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Hofu Yomiuri Marathon

December 6, 2026 · 10:40 AMHofu, Yamaguchi, Japan

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Race snapshot

Race Day

46°F

39–55°F · Feels cool

Total elevation gain

131ft

Relatively flat course · Net elevation change +0 ft

Participants

3,500

Medium-sized race

Crowd Rating

3/ 10

Moderate spectator support

The Lowdown

The Hofu Yomiuri Marathon is a road marathon in Hofu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and the 57th edition is set for Sunday, December 6, 2026, with a 10:40 start. It is a World Athletics Elite Label race and a stop on the MGC Series 2026-27, and it doubles as a national selection trial for the World Athletics Championships Beijing 2027 and for Los Angeles 2028. The certified course starts on the prefectural road in front of Salt Arena Hofu, turns around in Tajima and finishes in the athletics stadium. Part of the course changes from this edition. The field is capped at 3,500, with 3,000 general places filled by lottery among runners who hold a certified marathon time of 4:00:00 or faster, or a half marathon time of 1:33:00 or faster. The time limit is 4 hours. The entry fee is 13,000 yen.

Previous edition results — 2025

Jun 11, 2026: Part of the course changes from the 57th race
The organizers announced that part of the course is changed from the 57th edition and point to a course introduction video for the changed sections.
Jul 7, 2026: General entries exceeded capacity, so places are drawn by lottery
The organizers announced that general applications exceeded the capacity, with lottery results emailed on August 17.
Sep 1, 2026: Race doubles as the 27th Japan Visually Impaired Women's Marathon Championship
The organizers announced that the national championship for visually impaired women is held together with the 57th race.

Minimum Age: 19 years
Entry Methods: General division: lottery, with 3,000 places including 400 for Yamaguchi Prefecture residents
Hometown tax slot: 400 places, first come first served through Furusato Choice, then RUNNET
Elite division: first come first served through the JAAF entry system
IPC-registered visually impaired athletes: designated transfer form sent by the secretariat
Eligibility: General entrants must be 19 or older on race day
General qualifying standard: marathon in 4:00:00 or faster, or half marathon in 1:33:00 or faster, net time on a certified course since December 1, 2022
General entrants must be JAAF-registered or not yet registered for 2026
Runners who ran the 53rd to 56th Hofu Yomiuri Marathon do not need to submit a record certificate
Required Documents: Health insurance card, brought on race day
Record certificate image uploaded on the RUNNET my page when entering the general division
Participation Guide QR code, scanned at race-day check-in (the guide, bib and timing chip are mailed about two weeks before the race)
Cancellation & Refund Policy: No refund and no transfer of the entry when a runner withdraws
If the race is cancelled by a government request or a natural disaster, any refund is calculated after deducting costs already incurred
Entries not paid by the deadline are cancelled automatically

Questions about the Hofu Yomiuri Marathon 2026

When is the Hofu Yomiuri Marathon 2026?

Sunday, December 6, 2026.

What time does the Hofu Yomiuri Marathon start?

The race starts at 10:40 AM, local time.

What is the Hofu Yomiuri Marathon time limit?

4 hours (10:40 to 14:40).

How do I enter the Hofu Yomiuri Marathon 2026?

Registration is closed. Sep 30, 2026: Elite entry deadline. Aug 25, 2026: General entry payment deadline. Aug 17, 2026: General lottery results emailed. Ways in: General division: lottery, with 3,000 places including 400 for Yamaguchi Prefecture residents; Hometown tax slot: 400 places, first come first served through Furusato Choice, then RUNNET; Elite division: first come first served through the JAAF entry system; IPC-registered visually impaired athletes: designated transfer form sent by the secretariat.

What is the Hofu Yomiuri Marathon course like?

40 m of total elevation gain. It passes Salt Arena Hofu, Tajima, Hofu and Hofu athletics stadium.

What is the weather like at the Hofu Yomiuri Marathon?

Race-day temperatures are usually 4–13 °C (39–55 °F).

Where are the Hofu Yomiuri Marathon results?

The official 2025 results are on the organizer's site. Official results

Is the Hofu Yomiuri Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. This race is a certified Boston Marathon qualifying event.

Prepare for This Race

Pace CalculatorPlan splits for marathon Race PredictorPredict your marathon time BQ CalculatorBQ-eligible course Fuel PlannerPlan nutrition for marathon, cool weather Difficulty Analyzer131ft gain, 46°F avg, marathon Training PacesTraining zones for marathon

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