Naha Marathon

Course & Elevation

The NAHA Marathon is a mass-participation road marathon held in early December in Naha, the capital of Okinawa, Japan. The 2026 race is the 40th edition. It is run by the NAHA Marathon Association, made up of Naha City, the southern municipalities' association, the Okinawa Times, RBC Ryukyu Broadcasting, the Naha Tourism Association, the Naha City Board of Education and the Okinawa Athletic Association. The 42.195 km Peace Memorial Park course is certified by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations and centres on Peace Memorial Park, passing through five southern municipalities: Naha, Haebaru, Yaese, Itoman and Tomigusuku. The race starts at 9:00 am at Ohnoyama Park, rain or shine, and finishes at Ohnoyama Athletics Stadium in the same park. The time limit is 6 hours 15 minutes, with a checkpoint at 34.3 km at the Naha Nursing College by 2:10 pm and the finish closing at 3:15 pm. The organisers note that the green, relaxed south of Okinawa Island also carries scars of the Battle of Okinawa. The capacity is 30,000 runners, entry is first-come, first-served, and finishers inside the limit receive a medal and certificate. The race began in 1985, and the organisers state its aim as praying for peace while promoting amateur marathon running.