Race Information

Our Aim

The Nagano Marathon vies to bring back the inspiration experienced during the Olympic Winter Games (Nagano 1998), providing an annual event to keep the excitement forever alive! It also aims to contribute to the development of regional sports, culture and the Olympic movement and to provide an unique opportunity for amateurs and world-class athletes to run together, expanding the horizons of running.

"Nagano Marathon" aims to uphold the ideals of the Nagano Olympics and fulfill the dreams of future generations while in coexistence with an environment rich in nature.

2025 Race Information

Host Organizers Japanese Olympic Committee / Japan Association of Athletics Federations / Nagano Prefecture / Nagano City / The Shinano Mainichi Shimbun
Co-Host Organizers NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation)
Special Collaboration Hellenic Athletics Federation (SEGAS) / Shin-etsu Broadcasting Co., Ltd.
Managing Organization Nagano Athletic Association
Under the auspices of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan / Japan Sports Agency / Nagano Prefectural Board of Education / Nagano Amateur Sports Association / Nakano City / Yamanouchi Town / Obuse Town / Karuizawa Town / Hakuba Village / Nozawaonsen Village / Kyodo News Agency / Nagano City Board of Education / Yamanouchi Town Board of Education / Obuse Town Board of Education / Nagano City Sports Association / Nakano City Sports Association / Yamanouchi Town Sports Association / Obuse Town Sports Association / Nagano Tourism Convention Bureau / Shinshu Nakano Industry & Tourism Public Corporation / Yamanouchi Town Tourism Association / Obuse Culture and Tourism Association / The Nagano Chamber of Commerce & Industry / The Shinshu Nakano Chamber of Commerce & Industry / Nagano Commerce and Industry Association / Nagano Shopping Street Association / Japan Blind Marathon Association / Nagano Adapted Sports Association
Assisted by Chikuma River Office,Hokuriku Regional Development Bureau, Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport / Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Kanto Regional Development Bureau Nagano National Highway Office / Nagano Prefectural Police / Nagano Prefecture Road Public Corporation / Nagano Medical Association / Nagano City Medical Association / Nagano Prefecture Traffic Safety Association / Nagano City Traffic Safety Association / Nagano Minami Traffic Safety Association / Matsushiro Traffic Safety Association / Nagano Tourism Organization / M-WAVE / JTB / JATAC NAGANO / Nagano Blind Marathon Association / Japanese Red Cross Society Nagano Branch (and others)
Schedule Sunday, April 20th, 2025, starting at 8:30 a.m.
Event Marathon (42.195km)
Course Nagano Marathon Course (Certified by JAAF and AIMS)
Start at Nagano Sports Park (Nagano City, Yoshida)
Finish at Nagano Olympic Stadium (Nagano City, Shinonoi)
Competition Rules Compliant with the regulations of 2025 the JAAF, JBMA and Nagano Marathon.
Time Limit 5hours
Entry Quota 10,000runners (including the visually impaired category)
*in order of receipt application
Entry Fees General Entry 14,300 Japanese Yen (tax included)
Charity Entry 15,300 Japanese Yen (tax included) *1,000JPY will be donated to Japanese Red Cross Society.
Participants Receive Original T-shirt
*A finisher will receive a “Finisher’s Towel and medal” upon finishing.
Entry and Payment Period from 10:00a.m on Saturday, 19th October, 2024 to 11:59p.m. on Sunday, 1st December, 2024 (JST)
Eligibility
  1. Invitational Athletes
    Domestic athletes with the recommendation of the JAAF and hosting committee.
  2. Open Category
    Men and women 18 years of age or older as of April 20th, 2025.
    * High School Students are not allowed to participate in this race.
Gate Regulations Gates will be placed every 5 kilometers along the course and will have respective closing times. Participants who continue to run the course after the closing time are requested to move on to the sidewalk immediately and get on a bus at the next gate or catch the "pick-up" bus running along the route. Runners are not able to continue the race after being stopped at a closed gate.
Awards
  1. Overall:
    1st place to 8th place will be awarded prizes for both men and women.
  2. Age Group:
    1st place to 6th place in respective age groups below will be awarded prizes for both men and women in accordance with chip time. However, an awards ceremony will not be held. Certificates and other awards will be mailed at a later date.
    18-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, over 80

Participation Rules

This race is to be held in accordance with the 2025 Japan Association of Athletics Federations rules and regulations as well as those outlined as follows.

  1. In the case of unforeseen circumstances (i.e. natural disaster or epidemic) whereby the marathon must be cancelled, the countermeasures will be discussed considering the costs incurred by the time the cancellation is decided according to the Participation Rules (1).
  2. Entries cannot be changed or cancelled. In the event that a participant is not able to participate, entry fees will not be refunded.
  3. All participants should be able to run a full marathon in 5 hours. After the entry is made, start training for the race.
  4. As for the start block, the A block is for the invited player, and the order after the B block is based on the estimated time declared by the applicant at the time of entry. Similarly, bib numbers will be in the order of declared estimate time.
  5. Race officials have the right to stop runners who appear unable to run further or who are interfering with other runners (i.e. running backwards or in an otherwise irregular manner).
  6. Runners must honor closing gate times, any objections will not be tolerated.
  7. The organizers will guarantee for the provision of first aid medical help for injuries occurring during the race only. Any additional and/or other medical assistance required is the responsibility of the participant. (All participants take out sports accident insurance, but the insurance does not cover hospitalization due to medical illness or Covid-19.)
  8. Please be sure to carry your health insurance card with you on the race day.
  9. Substitute runners are prohibited. Upon detection, the participant will be disqualified. Furthermore, the substitute runner is not covered by marathon insurance.
  10. Participants are requested to agree in advance to have their pictures taken during the race and possibly used in printed matter such as the event program or on the marathon website. They are also required to allow sponsors free use of their pictures for entrants' brochures and newspapers.
  11. The organizer recognizes the importance of personal information, complies with laws and related regulations concerning personal information, and handles such information in accordance with the organizer's personal information protection policy.
    The personal information received by the organizer will be used for the purpose of improving the services provided to the participants of the event, such as providing participant information and record notifications, information for the next event, offering services from the sponsors or cooperating organizations and announcing records (rankings, etc.).
  12. Nagano Marathon will participate in the RunLink Age Ranking conducted by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations. (This ranking includes the results of all official race of all participating runners, including elite runners. Nagano Marathon will provide the JAAF with the participant's address (prefecture and city level), name, athlete bib number, date of birth, gender, net time, gross time and rank. If you do not wish to be listed, please contact the JAAF (TEL: 050-1746-8410).
  13. Nagano Marathon participates in Abott WMM WANDA AGE GROUP WORLD RANKING. Please note that the organizer will provide AbottWMM with your name, gender, date of birth, nationality, gross time, and rank. Runners who surpass the standard time in their age group will be invited to the finals by Abott WMM WANDA AGE GROUP WORLD RANKING. For more information, please visit the official website.
  14. Participants are not supposed to wear or post anything that advertises a particular brand, company name or design in the event area (marathon course included).
  15. No costumes or disguises are allowed. As well, participants must obey all instructions by the officials
  16. Though water, sport drinks and sponges will be provided at aid stations, we cannot make arrangements for special drinks for everyone because of operational reasons. Please understand special drinks are provided only for invitational runners.
  17. All personal valuables are the responsibility of the participants. Organizers accept no responsibility for lost or stolen items.
  18. Emergency vehicles may run on the course due to disasters, incidents, accidents, etc. Participants are requested to cooperate with prompt suspension according to the instructions of the referees and staffs.