Shizuoka Marathon in Shizuoka, Japan wasn’t originally on our marathon (42.195km/26.2 miles) bucket list.
Justin and I signed up for the 2025 Tokyo Marathon lottery. I received a spot while Justin did not. So, he and our running friend looked for another marathon in March and signed up for Shizuoka Marathon in Shizuoka Prefecture.
This race was perfect for both first-time runners and seasoned runners. It was a smaller race with 12,000 runners and took place only one week after Tokyo Marathon.
Justin said that it was one of the memorable marathon races that he has participated in. He even earned a Personal Best (PB)!
Since there isn’t as much information about this race from the perspective of an overseas participant, Justin and I collaborated on this post to share what to know about Shizuoka Marathon, the bib pick-up, and other helpful tips. Justin will share his experience as a participant, while I was on the cheering squad.
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Quick Summary
If you don’t have time to read this post, here are the top 3 reasons to run the Shizuoka Marathon.
- It’s an organized race with ideal weather conditions and an overall flat course.
- You get the chance to see Mount Fuji during the run.
- Lots of snacks during the marathon, such as locally grown strawberries.
Why Participate in the Race?
Shizuoka Marathon is a medium-sized race with 12,000 participants. Set in the heart of Shizuoka, the race goes through various landmarks in Shizuoka and along the coastline to the Shimizu finish line.
The course is flat and very fast. There are many downhills so the chances of getting a Personal Best (PB) are highly possible. You have the chance to see the majestic Mount Fuji during the course.
With a 6 hour time limit, it’s an ideal race for beginners or those who want to tackle their first marathon.
The start and ending locations are easy to get to by local train, so you don’t need to worry about transportation.
The course is also recognized by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF). This is Japan’s official sports association that hosts competitions throughout the year.
Race Date
Sunday, March 9, 2025 (The 2026 event is on Sunday, March 8) Start time at 8:20am and 6 hour cut off time.
How to Register for the Race
Registration for the marathon occurred from October to mid-November 2024. It was first come, first served, so lottery was not required.
The registration link was on the official website and the official Facebook page.
Overseas participants needed to use Run Japan website to register.
The cost for the 2025 race:
- 15,000 yen for local Japanese
- 18,000 yen for overseas participants
Note: For the 2026 event, the price increased to 16,000 yen for local Japanese and 23,000 yen for overseas participants.
Justin signed up on the Run Japan website and went through the registration process.
During the registration process, he picked his t-shirt size. Shirts were unisex, so Justin chose a small size. There was a size chart included in the registration page. Unfortunately, we do not have a copy of the size chart.
Justin used his U.S international credit card to pay for the race.
Race Swag
Justin received the following:
- Participant technical t-shirt (Getting a race t-shirt is very rare for a running event in Japan)
- A bag for check-in stuff
- Finisher towel
- Finisher medal
- Finisher goodie bag with drinks and sponsored stuff
- E-certificate
The 2025 finisher medal is gorgeous with the Mount Fuji cut out
Race Communication
Justin received 2 emails from various organizers:
- Confirming registration from Run Japan
- Participant guide
We relied on Shizuoka Marathon Facebook page for updates.
Where to Stay in Shizuoka
The race starts near the Sunpu Castle Park area and ends at the JR Shimizu Station East Exit. So, the start and end locations are not at the same spot.
You’ll need to decide whether to stay near the start line or at the finish line. We recommend checking out either Booking or Agoda for your accommodation needs and requirements such as budget, amenities, etc.
Click here to see hotel options in Shizuoka City on Booking.
Check availability for hotel options in Shizuoka on Agoda.
What Did We Do?
Our friend stayed near the start line at APA Hotel Shizuoka Ekikita. It was a convenient location as the Shizuoka Station was only a 10-minute walk. Also, the start line near Sumpu Castle Area was 1km away from the hotel.
Click here to check availability for APA Hotel Shizuoka on Booking.
Check availability for APA Hotel Shizuoka on Agoda.
Justin and I stayed near the finish line at Hotel Mystays Shimizu. It’s less than a 5-minute walk to the Shimizu Station. Shizuoka Station is only two stops away from Shimizu Station, so it took less than 10 minutes to arrive at Shizuoka. We also liked the location, as we visited Shimizu Fish Market daily for fresh tuna and seafood rice bowls.
Our room was the typical small size (15m2) for Japanese business hotels. Yet, it was enough room for us to move around, store our luggage, and relax. The hotel had coin-operated washing machines, so it was convenient for us to wash our stinky running clothes post race.
Click here to check availability for Hotel Mystays Shimizu on Booking.
Check availability for Hotel Mystays Shimizu on Agoda.
Expo & Bib Pick Up
The Expo and bib pick-up took place on Saturday, March 8, 2025 from 11:00am to 6:00pm. It was an outdoor Expo, located at Aoi Square, in front of Shizuoka City Hall – about a 10 to 15 minute from Shizuoka Station.
Justin and I went to the Expo in the early afternoon, and it rained. But that didn’t stop us from visiting.
