Tottori Marathon 2027 – Japan

• March 14, 2027
  Event date:
• March 14, 2027
  Event end:

What to expect

Japan’s Sand Dune One-Way Marathon: Tottori Marathon is a unique certified marathon that starts at Japan’s most famous natural monument, the Tottori Sand Dunes, and finishes at Yamata Sports Park Athletics Stadium. The course is officially named Tottori Sand Dunes San’in Coast Inaba Manyo-no-Sato Marathon Course and is certified by Japan Association of Athletics Federations. It is a one-way course that takes you through historic sites and scenic spots like Tottori Castle Ruins, the nationally designated Important Cultural Property Jinfukaku, and Manyo no Sato.

High Completion Rate and Beginner Friendly: The official catchphrase is ALL YELL! ALL GOAL! The time limit is 6 hours with cutoff points, which gives a high completion rate compared to stricter city marathons. The organizer explicitly recommends it for first-time marathon runners. The course is described as flat to gently rolling with beautiful rural landscapes, making it suitable for both completion and personal best attempts.

Small Field and Personal Support: With a capacity around 4,200 runners in recent editions, and overseas entry via Run Japan showing 200 to 500 cars of parking, the field is much smaller than major city marathons. This means less congestion, more personal cheering from local communities, and easy access to aid stations. The race is organized by Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture, Tottori Athletics Association and The Shinnihonkai Shimbun.

Natural and Historical Highlights: From the vast dunes at the start near Oasis Square also known as Umioto no Mori, you run through pine forests, past castle ruins and samurai residences, along Sendai River embankment, and into the modern sports park. The combination of desert-like dunes, coast, castle town and rural satoyama is unlike any other marathon in Japan.

Match/event dates

Event Dates:

• Tottori Marathon 2027 Full Marathon: March 14, 2027
• Check-in: Race morning 6:00 AM to 8:30 AM at Tottori Sand Dunes Oasis Square starting point
• Opening Ceremony: Scheduled for 8:45 AM at start area
• Gun Start: 9:00 AM
• Entry Period: October 15 to December 26, closes once maximum capacity reached, with no participation prize for registrations on or after December 13
• Race Guide Distribution: Via email in February

All date information is contained only in this section.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Stadium & sports venue

Start Venue: Near Tottori Sand Dunes Oasis Square, also called Oasis Square and Umioto no Mori, located at 2164-754 Yuyama, Fukube Town, Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture 689-0105. This is a tourist facility at the edge of the dunes with parking, shops, museum and observation area. The start area is set up in the plaza near the square with opening ceremony stage.

Finish Venue: Yamata Sports Park Athletics Stadium, also called Fuse General Athletic Park Athletics Stadium, and previously Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Sports Park Athletic Field, located at Fuse, Tottori City. This is a full athletics stadium with track, grandstand and large open space for both participants and supporters. The stadium provides ample space for finish chute, baggage reclaim and award ceremony.

Course Certification: Tottori Sakyu San’in Coast Inaba Manyo no Sato Marathon Course, certified by Japan Association of Athletics Federations. Officially recognized one-way course from dunes to sports park.

Facilities: At start, T-shirts and number cards distributed on race morning, toilets, changing tents and baggage trucks. At finish, medical tents, medal distribution, T-shirt prize collection, food stalls and shuttle bus boarding.

Full fixture or event schedule

Race Morning:

• 6:00 AM to 8:30 AM: Check-in at Tottori Sand Dunes Oasis Square starting point. Collection of T-shirt, number card and timing chip. No prior day collection. Participation prize T-shirt only for registrations before December 13.
• 8:45 AM: Opening ceremony scheduled at start plaza with mayor greetings, athlete oath and warm-up.
• 9:00 AM: Full marathon gun start from near Oasis Square. Single wave start due to small field.

On Course:

• Course heads from dunes south toward Tottori city center, passing Tottori Castle Ruins area, Jinfukaku Important Cultural Property, Manyo no Sato historic area, and rural landscapes of Inaba.
• Cutoff points exist along course for traffic management, though exact locations published in race guide.
• Aid stations with water, sports drink and light food placed regularly, with local volunteer support.

Finish:

• Finish line inside Yamata Sports Park Athletics Stadium. Finisher processing with medal, certificate, and baggage reclaim.
• Award ceremony for 1st to 8th place in each category and 1st to 3rd place in each age group under 30, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70 and over, based on gross time.

Post-Finish: Shuttle buses from Yamata Sports Park back to Tottori Sand Dunes area and to Tottori Station area, temporary parking free of charge.

Teams, athletes & participants

Field Size: Recent editions list 4,200 runners for 2027 and 200 people for 2026 overseas entry via Run Japan, with total capacity around 3,000 to 5,000 depending on year. Small field creates intimate atmosphere.

