Marathon Entry

Lottery

Participation Instructions
(PDF)
Download here!
Event Name
Kumamoto Castle Marathon 2024
Date & Time
Sunday, February 18th, 2024 9:00 AM Start (Rain or Shine)
Registration Dates & Times
Friday, February 16th, 2024 12 PM to 8 PM
Saturday, February 17th, 2024 10 AM to 8 PM
  • Registration is not possible on the day of the marathon (Sun, Feb 18th).
  • Registration is not possible outside of the above times.
  • A facial recognition system will be used to verify particpants' identities.
  • Participants must sign up at reception themselves. It is not possible for another person to do reception processing on your behalf.
Registration Area
Hanabata Hiroba Square
Regarding Personal Information and Portrait Rights
  1. The host understands the importance of personal information and will handle personal information in accordance with its own personal information protection policies based on the relevant laws and regulations. Personal information will be used to improve services offered to participants, such as providing participants with event information, time records and other post-event information, and distributing questionnaires.
  2. The host reserves the right to publish or otherwise portray images, photos, articles, records, etc., of the event, including the surrounding expo as well as participant information including names, ages, addresses (countries, prefectures, and municipalities), etc., on TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, the Internet, and any other media.
Other
  1. If the event is cancelled due to circumstances outside of the host's responsibility, the host will take into account the timing of the cancellation decision and expenses incurred up until that point while determining whether to issue refunds and take other necessary measures.
  2. Participants should train appropriately in preparation for the event, receive physical health checks, etc., in order to participate in peak physical condition.
  3. The host assumes no responsibility for delay in arrival of participants due to issues with public transportation or traffic conditions on the day of the event.
  4. The host reserves the right to halt participants' progress during the event in order to allow emergency vehicles to pass through the course, etc.
  5. The event will take place rain or shine. If rainy weather is forecasted, participants should prepare appropriately by bringing rain coats or covers to wear while running, etc.
  6. The Kumamoto Castle Marathon Executive Committee may contact participants to confirm details of their application.
  7. Regarding participation fee payment receipts:
    • When paying with a credit card:
      A receipt will not be issued. The payment summary or invoice from the credit card company shall serve as the receipt of payment.
    • When paying at a convenience store:
      A receipt will not be issued. The payment stub shall serve as the receipt of payment.
  8. Participants with visual or other sensory impairments who have difficulty running on their own may run in the event accompanied by one guide runner. *No participation fee is required for a guide runner. Running with a guide dog is not permitted.
  9. Participants may not use wheelchairs to participate in the event.
  10. Accident insurance for all participants will be covered by a group contract entered into by the host.
  11. Participants should follow the host's instructions regarding any matters other than the aforementioned.

Kumamoto Castle Marathon First-Timers

3,000 spots are available for first-time Kumamoto Castle Marathon Runners! !

This is for runners who have never participated in the Kumamoto Castle Marathon History Tour Full Marathon before. Runners who have participated in the Jokamachi Fun Run, Revival Challenge Fun Run, the Jokamachi 4k, or the Kanakuri Memorial Kumanichi 30k Road Race still qualify for First-Timer slots.

If there are more than 3,000 applications:

If the number of applications for the Kumamoto Castle Marathon First-Timers exceeds the number of slots (3,000), participants will be selected by lottery ahead of the general lottery. If an applicant is not selected for a First-Timer slot, they will be automatically entered into the general lottery for a second chance at being selected to participate.

For runners considering this as their first marathon event, or for runners who have failed to be selected in the past, this may be your opportunity. Apply now!!

チャンスが倍増

Kumamoto Castle Marathon First-Timer Overview

Event
History Tour Full Marathon
Number of Participants
3,000
Application Period
From 10:00AM Monday, July 31, 2023 to 5:00PM Friday, September 15, 2023
Qualifications
Runners who have never participated in the Kumamoto Castle Marathon (History Tour Full Marathon) in the past.
(Runners who were selected to participate in the marathon but did not run are not eligible.)
Notes
* Here, "participated" means having been selected by lottery and then having paid the participation fee.
* Group applications are not allowed for the Kumamoto Castle Marathon First-Timers.

Support Kumamoto Charity Fundraiser

The Kumamoto Castle Marathon supports the Support Kumamoto Charity Fundraiser!

1. What is the Support Kumamoto Charity Fundraiser?

Runners participating in the Kumamoto Castle Marathon will have the opportunity to sponsor a charity. The goal of this program is to spread the spirit of charity, one runner at a time.

2. What will the collected donations be used for?

Your donation will be put towards the cause of your choice, as selected at the time of entry.