The first half of the Expo had various vendors selling race gels and clothes, promoting marathons such as Okayama Marathon and Taipei Marathon (a partner event in Taiwan), and a chance to win a gift. Participants had a coupon from their race kit and exchanged it for a prize. Justin received one tea bag. Haha.
Justin and a friend prepared for a strong finish at the finish line!
The second half of the Expo had the shirt and bib pick up and the official Shizuoka Marathon merchandise shop. Justin bought a pin of Mount Fuji with Shizuoka Marathon across the mountain. It was adorable for 770 yen.
There were two photo spots for participants to take photos of the Finish Line with a background of Mount Fuji.
Overall, it was a small Expo and required less than 30 minutes to visit.
Shizuoka Marathon Race Experience
Weather
The race was a cool 5-11°C / 41-52°F. It was the perfect weather conditions.
Start Line
Justin and I stayed at Hotel Mystays Shimizu, so Justin needed to take the train from Shimizu to Shizuoka Station. Justin didn’t carry any money since he used his ICOCA IC card to pay for the train. (We used the JR Mt Fuji Shizuoka Area Tourist Pass Mini earlier in our Shizuoka trip.)
The waiting area near the start line
He met his friend and they walked to the start line at Sunpu Castle.
Justin brought his check-in bag to his designated check-in area. Men and women baggage drop-off areas were in different areas. All baggage needed to be dropped off between 6:45 to 7:45am.
Course
All runners needed to enter their corral by 8:00am. The marathon started at 8:20am. There was a countdown till the start, and then runners were off!
Justin and a friend were ready to start the marathon!
The first half of the course was mostly flat with some rolling hills between 10 km and 20km. Due to the smaller race, the course wasn’t as crowded, so people ran super fast. Justin was on track for a personal record, so he continued running faster than usual.
Justin loved the marathon vibe and the course
The most challenging part was running along the coastline with the strong crosswinds. Justin said that he felt like a salmon swimming upstream.
At the hydration stations, he was rewarded with the fresh and local strawberries grown at greenhouses along the coastline. The strawberries were well worth the short break.
The race had 10 checkpoints, and participants needed to cross the checkpoint before the cut-off time. It can be intimidating for first time marathoners. The Participant Guide lists the cut-off times, so you need to be aware of your pacing and times.
Please be aware of the checkpoints so you do not DNF (Did Not Finish). Photo credit: Shizuoka Marathon
We mentioned that you could see Mount Fuji along the course. Unfortunately, Mount Fuji was shy during the marathon and didn’t make an appearance. But we saw the majestic mountain on the day after the race from Shimizu Station.
Finish Line
As a spectator, I was a few hundred meters away from the Finish Line. I’m glad that the Shizuoka Marathon did not block spectators from viewing runners near the Finish Line. The crowds cheered and banged the paper fans with their hands for extra noise.
I followed Justin along the R-Navi tracking app and waited for him for 30 minutes until he was getting close. He was still smiling and jumping right till the finish line.
Justin still had lots of energy as he was close to the finish line
Once Justin crossed the finish line, he received his finisher’s medal, goodie bag, and picked up his checked bag. He also met his friend and took some photos.
I met Justin and his friend outside the Finish Line area.
Justin just finished the Shizuoka Marathon and loved his finisher’s medal!
Congratulations to Justin and his friend for finishing the marathon!
Volunteers
Thank you to the volunteers for their hard work and dedication along the course! They worked hard to provide the runners with hydration and cheering.
Hydration Stations
Ample hydration stations were available from 5.1 km to 40.1 km. Every 2-3 km had a station with water and sports drinks.
Food was at 16.8 km, 22 km, 22.5 km, 27.5 km, 32.7 km, and 35.5 km.
Sponges were at 25.5 km and 35.5 km.
Important: Please throw all garbage in the trash cans at the hydration station. Do not litter along the course.
**There were also impromptu water stations that residents set up along the way. So nice!
Bathrooms
The Participant Guide listed 24 toilet spots along the course from 1.4 km to 40.1 km. Runners could use any public toilets along the way.
Race Photos
All Sport Community took photos of the event. Photos were available 5 days after the race ended. They were fun to look through as Justin did many jumping poses throughout the race.
Unfortunately, he didn’t buy any as the photo package was pricey.
When I did the Tokyo Marathon 2025 event, All Sport Community charged $177 USD for the entire photo package. Shizuoka Marathon photo package was cheaper at $130 but still expensive to us.
Race e-Certificates
Justin received his e-certificate about 1 week after the race ended. The certificate was in Japanese, so we needed to use Google Translate.
Hopefully, the organizers can generate an English certificate for the overseas participants.
Final Thoughts
We hope you consider running the Shizuoka Marathon in the future. It’s recommended for beginners or seasoned runners as the course is mostly flat. The race swag, cheering squads, and overall vibe of the race are memorable.
Justin had a fantastic time, and he hopes that I can do the race to achieve a personal best. We shall see what happens!
After the race, we recommend refueling at the Shimizu Fish Market for delicious tuna and seafood bowls. This place is across from the Finish Line. Check out our recommendations on the blog post here.
If you’re interested in reading our other marathon recaps in Japan, check them out below:
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