, and do they need a visa?

Many nationalities (US, UK, EU, Australia and others) can enter Japan visa-free for short tourist stays; confirm your own nationality's rule before booking, as Japan does not currently require an ESTA or eTA. Otawara is reached via the Tohoku Shinkansen to Nasushiobara Station (about 70-80 minutes from Tokyo) plus a short local transfer, making a focused race-weekend trip workable.

What is the weather usually like in late November?

Late November in inland Tochigi is cold and dry, commonly 6-13C at the 10:00 AM start with low rain odds. The signature factor is the Nasu-oroshi, a strong dry wind off the highlands that many runners find tougher than the gradient. Pack warm pre-race layers and plan for wind exposure rather than rain.

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