Kagawa Marugame International Half Marathon

The Kagawa Marugame International Half Marathon is one of Japan's strongest specialist road races. It combines an internationally competitive front pack with deep domestic club, university, and corporate fields. Entry divisions and cutoffs make it best suited to runners who want a performance-focused half rather than a relaxed city tour.

The certified route starts and finishes at Kagawa Marugame Stadium and runs through Marugame and neighboring roads. The profile supports fast racing, but the checkpoint schedule is strict. There is little benefit to a conservative sightseeing pace because runners behind closure times must leave the course.

Early February is usually cool, which suits a hard half marathon effort. Wind can affect exposed roads around Marugame, and the late-morning start may feel warmer than a dawn race. Runners should arrive ready to race rather than depend on a long, slow first few kilometers.