Marathon races near Toyama

The Namerikawa Hotaruika Marathon takes place in autumn in Namerikawa, a coastal city in Toyama Prefecture situated between the Tateyama Range and the Sea of Japan. Although named the "Marathon," the primary event is a half marathon. Additional options include a 10 km race, a 3 km race for participants up to junior high school age, and a 2.1 km "Enjoy Running" category without chip timing. The half marathon is limited to 2,000 participants, has a three-hour time limit, and is open to individuals aged 18 and above, excluding high school students. The half marathon course begins with a circuit around the event grounds, proceeds over Hayatsuki Bridge, crosses the city, passes Takatsuki Kamo Shrine, and then turns back near Shimoumezawa. The 10 km route is more limited, with a cap of 300 runners, and follows a path through the Hayatsuki Bridge and Tsubokawa district. The event attracts individuals seeking a straightforward local race, aiming for a personal best, or preparing for the Toyama Marathon. A distinctive local element is the participation award: all runners receive dried hotaruika, the firefly squid for which Namerikawa is known.

The Toyama Marathon is a full marathon held on a Sunday in November, featuring a 42.195 km course certified by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations. Participants are allotted approximately seven hours to complete the race, making it suitable for both novice marathoners and experienced road racers. The main marathon accommodates 13,000 runners, and the event also offers a wheelchair race of approximately 9 km and a jogging event of about 4 km. The marathon begins outside Takaoka City Hall, crosses Shinminato Bridge, and concludes at Fugan Canal Kansui Park in Toyama. En route, runners will see views of Toyama Bay, the Tateyama Mountain Range, and the Great Buddha of Takaoka. This will be the 11th edition of the race, and local participation is high, with the entry quota for Toyama residents being filled.

The Toyama Marathon guides runners through three locations on Japan’s Toyama coast: Takaoka City, Imizu City, and Toyama City. This is a certified 42.195 km road marathon held in November, with a time limit of approximately seven hours, making it suitable for newer marathoners and regular runners alike. The race begins at Takaoka City Hall and concludes at Fugan Canal Kansui Park in Toyama, presenting a point-to-point course instead of a city-center loop. The course offers participants extensive views of the prefecture, from Takaoka Daibutsu near the starting point to vistas of Toyama Bay and the Tateyama Mountain Range. The event is managed by JAAF Toyama and the Toyama Marathon Committee, and it includes jogging and wheelchair divisions in addition to the marathon. Runners who finish receive a medal and towel, participants are given a T-shirt, and the event also provides charity support for the Noto Peninsula Earthquake.