Donation Funds
Kumamoto Castle Disaster Recovery
For Kumamoto Castle reconstruction and restoration costs
Kumamoto Castle Disaster Recovery Fund
Administrator: Kumamoto Castle General Office (096-359-6475)
* Does not include a special gift as when donating through the "Lords of the Castle Restoration” program.
Athletics Promotion
Encouraging athletic events in Kumamoto
Kumamoto City Sports Promotion Fund
Administrator: Kumamoto City Sports Promotion Section (096-328-2724)
Volunteer Activity Promotion
Supporting the expansion of volunteer programs in Kumamoto
Kumamoto City Public Interest Activities Support Fund
Administrator: Kumamoto City Regional Activities Promotion Section (096-328-2036)
To see the impact of past donations from Kumamoto Castle Marathon runners, click here.

3. How to Participate in Support Kumamoto Fundraising

On the entry application screen, there will be sections to indicate your willingness to participate in Support Kumamoto Fundraising, your preferred charitable cause, and how many donations you would like to make.
After being selected as a runner in the lottery, please include the amount you would like to donate along with your participation fees and system fees to when making payment.

* Each participant may only select one cause to donate to. Thank you for your understanding.

Support Kumamoto Special Charity Runners (limited to the first 500 participants)

Runners that donate over ¥30,000 in the Support Kumamoto Charity Fundraising will be exempted from the lottery and allowed to participate in the event of their choice (Kumamoto Castle Marathon or Jokamachi Fun Run).
* Donations are collected in addition to the base participation fees.
* Group entries cannot qualify as Special Charity Runners.

Donation receipts will be sent out by the end of November 2023 to participants who donate over ¥30,000.
Donation receipts cannot be reissued, so please store them in a safe place. If you are not a Special Charity Runner but would like to receive a donation receipt, please contact the Kumamoto Castle Marathon Executive Committee (096-328-2373).

For more details on the Support Kumamoto Charity Fundraiser, click here.

Sub-Three Premium

Go for Sub-Three at the Kumamoto Castle Marathon! !

What is Sub-Three Premium?

Runners who have completed any of the last five Kumamoto Castle Marathons (2017-2023) with a run time under three hours (sub-three) will be quality to start at a special starting block for the 2024 race. In addition, runners who post a sub-three time will have their names, runner numbers, and times posted on the Kumamoto Castle Marathon homepage.

Improved Starting Block Placement

Start from the Sub-Three Blocks

Souvenir Gift

Sub-Three Digital Plaque

Have your name, runner number, and time posted on our homepage!

Race Type / Number of Participants / Time Limit / Participation Requirements / Entry Fee

Race Type History Tour Full Marathon
(Supported by JAAF) (JAAF Certified Course)
42.195km
Kanakuri Memorial Kumanichi 30k Road Race
(Cosponsored by Kyushu Athletics Federation, Supported by JAAF) (JAAF Certified Course)
30km
Jokamachi Fun Run
Approx. 3.5 km
Number of Participants 13,000 150 1,500
Time Limit 7 hours Must reach the final gate at 28.3 km by 10:58 AM 1 hour 15 minutes
Participation Requirements Must be 18 years of age on day of the event (no high school students).
Must be able to complete the marathon in under 6 hours and 40 minutes.
Must be born before April 1st, 2005 (no high school students).
Must be registered JAAF member.
Junior high school student or older
Entry Fee and System Fee ¥14,500 ¥6,000 ¥4,000
A ¥750 system usage fee (¥500 for the Kumanichi 30k or the Fun Run) is included in each of the above entry fees.
  1. *1: Time limits are measured from the time of the starting gun.
  2. *2: Due to traffic, security, and operational considerations, checkpoints are placed along the History Tour Full Marathon and Kanakuri Memorial Kumanichi 30k Road Race courses that runners must pass through within a certain time. Runners that do not pass through the checkpoints by the specified time will be disqualified. If the host determines that a runner is being excessively slow in reaching one of the checkpoints, due to potential resulting delays in reopening the roads, that runner may be asked to quit the race.
  3. *3: Runners who are slow in completing the Jokamachi Fun Run (runners who cannot cross the Densha Dori intersection by 9:45) will be asked to quit the race so that the roads can be reopened at 10:00.

Checkpoint Closing Times

* Times are subject to change.

History Tour Full Marathon
  Distance Checkpoint Closing Times
1st Checkpoint 6.1 km 10:15
2nd Checkpoint 14.5 km 11:18
3rd Checkpoint 21.0 km 12:21
4th Checkpoint 24.8 km 12:55
5th Checkpoint 29.8 km 13:45
6th Checkpoint 33.3 km 14:18
7th Checkpoint 37.9 km 15:00
8th Checkpoint 40.6 km 15:30

Kanakuri Memorial Kumanichi 30k Road Race
Distance Checkpoint Closing Times
5 km 9:20
10 km 9:40
15 km 10:00
20 km 10:20
25 km 10:43
28.3 km 10:58

Fees and Payment Information

Race Type Application Method Payment Method Entry Fee & System Fee (After Lottery)
History Tour
Full Marathon
Online only Credit Card
or
Convenience Store
¥14,500 A ¥750 system usage fee (¥500 for the Kumanichi 30k or the Fun Run) is included in each fee.
Kumanichi 30k ¥6,000
Jokamachi Fun Run ¥4,000
Support Kumamoto Charity Fundraiser
For runners donating to the fundraising campaign, please include the number of donations you would like to make (¥500 per donation) and pay the amount along with your participation fee.
Example of Payment: An individual entrant is selected to participate in the History Tour Full Marathon. The entrant pledges two charity donations at the time of entry.
* Two donations x ¥500 per donation = ¥1,000
Total payment: Participation Fee + System Fee (¥14,500) + 2 Charity Donations (¥1,000) = ¥15,500

* The system fee per person remains the same for group entries.

