Trade the train for a trail.

Outdoor

Japan Marathons 2026–2027: Dates, Entry & How Overseas Runners Get In

Japan's 2026–2027 marathon season runs from the Hokkaido Marathon (Aug 30, 2026) through to the Tokyo Marathon (Mar 7, 2027) and the Nagoya Women's Marathon (Mar 14, 2027). Most big-city races enter by lottery months ahead — but overseas runners can also get in via charity slots and travel-agency tour packages. Below: the full calendar, how to enter from abroad, and which race to pick.

Across Japan

Outdoor

Mt. Fuji 2026: The Climbing Season Opens — New ¥4,000 Fee & Booking Rules

Fuji's 2026 climbing window opens July 1 (Yoshida & Subashiri) and July 10 (Fujinomiya, Gotemba & the summit). This year every trail charges a ¥4,000 entry fee and requires advance online registration — here's exactly how it works.

Outdoor

Mount Fuji Climbing 2026 — Dates, ¥4,000 Fee & Reservations by Trail

Mt Fuji 2026: Yoshida & Subashiri open July 1, Fujinomiya & Gotemba July 10 (all close Sept 10). ¥4,000 fee, reservation, and gate rules — every trail.

2026/07/01 Across JapanA trail-entry fee applies (around 2,000-4,000 yen); mountain-hut stays extra

Outdoor

Akeno Sunflower Festival 2026

Around 600,000 sunflowers blaze across the Yatsugatake foothills, lit up after dark for a glowing field beneath the night sky.

2026/07/25 09:00 Across JapanFree

Outdoor

Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Trail

Walk ancient moss-covered pilgrimage paths through the forested Kii Mountains to sacred Kumano shrines, a UNESCO World Heritage route.

2026/10/17 08:00 Across JapanFree

Outdoor

Saga International Balloon Fiesta 2026 | Dates, Venue & Tickets

**The Saga International Balloon Fiesta 2026 runs Oct 30–Nov 3, 2026 on the banks of the Kase River in eastern Saga City, and it's completely free to watch.** Asia's largest sky-sports event fills the Kyushu sky with 100+ hot-air balloons, drawing over 800,000 visitors across five days.

2026/10/30 06:30 FukuokaFree

Outdoor

Kobe Marathon 2026

Japan's earthquake-recovery marathon returns Nov 15, 2026 — 20,000 runners from Kobe City Hall out along the Akashi coast to a Harborland finish.

2026/11/15 09:00 OsakaMarathon ¥18,000 (Japan residents) / ¥24,200 (overseas entrants); 2-person relay ¥30,400

Outdoor

Jigokudani Snow Monkeys (Yaen-koen) Winter Season

Wild Japanese macaques bathe in a steaming mountain hot spring as snow falls around them — the world-famous 'snow monkeys' of Nagano, most iconic in winter.

2026/12/01 08:30 Across JapanPark admission around ¥800; the 'Snow Monkey Pass' (~¥3,500) bundles transport and entry.

Outdoor

Naha Marathon 2026

The 40th NAHA Marathon runs Dec 6, 2026: 30,000 runners cross 5 southern Okinawa towns on the Peace Memorial Park course to a finish in Naha.

2026/12/06 09:00 OkinawaEntry ¥11,000 (general) / ¥9,000 (ages 65+ and under 18); spectating along the course is free.

Outdoor

Zao Snow Monsters (Juhyo) Light-Up

Wind, snow and ice encase the alpine firs into surreal white 'snow monsters'; ride the ropeway up and see them glow under colored floodlights at night.

2026/12/26 17:00 Across JapanFree outdoors; Zao Ropeway round-trip fare (several thousand yen) to reach the summit juhyo.

Outdoor

Shirakawa-go Gassho Village

A UNESCO World Heritage village of steep thatched gassho-zukuri farmhouses, nestled in a mountain valley that turns magical under snow.

2026/02/15 09:00 Across JapanFree

Outdoor

Tokyo Pickle Club

Tokyo's friendly pickleball meetup at TIPNESS Kichijoji — paddles provided, all levels welcome.

2026/06/20 20:00 TokyoPaid (see Luma)

Outdoor

Early Summer Morning Run in Yoyogi Park

A sociable 5K morning run from Yoyogi Park's clock tower — find your pace with a friendly international run club.

2026/06/21 10:00 TokyoPaid (see Luma)

Outdoor

iiyon!! Run × ØL Tokyo Vol.4 (PM)

Run 5K then refuel with craft beer at ØL by Oslo Brewing — Tokyo's run-and-pint social.

2026/06/21 12:00 Tokyo¥1,500

Outdoor

Minato Mirai & Cosmo World Night

Yokohama's glittering bayfront at night — ride the giant Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris wheel and stroll the illuminated waterfront promenade.

