What this is
A community winter marathon now in its 38th year, drawing runners through Sanda City's rural and residential streets on a certified 21.0975 km half-marathon course. Olympic silver medalist Eric Wainaina runs as a guest alongside comedian Watari 119 — a former firefighter turned TV personality — and comedy performances are woven into the event programme. A 2 km fun run opens participation to elementary school children and up. Runners receive local specialty prizes, and the Sanda Seibun-barai festival runs simultaneously at Sanda Station with food stalls.
Who should go
Recreational runners who enjoy community race atmospheres with entertainment on the side, and families with children old enough for the 2 km fun run. The simultaneous food stall festival at Sanda Station gives non-running companions a reason to come along.
Good to know
Registration for Japanese community marathons is typically handled through dedicated running event platforms such as RunNet (runnet.jp) or the event's official website — foreign credit cards may not be accepted on all platforms, so check in advance. The start and goal are at the Autobacs Sanda Store Front, while the cultural centre (Sato no Oto Hall) serves as a secondary venue, likely for ceremonies or warm-up areas. Arrive well before the 10:20 start to collect your race bib and check in — community marathons in Japan usually open registration desks 90 minutes before gun time. The simultaneous Sanda Seibun-barai festival at Sanda Station is a bonus for spectators and post-race visitors, so factor in time to explore it after finishing.
This event was sourced and translated from Japanese by What's On Japan. Details may change — verify with the official source before attending.