Participation Award T-Shirt Sizes

Please refer to this table when entering your T-shirt size.

Size SS S M L LL 3L
Height 160 cm 165 cm 170 cm 175 cm 180 cm 185 cm
Chest Circumference 84 cm 88 cm 92 cm 96 cm 100 cm 104 cm

* If a shirt size is not specified at the time of entry, women will automatically receive a size S shirt, and men will automatically receive a size M shirt.

* There are only limited quantities of each size, so you may receive a different size shirt than requested.

Runner Entry Applications (Individual or 2-5 person group)

History Tour Full Marathon Individual Group Online only
Kumanichi 30k Individual Online only
Jokamachi Fun Run Individual Group Online only
Application Method
Online using the Kumamoto Castle Marathon homepage
https://www.kumamotojyo-marathon.jp
Application Period Start
10AM Monday, July 31
Application Period End
5PM Friday, September 15
Runner Selection
If number of applicants exceed the participant limit, selection by lottery. (*Kumamoto Support Charity Runners will be selected before the lottery.)
Results Announcement
Results will be sent out on September 29. For group entry, only the group’s representative will be informed of the result.
Deposit
Runners selected to participate (or the representative for groups) must deposit the total payment for participation fees, system fees, and charity donations in the specified bank account by the provided deadline.
Non-payment will result in the slot being given to other applicant(s).
Notes
* Please also read the Application Policy and the Notes Regarding Application Process.
  • Applying as both an individual and part of a group is prohibited. Any who submit duplicate applications will be denied entry.

Regarding Group Applications:

  • Group entry is limited to groups of 2 to 5 people.
  • All runners in a group will placed in the same starting block, based on the run time of the slowest member of the group.
  • Members of groups cannot apply as JAAF competitors.

Application Policy

  1. Except for providing first aid for injuries, the host will not be held responsible for the contraction of illness, loss of personal items, or other incident that is outside of the host's responsibility or control.
  2. Applicants cannot change event types after entry submission, or cancel their application after payment has been made.
  3. Duplicate applications will not be accepted; one application per person. If the host determines that an application was duplicated, the applicant will be disqualified and any payments made will not be reimbursed.
  4. Knowingly producing false information regarding age, gender, records, etc., in order to have another runner participate in your place is prohibited. If the host determines that an applicant has engaged in this practice, the applicant will be disqualified and any payments made will not be reimbursed. Furthermore, the applicant and any co-conspirators will be barred from participating in the Kumamoto Castle Marathon. Additional attempts to apply using different information will be detected, resulting in disqualification and refusal of reimbursal.
  5. If the event is cancelled due to an earthquake, wind or flood damage, storms, snowfall, an accident or incident, or a disease outbreak, the organizer will take into account the circumstances of the cancellation and the expenses incurred up until that point while determining whether to issue refunds and take other necessary measures. Charity fund donations will not be refunded under any circumstances.
  6. The participant is responsible for paying any service charges incurred when attempting to recover excess or duplicated payment.
  7. The host reserves the right to publish or otherwise portray images, photos, articles, records, etc., of the event, including the surrounding expo as well as participant information including names, ages, addresses (countries, prefectures, and municipalities), etc., on TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, the internet, and any other media.
  8. The host will comply with the applicable laws and regulations while handling applicants' personal information.
  9. This event will be held in compliance with all applicable Japanese laws.
  10. The host will comply with the Application Policy, the 2023 JAAF Rules, and the Kumamoto Castle Marathon Rules.
  11. Participants under the age of 18 must receive permission from a legal guardian when applying for entry.

Notes regarding the application process

  1. All applicants will be notified of lottery results via email and on their Member's Page. Be sure to register a valid email address when applying for entry. The host will not contact an applicant again regarding lottery results in case of failure to receive or respond to the initial notification. (For group entry, only the representative member is notified.)
  2. The host is not responsible for late applications due to issues with the applicant's Internet connection or devices.
  3. An email address is required when applying for entry. One contact email address can be registered per applicant. Make sure you have an email address before you attempt to apply. In some cases, the applicant's device, OS, or browser software my prevent their application from being properly submitted.
  4. A facial recognition system will be used to verify participants' identities during reception on the two days immediately prior to the event. Participants must register a photo of their face and ID in order to participate in the event. Instructions for registration will be provided to participants after the selection lottery.