Eligibility: Male and female, age 18 or older, who can complete within 6 hours. No half, 10 km or fun run categories, only full marathon 42.195 km certified.

Athlete Mix: Mostly Japanese citizen runners from Tottori Prefecture and Chugoku region, plus runners from across Japan attracted by dune start and high completion rate. Small overseas contingent via Run Japan, typically 100 to 200 runners. Many first-time marathoners choose this race due to 6-hour limit and flat profile.

Local Support: Organizers include Tottori City, Tottori Prefecture, Tottori Athletics Association and Shinnihonkai Shimbun local newspaper, with strong involvement of community groups, schools and tourism associations.

Tournament format & competition structure

Single Distance Format: Only full marathon 42.195 km certified. No relay, no half marathon, no fun run. Focus on one distance allows full road closure for one-way course.

One-Way Course: Start and finish are about 12 km apart as crow flies, from dunes to sports park. No loop, no out-and-back except small sections near stadium. Requires baggage transport from start to finish and shuttle for return.

Time Limit Structure: Time limit 6 hours with cutoff points. Runners who miss cutoff must discontinue and board collection bus. High completion rate makes it recommended for beginners.

Award Structure: 1st to 8th place in each category, and 1st to 3rd place in each age group under 30, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70 and over. Age groups based on gross time. Certificates and local prizes such as Tottori pear products and crab specialties in some years.

Certification: JAAF certified course, eligible for personal best and for entry qualification for other Japanese marathons. Not a World Athletics label race, but officially recognized for records.

Match/event times

Check-In Time: 6:00 AM to 8:30 AM at Tottori Sand Dunes Oasis Square starting point.

Opening Ceremony: Scheduled for 8:45 AM at start plaza.

Gun Start: 9:00 AM for 42.195 km from near Oasis Square.

Time Limit: 6 hours from gun start, with cutoff points. Finish line closes 6 hours after start.

Award Ceremony: Starts after top finishers arrive, typically early afternoon inside Yamata Sports Park Athletics Stadium, and continues until age group awards completed.

Shuttle Bus Times: Shuttle buses from temporary parking to start area operate early morning, and from finish area back to dunes and station operate until late afternoon.

Ticket types

Domestic Entry via Official Site: $86.67 USD. Based on official 13,000 JPY participation fee for domestic runners where listed on Run Japan Japanese site. Includes T-shirt, number card, timing chip, finisher certificate and baggage transport.

Overseas Entry via Run Japan: $133.33 USD. Based on official 20,000 JPY participation fee listed for Tottori Marathon 2026 on Run Japan overseas portal. Includes same services as domestic plus English race guide via email, overseas support and shuttle. This fee applies to overseas quota.

Historical Entry Fee: $46.67 USD based on 7,000 yen including insurance premium from earlier editions around 2019, showing increase to current 13,000 to 20,000 yen due to enhanced services and JAAF certification costs.

Included Items: T-shirts etc. as participation prize, finisher towel and certificate. T-shirt only for registrations before December 13, registrations on or after December 13 will not include participation prize.

Additional Costs: Temporary parking free of charge, shuttle bus free, no extra fee for baggage transport. Travel and accommodation not included.

Ticket release phases

Entry Period: Opens at 00:00 on October 15 and closes at 23:59 on December 26, first-come first-served basis. Entry closes once maximum capacity reached, even before closing date. Early entry recommended due to small capacity of around 4,200.

Registration Types: Domestic entry via https://tottori-marathon.jp/ official site, overseas entry via Run Japan portal at https://tottori-marathon.jp/. Both use same period. No lottery, pure first-come.

Late Entry Penalty: Registrations made on or after December 13 will not include participation prize T-shirt. This is to allow for production and sizing.

Race Guide Distribution: Race guide information sent via email in February, including course map, cutoff points, aid station locations, parking map and shuttle bus timetable.

Check-In Phase: No bib collection day before, only race morning 6:00 AM to 8:30 AM at Oasis Square. Late arrivals after 8:30 AM not allowed to start.

VIP & hospitality options

No Commercial VIP: Tottori Marathon does not sell VIP grandstand or hospitality packages. Hospitality is community-based and included.

Participation Prize: T-shirts etc. as prize, plus local specialty products in some years such as Tottori’s 20th Century pears, crab or Wagyu beef vouchers for top finishers. All finishers receive certificate.

Shuttle and Parking Hospitality: Temporary parking available free of charge, 500 cars capacity, free shuttle bus from temporary parking to venue. Train and bus access via JR and local buses.

JTB Sports Station Packages: JTB Sports Station offers official tour packages including entry plus hotel booking with hotel map, though entry itself must be done via official site. Packages include accommodation near Tottori Station or near dunes, breakfast and shuttle.

