Highlights
- Finish inside the Kumamoto Castle site at Ninomaru Plaza
- 23,390 applicants for 13,000 full-marathon places (about 1.8 per place)
- Tenth anniversary of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes; special supporter Suguru Osako
- Overseas slot of 300 places via Run Japan (first come, first served; closed Sep 24, 2026)
The Kumamoto Castle Marathon 2027 starts at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 21, 2027, rain or shine, and finishes inside Kumamoto Castle at Ninomaru Plaza. The full-marathon fee is ¥14,575 for Japan entries and ¥22,800 for overseas entries via Run Japan. Entry closed on September 24, 2026. If you applied, two dates matter now: lottery results are released on Thursday, October 15, 2026, and the payment deadline for winners is Thursday, October 29, 2026. This guide cross-checks the official race site, the official entry brochure, the RUNNET entry page and the Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun (a co-organiser), and lists only what could be confirmed as of 2026-10-13.
The official site is in Japanese only. Its "English" switch is a Google Translate link, so the details below come from the Japanese originals.
Key dates (checked 2026-10-13)
| What | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry window | Jul 28, 2026, 10:00 – Sep 24, 2026, 17:00 JST | Closed (the charity and overseas slots used the same window) |
| Lottery results | Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | On your RUNNET My Page. Group entries: leader only |
| Payment deadline | Thu, Oct 29, 2026 | Unpaid places are void |
| Runner check-in | Fri, Feb 19, 2027, 12:00–20:00 / Sat, Feb 20, 2027, 10:00–20:00 | Hanabata Plaza (Kumamoto Machinaka Hiroba). No race-day check-in, no proxy check-in |
| Race day | Sun, Feb 21, 2027, 9:00 a.m. start | Held rain or shine |
The entry centre (0570-083-777, Japanese) is open on weekdays from 10:00 to 17:00, but only between October 15 and October 29.
Races, fields and fees
| Race | Field | Fee (incl. payment fee) | Time limit | Eligibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Historic Tour Full Marathon (42.195 km) | 13,000 | Japan entry ¥14,575 (¥13,750 + ¥825) / overseas ¥22,800 (¥20,000 + ¥2,800) | 7 hours | Born on or before April 1, 2008 (no high-school students); able to finish within 6 h 40 min |
| Kanaguri Memorial Kumanichi 30 km Road Race | 150 | ¥5,830 (¥5,500 + ¥330) | Must pass the final 28.3 km checkpoint by 10:58 | JAAF-registered athletes able to run 30 km within 2 hours |
| Castle Town Fun Run (approx. 3.5 km) | 1,500 | ¥3,740 (¥3,500 + ¥240) | 1 h 15 min | Junior-high age and up |
The payment fee is charged on top of the entry fee when you pay after winning. RUNNET (Japan) and Run Japan (overseas) charge different fees.
How hard is the lottery? About 1.8 applicants per place
The organisers confirmed the entry count on September 28, 2026. The full marathon drew 23,390 applicants for 13,000 places, about 1.8 per place according to the Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun, and 2,840 more than the previous edition. The Castle Town Fun Run drew 1,786 applicants for 1,500 places, so both the full marathon and the fun run are decided by lottery. The 30 km road race drew 49 applicants for 150 places.
Places outside the lottery
- Overseas slot: 300 full-marathon places for people living outside Japan, first come, first served, entered through the Run Japan site.
- Kumamoto support charity slot: a donation of 60 units (¥30,000) or more gives a place without the lottery in the full marathon or the fun run. There are 500 places, first come, first served, and the entry fee is charged on top.
Both slots used the same window as general entry, July 28, 2026, 10:00 to September 24, 2026, 17:00 JST (the overseas slot would also have closed early once full), so both have closed. As of 2026-10-13 the official entry page says runner entry has ended.
Course and venue
The full marathon and the fun run finish at Ninomaru Plaza inside the Kumamoto Castle site, a Special Historic Site. The Japan Association of Athletics Federations lists the finish address as 1-1 Honmaru, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto. The start is in central Kumamoto near the castle; the official traffic page calls the zone the "Kumamoto Castle area (start and finish)". Course maps and a course video are on the official course page.
