Hofu Yomiuri Marathon

The Hofu Yomiuri Marathon is a cornerstone of elite Japanese distance running and a critical event in the Japan Marathon Championship Series. As a Men’s G1 and Women’s G3 category race, it serves as a qualifier for the World Athletics Championships and hosts the Japan Visually Impaired Women’s Marathon Championship. With a World Athletics Elite Label and AIMS certification, the 42.195 km course begins and ends at Kirin Lemon Stadium in Hofu, taking runners through a fast, certified loop on the Hofu Prefectural Road. Since its founding in 1970, the race has grown in prestige, attracting elite runners like Yuki Kawauchi, who ran his historic 100th marathon here in 2019. With multiple distance options—including 15K to 30K and half marathon categories—the event offers serious competition and strategic variety for seasoned runners.