Community Hospitality: ALL YELL! ALL GOAL! concept means local residents, school children and volunteer groups provide cheering, taiko drums and food support along course, creating warm atmosphere without paid VIP.

Stadium & event rules

Age and Ability: Male and female age 18 or older who can complete within 6 hours. No wheelchair category mentioned, contact organizer for disability support.

One-Way Course Rules: No bicycles, pets or unauthorized vehicles on course. Number card must be visible front. No proxy running. Baggage transported from dunes to sports park, no valuables.

Cutoff Enforcement: Cutoff points exist, runners who miss must discontinue and board accommodation bus. No continuation after being stopped.

T-Shirt Distribution: Participation prize T-shirt only for registrations before December 13. T-shirt etc. given at check-in on race morning.

Payment Rules: Credit card and PayPal payments not available in Turkey due to payment processor restrictions. Each participant may register for only one category. Race guide sent via email.

Personal Information: Used for participation guide, record notification, future events and sponsor information. Insurance company provided information for accident insurance when necessary.

How to get there

By Train: JR Sanin Main Line to Tottori Station, then bus to Tottori Sand Dunes. From Osaka, take Super Hakuto Limited Express from Shin-Osaka to Tottori, about 2 hours 30 minutes. From Tokyo, take Tokaido Shinkansen to Himeji then Super Hakuto to Tottori, about 5 hours total. From Hiroshima, take Shinkansen to Okayama then Super Inaba to Tottori.

By Air: Tottori Airport also known as Tottori Sand Dunes Conan Airport, with flights from Tokyo Haneda about 1 hour 15 minutes. Airport bus to Tottori Station about 30 minutes, then bus to dunes about 20 minutes. Alternative is Yonago Airport with bus to Tottori about 90 minutes.

By Bus: Highway buses from Osaka, Kobe and Hiroshima to Tottori Station, about 3 to 4 hours, convenient for budget travel. From Tokyo, overnight highway bus to Tottori about 9 hours.

To Start: Near Tottori Sand Dunes Oasis Square, accessible by bus from Tottori Station to Tottori Sakyu stop, then short walk. Taxi from station about 20 minutes.

To Finish: Yamata Sports Park Fuse General Athletic Park, accessible by bus from Tottori Station to Fuse or Sports Park stop. Shuttle buses from finish back to dunes area and station after race.

Public transport & parking

Public Transport: Train JR and bus recommended. Tottori City loop bus Kirin Jishi and Sand Dunes bus from station to dunes run frequently. On race day, special early morning buses operate to start area.

Parking: Parking lot capacity 500 cars, parking fee free, temporary parking available free of charge. Main parking at Issei Shoji style temporary lots near dunes and near Yamata Sports Park. Free shuttle bus from temporary parking to start and from finish to parking.

Shuttle Bus: Free shuttle bus from temporary parking to venue and from finish back to dunes and station. No reservation needed.

Road Closures: One-way course from dunes to sports park requires extensive traffic control on Route 21 and Sendai River embankment roads. Private car access near course restricted during race hours. Use public transport or shuttle.

Bicycle: Bicycle parking near Oasis Square and Yamata Sports Park available but limited. Not recommended due to road closures.

Accommodation areas

Near Tottori Station: Best for transport access. Hotels include Hotel New Otani Tottori, Toyoko Inn Tottori-eki Minami-guchi, APA Hotel Tottori Ekimae, Dormy Inn Tottori. Prices from $60.00 USD to $140.00 USD per night. Walking distance to bus stop for dunes.

Near Tottori Sand Dunes: Guesthouses, minshuku and resorts near dunes such as Tottori Sand Dunes YHA, Hotel Sand Palace, Sawada Ryokan. Prices $50.00 USD to $120.00 USD. Ideal for pre-race stay and sightseeing, but limited restaurants.

Near Yamata Sports Park: Limited hotels near finish area, but business hotels near Fuse area such as Tottori City Hotel and local inns, prices $50.00 USD to $90.00 USD. Good for post-race rest and shuttle access.

Onsen Areas: Togo Onsen and Kaike Onsen about 30 to 60 minutes from Tottori City offer ryokan stays with hot springs for recovery, prices $100.00 USD to $200.00 USD including dinner and breakfast.

Booking Tips: Tottori City has limited hotel capacity, and 4,200 runner field plus families fills hotels quickly, especially near station. Book as soon as entry confirmed via JTB Sports Station hotel map or major booking sites. Consider staying in Kurayoshi or Yonago if Tottori City full, with train access.

Food & drink at the venue

On Course: Aid stations with water, sports drink and light food. Local volunteers provide water, sports drink and snacks typical of Tottori such as pear jelly and local sweets.