Getting around on race day
The organisers warn of large-scale traffic restrictions across Kumamoto City for many hours on race day. The day is a "no-car day": runners, spectators and residents are asked to use public transport. The organisers also expect bus cancellations, route and timetable changes, and delays. Exact closure times and roads are in the maps and PDFs on the official traffic page. If you are coming to cheer, travel early and do not drive.
Checklist if you win a place
- On October 15, check the result on your RUNNET My Page.
- Pay from the My Page by October 29.
- Register a face photo and photo ID in advance. Check-in uses face recognition to confirm identity, and the organisers send winners registration instructions after the lottery.
- Check in in person at Hanabata Plaza (7-7 Hanabatacho, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto) on February 19 or 20. No one can check in for you, and there is no check-in on race day.
- For anything after payment, such as cancellations, read the official FAQ. It is in Japanese, so a browser translator helps.
What is special about 2027
The 2027 race marks ten years since the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes. The official brochure names marathoner Suguru Osako as the "Kumamoto Earthquake 10th-anniversary special supporter". Charity donations are made in ¥500 units, and each donor picks one cause to support. The organisers were also recruiting race-day volunteers on the official site as of 2026-10-13.
Planning a Japan race season?
The Tokyo Marathon is two weeks later. See Tokyo Marathon 2027 for its dates and entry routes, and our Japan marathons 2026–2027 guide for the major races and how overseas runners enter each.
---
Sources: official race outline, official 2027 entry brochure (PDF), official notice on lottery results, official entry count, RUNNET race page, Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun, Sep 28, 2026, JAAF race listing. All checked 2026-10-13.
Update log: 2026-10-13. Published with the confirmed entry count, lottery-result date and payment deadline.
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- Check-in at Hanabata Plaza (7-7 Hanabatacho, Chuo-ku). Race day is a no-car day: use public transport. Large-scale road closures across Kumamoto City for many hours; buses may be cancelled, rerouted or delayed.
- Booking & entry
- Check tickets and details on the official page (button above).
- Paying
- Full marathon ¥13,750 + ¥825 = ¥14,575 (Japan) / ¥20,000 + ¥2,800 = ¥22,800 (overseas); 30 km ¥5,830; Fun Run ¥3,740 (all incl. payment fee).. Smaller venues in Japan are often cash-first — carry some yen (cards/IC not guaranteed).
- Language
- The official site is Japanese only; its English, Chinese and Korean switches open Google Translate.
- Good for
- culture seekers, groups of friends
Good to know
Check your result on RUNNET on Oct 15 and pay by Oct 29. Check-in is only on Feb 19–20 (no race-day or proxy check-in), so arrive in Kumamoto by Saturday.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the Kumamoto Castle Marathon 2027?
- Sunday, February 21, 2027, with a 9:00 a.m. JST start, held rain or shine. Runner check-in is only on Friday, February 19 (12:00–20:00) and Saturday, February 20 (10:00–20:00); there is no race-day check-in (official race outline, checked 2026-10-13).
- When are the Kumamoto Castle Marathon 2027 lottery results announced?
- On Thursday, October 15, 2026, via each applicant's RUNNET My Page, with a notice to the registered email. For group entries only the group leader is notified (official notice and entry brochure, checked 2026-10-13).
- What is the payment deadline if I win a place?
- Thursday, October 29, 2026. Winners pay from the RUNNET My Page; if payment is not confirmed by the deadline, the place is void (official brochure and FAQ, checked 2026-10-13).
- How competitive is the lottery?
- 23,390 people applied for 13,000 full-marathon places, about 1.8 applicants per place and 2,840 more than the previous edition. The Castle Town Fun Run drew 1,786 applicants for 1,500 places; the 30 km race drew 49 for 150 (official entry count and Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun, checked 2026-10-13).
- Can overseas runners still enter?
- No. The overseas slot (300 first-come full-marathon places via Run Japan, ¥22,800 including the fee), the charity slot and general entry all used the same window, July 28 to September 24, 2026, 17:00 JST, and all have closed. The official entry page says runner entry has ended (official entry page and brochure, checked 2026-10-13).
- How much is the entry fee?
- Full marathon: ¥13,750 + ¥825 RUNNET fee = ¥14,575 for Japan entries, ¥22,800 in total for overseas entries via Run Japan. 30 km road race: ¥5,830 in total. Castle Town Fun Run: ¥3,740 in total (official race outline, checked 2026-10-13).