2026/06/25 17:00 YokohamaFree

Outdoor

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

Walk a luminous path through towering bamboo in Kyoto's Arashiyama, where filtered light and rustling stalks feel otherworldly.

2026/06/26 07:00 KyotoFree

Outdoor

Mount Takao Day Hike

Tokyo's favorite escape: an easy, scenic mountain just an hour from Shinjuku, with temples, trails and a cable car.

2026/06/27 09:00 TokyoFree

Outdoor

Shibamata Walking Tour & Photo Bingo

A relaxed photo-bingo walking tour of retro Shibamata — gentle, social and great for solo joiners.

2026/06/27 12:30 Tokyo¥2,000

Outdoor

Kobe Harborland & Meriken Park Night

Kobe's waterfront glitters after dark — the red Port Tower, illuminated promenade and bay views make for a relaxed romantic evening.

2026/06/28 17:00 Across JapanFree

Outdoor

Kenrokuen & Kanazawa Castle Stroll

Pair Japan's celebrated Kenrokuen Garden with the restored Kanazawa Castle next door — landscaped ponds, teahouses and white turrets.

2026/06/29 09:00 KanazawaKenrokuen entry around 320 yen; castle park grounds mostly free

Outdoor

Miyajima & Itsukushima Floating Torii

A short ferry from Hiroshima reaches Miyajima, where the great vermilion torii of Itsukushima Shrine appears to float on the tide.

2026/06/30 09:00 HiroshimaFerry and shrine entry each a few hundred yen

Outdoor

Osaka Castle Park

A 106-hectare green expanse around Osaka Castle, ringed by moats and stone walls — 300 cherry trees, 1,200 plums, lawns and concerts year-round.

2026/07/01 OsakaFree

Outdoor

Nara Park

660 hectares where ~1,200 wild deer roam freely among temples and lawns, bowing for shika-senbei crackers — a National Natural Monument.

2026/07/01 NaraFree

Outdoor

Shimanami Kaido Cycling Route

Ride one of the world's great cycling routes across the Seto Inland Sea, island-hopping by bike over soaring suspension bridges.

2026/07/02 08:00 HiroshimaBike rental from around 2,000 yen per day

Outdoor

Aoyama Rooftop Morning Yoga × BELCOMO Breakfast

Start the day with rooftop yoga in Aoyama, finished with a healthy BELCOMO breakfast.

2026/07/03 07:30 TokyoPaid (see Luma)

Outdoor

Hakone Hot Springs & Open-Air Museum

A mountain hot-spring resort near Mt. Fuji, combining steaming onsen, a sculpture park, a pirate-ship lake cruise and ropeway views.

2026/07/04 09:00 Across JapanOnsen and museum entries vary; a Hakone Free Pass saves on transport

Outdoor

Ohori Park Japanese Garden — Hours, Admission & Access

Ohori Park Japanese Garden hours, ¥250 admission, closed Mondays, and the easiest way there from Ohori-Koen Station — plus what to see in 30–45 minutes.

2026/07/05 09:00 FukuokaAdults ¥250, children ¥120 (65+ free)

Outdoor

Tokugawaen Garden

A daimyo stroll-garden on the Owari Tokugawa estate, with a central pond, Ozone Waterfall and seasonal peony and iris beds beside a samurai art museum.

2026/07/06 09:30 NagoyaAdmission charged (see official site)

Outdoor

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

Inside Ocean Expo Park, the giant Kuroshio tank holds whale sharks and manta rays behind one of the world's largest acrylic panels.

2026/07/08 08:30 OkinawaAdmission charged (see official fee page)

Outdoor

Furano Lavender Season at Farm Tomita 2026

Rolling purple lavender fields perfume the Hokkaido hills at Japan's most iconic flower farm, framed by distant snow-capped peaks.

2026/07/10 08:30 SapporoFree

Outdoor

KIOG Summer Outdoor & International Gathering

Kansai International Outdoor Gathering's summer series of hikes and day trips—July 11 brings veggie-harvesting and pizza-making just north of Osaka.

2026/07/11 09:00 Osaka¥3,190 (includes lunch)

Outdoor

Free Pickleball Exchange Meetup (Kyotanabe)

A free, all-ages pickleball gathering near Odo Station bringing students, staff and locals together to play and connect across generations.

2026/07/12 10:00 KyotoFree

Outdoor

Kamikochi Highland Hiking

A pristine alpine valley in the Northern Japan Alps, with the Kappa Bridge, clear Azusa River and jagged peaks rising all around.

2026/07/18 06:00 Across JapanFree