Tohoku Food Marathon 2027 Confirmed for April 18, With Entries Opening September 12

Tohoku Food Marathon & Festival, a general incorporated association based in Tome City, Miyagi Prefecture (represented by Takashi Takekawa), has announced that Tohoku Food Marathon 2027 will be held in the Naganuma area of Tome City on Sunday, April 18, 2027. Runner entries open at midnight on Saturday, September 12, 2026, through the event's official website.

https://tohokumarathon.com/runner/

The 2026 edition of the race drew more than 5,000 runners, including 351 international runners from 20 countries and regions, along with roughly 38,000 spectators. For 2027, organizers are looking to build on that momentum with a new travel package for international runners created jointly by the Tome, Minamisanriku, and Kesennuma areas. Separately, Tohoku Food Marathon & Festival 2026 was named one of the winning programs in the 10th Japan Tourism Awards, announced on August 28, 2026 by the Tourism EXPO Japan Promotion Office, having been selected from 272 entries from Japan and overseas.

Six Highlights of Tohoku Food Marathon 2027

1. NEW: A special travel package for international runners – Tome, Minamisanriku, and Kesennuma are joining forces on a new travel package that combines race participation with a stay at Minamisanriku Hotel Kanyo, an oyster-fishing experience in Kesennuma, and a sake brewery tour. The package is open to anyone, not only international runners, as a deeper way to experience the Tohoku region.
2. Fuller use of the AI platform "RunConcierge" – "RunConcierge," first introduced at last year's race, will be put to fuller use with support from Neurun, Inc., ASICS' strategic partner. Through an AI chat interface, runners can get course information, transportation, and nearby travel information all in one place, in multiple languages.
3. Savor Tohoku's food and culture at the same time – Aid stations along the course serve up to 20 local specialties from around Tohoku, letting runners take in the region's food and scenery together as they run.
4. Five categories for every kind of runner – Alongside the full and half marathons, the event also offers a 5km run, a parent-and-child run, and the KIDS Smile Run for runners with disabilities, for five categories in total.
5. A Tohoku festival at the main venue – The Tohoku Sake Festival and the Tome Food Festival headline a full day of stage programs and other activities at the main venue, so even those not running can enjoy the day.
6. Sustainable event operations – The event continues to encourage participants to bring their own chopsticks and cups, and distributes finisher's certificates and pamphlets digitally as part of its ongoing efforts toward digitalization and environmental consideration.

Tohoku Food Marathon 2027 Event Details

• Event name: Tohoku Food Marathon 2027 (official English name: Tohoku Food Marathon 2027)
• Date: Sunday, April 18, 2027
• Venue: Naganuma Footopia Toyotetsu-no-Oka Park
• Organizer: Tohoku Food Marathon 2027 Executive Committee (secretariat based at the Tome City Tourism and Products Association)
• Co-organizers (planned): Tome City, Minamisanriku Town, Tome City Board of Education, Tome City Tourism Promotion Council, Naganuma Furusato Buppan Co., Ltd., Tome City Tourism and Products Association, Tome Community FM Co., Ltd.
• Supporters (based on last year's event): Miyagi Prefecture, Sendai-Miyagi Tourism Campaign Promotion Council, Miyagi Prefecture Tourism Federation, Miyagi Prefecture Products Promotion Association, Sendai Keizai Doyukai, The Kahoku Shimpo, The Asahi Shimbun Sendai Bureau, The Mainichi Shimbun Sendai Bureau, The Yomiuri Shimbun Tohoku Bureau, NHK Sendai, TBC Tohoku Broadcasting, Sendai Broadcasting, Miyagi Television, KHB Higashi Nippon Broadcasting, Media Box Co., Ltd., Osaki Times Co., Ltd., FM Sendai, Sanuma Rotary Club, Sanuma Lions Club, Tome Corporate Taxpayers Association, Tome Culture Promotion Foundation
• Main sponsor: ASICS Corporation

Details are planned and subject to change.

Time Limit, Participation Fee, Capacity, and Eligibility

• Finisher's certificate: Issued online to all finishers
• Participation gift: Local Tohoku food served at aid stations (roughly 20 items for the full marathon and 10 for the half, as a guide)
• Finisher's award: Tohoku food (planned), a sake tasting ticket (soft drink option available), and a lucky-draw prize by lottery
• Entry period: 12:00 AM on Saturday, September 12, 2026 to 11:59 PM on Sunday, March 14, 2027 (first-come, first-served by payment; planned)
• How to apply: Online only
• Bib numbers, etc.: Mailed to participants (planned for early April 2027); a digital version of the event pamphlet will also be sent by email in advance
• Parking: Parking will be available near the main venue, Naganuma Footopia Park (about 10 to 20 minutes on foot or by shuttle bus). Anyone planning to use it must apply for a spot when registering as a runner (¥1,100).

Participation requirements

1. Have had a health check and been confirmed fit to participate (each participant must arrange their own health check)
2. Be able to finish within the time limit (the race concludes when the time limit is reached)
3. Agree to the entry terms (see the official website for the full entry terms)

Entry terms

1. Aside from providing first aid, the organizer bears no responsibility for illness or other accidents.
2. Category changes or cancellations made for personal reasons after entry are not eligible for a refund.
3. False statements about age or gender, and entry by anyone other than the registered applicant, are not permitted; entries found in violation will be revoked.
4. If the event is cancelled due to an earthquake, storm or flood damage, snowfall, incident, accident, epidemic, or similar cause, entry fees will not be refunded under any circumstances.
5. No refunds will be issued for the above, or for overpayments or duplicate payments.
6. Rights to publish video, photos, and participants' names from the event in the mass media, as well as portrait rights, belong to the organizer.
7. Participants acknowledge that advance application is required to use the parking lot.
8. Participants will not run or drive while under the influence of alcohol.
9. Participants consent to having their personal information managed by the Tohoku Food Marathon Executive Committee, and to receiving information about the Tohoku Food Marathon & Festival and its sponsors by email newsletter or mail, both before and after the event.

Other: The organizer carries event insurance. In the case of injury, coverage will apply within the terms of the policy.