At Start: Tottori Sand Dunes Oasis Square has shops selling pear soft cream, crab buns, coffee and local souvenirs. No large meal before start recommended.

At Finish: Yamata Sports Park Athletics Stadium has food stalls with Tottori specialties including Tottori Wagyu beef skewers, crab soup, 20th Century pear juice, tofu chikuwa and Daisen chicken. Finisher area provides water and sports drink.

In City: Tottori famous for crab, Wagyu beef, 20th Century pears, tofu chikuwa and sand dune shallots. Restaurants around Tottori Station serve seafood bowls, ramen and curry. Many close early, so reserve dinner.

For International Runners: Convenience stores near station and dunes for quick carbs. Vegetarian options limited but pear products and tofu safe.

Accessibility

Course Accessibility: One-way course from dunes to sports park is flat to gently rolling, paved road, suitable for runners with some mobility support. No steep climbs, but some embankment sections narrow. No wheelchair category officially listed, contact organizer for disability support.

Venue Accessibility: Both Tottori Sand Dunes Oasis Square and Yamata Sports Park Athletics Stadium have barrier-free toilets, accessible pathways and medical tents. Start plaza has paved area but sandy near dunes.

Transport Accessibility: JR Tottori Station has elevators, buses to dunes have low-floor options. Free shuttle buses have accessible boarding.

Language Accessibility: Official website https://tottori-marathon.jp/ has English and Japanese, Run Japan provides English entry guidance and race guide via email. Volunteer staff include some English speakers.

Family Accessibility: Finish stadium has ample space for supporters, with grandstand seating and open grass area suitable for families.

Best matches/events to attend

Full Marathon: Only distance and main event, best for experiencing sand dunes start, castle ruins, Jinfukaku Important Cultural Property, Manyo no Sato and rural landscapes in one race. Ideal for first-time marathoners due to 6-hour limit and high completion rate, and for experienced runners seeking unique course.

Opening Ceremony at Dunes: Best for photos, with dunes backdrop, morning light and athlete oath. Special atmosphere unlike city marathons.

Finish at Yamata Sports Park: Best for family meeting, with spacious stadium, food stalls and award ceremony. Spacious finish area provides ample space for both participants and supporters.

Tottori Sand Dunes Sightseeing: While not part of race, many runners visit dunes day before for sandboarding, camel rides and Sand Museum.

Award Ceremony: Best for witnessing local prizes and community awards, with top 8 in each category and age groups recognized.

Previous year’s highlights

2026 Edition: Scheduled with 4,200 runners, start near Tottori Sand Dunes Oasis Square at Yubara, Fukube-cho, finish at Yamata Sports Park Athletics Stadium Fuse. Entry period October 15 to December 26, participation fee 20,000 JPY for overseas, 13,000 JPY for domestic. Time limit 6 hours with cutoff points, check-in 6:00 AM to 8:30 AM at Oasis Square, opening ceremony 8:45 AM, start 9:00 AM. T-shirts etc. as participation prize.

2025 Edition: Attracted over 2,800 runners despite rain, following certified course of 42.195 km starting near Tottori Sand Dunes Oasis Plaza known as Umioto no Mori. Course circled Yamata Sports Park Athletics Stadium, providing ample space for participants and supporters. Reviews praised rural beauty and volunteer warmth.

Earlier Editions: Historically held in mid-March, with entry fee 7,000 yen including insurance premium, course features Tottori Sakyu San’in Coast Inaba Manyo no Sato Marathon course official recognition. Small field, strong local identity.

Reputation: Known as hidden gem among Japanese marathons, with unique dune start, castle town scenery and high completion rate. Described as achieving completion and personal best friendly, with beautiful rural landscapes.

Official tickets

Official Website: https://tottori-marathon.jp/ is only official source for entry, course map and race guide. Overseas entry via Run Japan at same site. Email run@tottori-marathon.jp for inquiries, Tottori Marathon Executive Committee Secretariat.

Entry Fees in USD: Domestic $86.67 USD based on 13,000 JPY, overseas $133.33 USD based on 20,000 JPY. Historical $46.67 USD based on 7,000 yen. Includes T-shirt etc., timing chip, certificate and baggage transport. No participation prize for registrations on or after December 13.

Capacity: Around 4,200 runners for 2027 edition, 200 people for overseas entry portal. Entry closes once maximum capacity reached, even before December 26 deadline.

Parking and Shuttle: Temporary parking available free of charge, 500 cars capacity, free shuttle bus from temporary parking to venue. Train and bus access via JR and local bus.

Warning: Avoid unofficial resale sites. Use only official site and Run Japan portal. No proxy running allowed. Race guide information sent via email in February.

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