Yodogawa Marathon & Walk

About the Event

The Yodogawa Marathon & Walk 2026 offers a rare opportunity for athletes to traverse the Yodogawa Dam—a landmark typically closed to the public—as part of a scenic route along the Yodo River banks. Scheduled for Sunday, March 22, 2026, the event is set to host 4,500 participants across four categories, ranging from a competitive full marathon to a leisurely 12km walk. Adding to the prestige of the 2026 edition, Olympic medalist Naoko Sakamoto will appear as a special guest to cheer on the runners, while the official event apparel features an energetic fluorescent orange design by legendary runner Yuko Arimori. With professional pacers deployed for the full marathon, the event is tailored to help runners achieve their "sub-3" through "sub-5" time goals in a supportive, high-energy environment.

Logistically, the race operates with a "Rain or Shine" policy, starting and ending in the Sotojima and Moriguchi areas of Yodogawa River Park. The organizers emphasize a "no registration on the day" rule, with all essential race kits, including timing chips and bibs, being dispatched to participants ten days prior to the start. Beyond the physical race, the event functions as a major community gathering for the Kansai region, supported by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Sankei Sports network. Finisher towels designed by Arimori await those who complete the full and half distances, serving as a lasting memento of a journey that blends modern athletic endurance with the unique industrial heritage of Osaka's river systems.

Race Category	Capacity & Time Limit	Start Time
Full Marathon	2,000 People / 6h 30m Limit	09:10 AM
Half Marathon	1,500 People / 3h Limit	09:00 AM
3km Race	500 People / 30m Limit	10:30 AM
12km Walk	500 People / 4h Limit	11:00 AM

Demographic Metric	Regional Statistics (Osaka City & Moriguchi 2026)
Osaka City Population	Approx. 2.75 Million Residents
Moriguchi City Population	Approx. 141,000 Residents
Median Age (Osaka Pref.)	47.8 Years
Foreign Residents	Approx. 270,000 (Largest in Japan per capita)
Event Accessibility	10-min walk from Metro Tanimachi Line

Races Offered

Full Marathon

Mar 22, 2026

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Distance — 42.2K

terrain

Type — Running

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08:30

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$43.00

Half Marathon

Mar 22, 2026

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Distance — 21.1K

terrain

Type — Running

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09:00

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$49.50

10 km

Mar 22, 2026

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Distance — 10K

terrain

Type — Running

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13:00

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$27.50

Weather Overview

These values represent the 3-year monthly averages for March in Osaka.

Temp (°C)

Feels Like (°C)

thermostat 5.5° / 14.2°

wb_sunny 2.2° / 10.8°

Wind (km/h)

Humidity (%)

air 11.4 /

water_drop 71.8%

Temp (°C)

Feels Like (°C)

Wind (km/h)

Humidity (%)

thermostat 5.5° / 14.2°

wb_sunny 2.2° / 10.8°

air 11.4 km/h

water_drop 71.8%

About Osaka

Learn more about the host city, Osaka.

Ōsaka (大阪) is the beating heart of Japan's Kansai region and the largest of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto trio of cities, with a population of over 17 million people in the greater metropolitan area. With fantastic food and nightlife, great connectivity and accommodation options in every price bracket, it makes a great base for exploring the entire region.