2026 Tsukuba Marathon - Nov 22

2026 Tsukuba Marathon - Nov 22 Countdown

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Race Information

Race2026 Tsukuba Marathon - Nov 22
CityTsukuba
Date2026-11-22 at 08:50
Field Size~10,000 runners
Time Limit6 hours
Cutoff pace8:32/km
TimezoneAsia/Tokyo
Official SiteTsukuba Marathon Organizing Committee (つくばマラソン実行委員会)

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Race Day Weather

Average Temperature9.8°C / 50°F
Humidity78%
Wind17.5 km/h
Rain Chance30%
Typical ConditionsCool, mostly dry late-November weather on the Kanto plain, typically 8-15C around the 8:50 AM wave start, with light wind and a low chance of rain.

What to Prepare: Late November in Ibaraki is prime racing weather: dress for a cool start you can race in, with a throwaway top layer for the corral, and trust the dry, still morning that helps make Tsukuba so fast.

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 17.5 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 6.8°C 9.5°C 13.6°C
Dew point 1.5°C 5.7°C 11.2°C
Wet-day chance: 30% Runnability: 75/100

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

Course Profile

Course TypeLoop-style road marathon on a flat, certified course
Elevation Gain60m
TerrainRoad
ProfileA pancake-flat course across the Tsukuba science-city plain with negligible elevation change, long straight stretches and only a handful of gentle rises — built for even pacing and personal bests. The start/finish was reconfigured around iias Tsukuba and the city hall in 2025, so 2026 is the second running on the renovated layout.
Boston QualifierYes — Check your BQ time

Prepare for 2026 Tsukuba Marathon - Nov 22

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Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is the Tsukuba Marathon 2026?

The Tsukuba Marathon 2026 is held on Sunday, November 22, 2026, with a wave start from about 8:50 AM. It takes place in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture — Japan's science-research hub on the flat Kanto plain, about an hour northeast of central Tokyo by express train.

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

There is no lottery: general entry is first-come, first-served, and the race is popular enough that the full-marathon quota of roughly 10,000 can sell out fast — in some years the resident pre-entry window filled within hours. General registration opens in early July through the official site and RUNNET, and the full-marathon fee is 12,000 yen. Set a realistic target before you sign up with our race time predictor.

Why is Tsukuba considered such a fast, PB-friendly course?

Tsukuba is one of Japan's best-known personal-best races because the course is exceptionally flat with almost no elevation change, the late-November air is cool and usually dry, and the wide research-city roads give long, uninterrupted stretches for even pacing. Many domestic runners pick Tsukuba specifically to chase a time goal — dial in your splits with our pace calculator.

What is the time limit, and is the course beginner-friendly?

The full marathon has a 6-hour time limit with checkpoint cut-offs (関門) along the way. That is a moderate, serious-runner cutoff — more demanding than the 7-hour limits some Japanese marathons offer, but the flat profile means a steady, well-paced effort can comfortably make it. First-timers should train for a sub-6 finish rather than treat it as a stroll.

Is the Tsukuba 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 used toward Boston Marathon qualifying if you meet your age-group standard. Its flat layout makes it a realistic place to chase that standard — check where you stand with our Boston qualifying calculator.

I heard the course is changing for 2026 — what is new?

Yes — though it is no longer brand new. The course was renovated for the 2025 (45th) edition, with the start and finish reconfigured around the iias Tsukuba and Tsukuba City Hall area rather than the long-standing university-loop layout, so 2026 is the second running on it. The terrain stays flat and the course remains a certified, fast PB course; check the official site for the final route map before race day.

Do I need a visa to run as a foreign visitor, and how do I get there?

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, and note Japan does not currently require an ESTA or eTA. Tsukuba is reached from central Tokyo in about 45-60 minutes on the Tsukuba Express line, so a race-weekend trip from the capital is easy.

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