Kobe Marathon
The Lowdown
The Kobe Marathon (神戸マラソン) is an annual road marathon held each November in Kobe, the capital of Japan's Hyogo Prefecture. First run in 2011, the event grew out of the former Kobe All-Japan Women's Half Marathon and was created in part to commemorate recovery from the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake, carrying the themes of gratitude and friendship. The single-loop, point-to-point course starts at Kobe City Hall, runs west along Osaka Bay past the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge with a turnaround near the Okura coast in Akashi, and finishes at Kobe Harborland's Gas Lamp Street. The route is nearly flat and fast, with coastal sea views and the Rokko mountains as a backdrop, making it a popular target for marathon personal bests. The race is JAAF, AIMS, and World Athletics certified (Road Race Label) and serves as a qualifier within the Japanese MGC Series for Olympic marathon selection. Capacity is roughly 20,000 individual runners and the field has a strong international contingent.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
Major marathon
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Excellent spectator turnout
Kobe City Hall (start)
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
Osaka Bay coastline
Kobe Harborland Gas Lamp Street (finish)
Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
JP
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- Able to finish the full marathon within the 7-hour time limit
Required Documents
- Valid photo ID matching the registration details for bib pickup
Entry Methods
- Online registration via official global portal (runjapan.jp / JTB Sports Station for international entrants)
- Domestic lottery (Japan residents)
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Entry fees are generally non-refundable once paid; review the official guidelines for the current cancellation terms before registering.
Organized by Hyogo Prefecture, Kobe City, and the Hyogo Athletics Association; title sponsor Sysmex Corporation.
First held in 2011; held annually each November (cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19).
Course is World Athletics (Road Race Label), AIMS, and JAAF certified; part of the MGC Series 2026-27 Olympic marathon selection.
Themes of 'gratitude' and 'friendship', tied to recovery from the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake.
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