World Heritage Himeji Castle Marathon

The World Heritage Himeji Castle Marathon is an annual road marathon held in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, that starts and finishes beside Himeji Castle, the UNESCO World Heritage Site whose landmark white tenshu was completed in the 14th century and fully restored in 2015, the year this race began. The 42.195 km course, certified by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations, starts on Otemae-dori in front of the castle, runs north past Himeji Station and along the Yumesaki River, turns around near Shiota in Yumesaki-cho, and returns south to finish at Himeji Castle's Sannomaru Plaza. Total elevation gain is only about 70 meters, with a gentle uphill first half and a gentle downhill second half, making it a fast, spectator-friendly race with the castle in view at both the start and the finish. The marathon is capped at 9,000 runners on a first-come, first-served basis (no lottery), with a six-hour time limit, and race day also includes shorter Fun Run categories of 1 km, 1.5 km, 2 km, and 5 km for families and students. Aeon Retail is the event's primary sponsor. The 2026 edition ran on February 22, 2026, the same day as the Osaka Marathon; the 2027 edition has been suspended while the venue used for race operations and changing rooms undergoes renovation, and no date for the next edition has been announced.