Aoshima Taiheiyo Marathon 2026: A Flat Course by the Pacific
December in Miyazaki is mild, the course is almost flat, and the turnaround looks out at the Pacific – which is why this race fills every year.
Overview
The Aoshima Taiheiyo Marathon is Miyazaki’s biggest running event, and the 2026 edition is its 40th. The certified course starts and finishes at Hinata Miyazaki Prefectural Comprehensive Sports Park, runs through central Miyazaki past Miyazaki Jingu, and turns back along the Tropical Road within sight of Aoshima island.
It has a reputation for two things: a fast, flat profile, and support that is unusually warm even by Japanese standards, with high-school students lining much of the route.
When and where
Race day is Sunday 13 December 2026, with the marathon starting at 09:00. Entry for the 2026 race opened on 17 June and closed at the end of that month; all categories sold out by 1 July 2026, and there is no waiting list.
Held alongside it is the 35th Miyazaki marathon for visually impaired runners.
Getting there
Miyazaki Airport is about 15 minutes from central Miyazaki and has flights from Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka. The start area is reached by bus or train from the city centre; large-scale road closures apply between central Miyazaki and Aoshima on race morning, so allow extra time and avoid driving.
What to expect
Three distances and a full weekend of events around them.
- Full marathon with a 10,800-runner cap and a 6 hour 20 minute limit
- 10 km and a 3 km Pokemon Run, the latter allocated by lottery
- Eleven timing points on the marathon course, at the start, every 5 km, halfway and the finish
- Aid stations stocked with Miyazaki produce
- A course that passes Miyazaki Jingu and returns along the coast facing Aoshima
Tickets and admission
Paid entry for runners, arranged online months in advance; the 2026 field is closed. Watching is free. If you are supporting a runner, the Tropical Road stretch near Aoshima is the most scenic place to stand.
Tips for visitors
If you want a place in 2027, note that entry opens in mid-June and the full marathon sells out within about two weeks. December temperatures in Miyazaki are mild but the coastal wind is steady, so plan clothing for the exposed sections. Stay on an extra day for Aoshima Shrine and the Devil’s Washboard rock formations at the turnaround point.
Access and map
| Dates | 13 December 2026, 09:00 start (40th edition) |
|---|---|
| Venue | Hinata Miyazaki Prefectural Comprehensive Sports Park, Miyazaki |
| Access | Miyazaki Airport 15 min to the city; bus or train to the start |
| Admission | Paid entry (closed for 2026); free to spectate |
| Official site | Aoshima Taiheiyo Marathon |
Source: Aoshima Taiheiyo Marathon official site
Image: Photo: 松岡明芳 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
