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This guide compares five running events in Ehime Prefecture between November 2026 and March 2027 that were still taking entries on October 12, 2026. They are listed by entry deadline, soonest first. The earliest closes on Friday, October 16 (runner volunteers for the 64th Ehime Marathon, Matsuyama City), then Tuesday, October 20 (IYONIC RUN, Iyo City) and Friday, October 23 (Saijo Relay Marathon, Saijo City).
Fees run from free (the runner volunteer role) to ¥10,000 for the 52 km IYONIC RUN. Four events take entries through RUNNET and one through e-moshicom. Both are Japanese entry sites. Where an event has a set number of places, entry can end before the deadline when the places are full.
In short
- Five events, from Sunday, November 1, 2026 to Sunday, March 7, 2027. Deadlines run from Friday, October 16 to Monday, November 30, 2026 (Shikoku 30K also has a late-entry round to Sunday, December 6).
- The general entry for the 64th Ehime Marathon itself closed on Thursday, August 20. The way in now is the runner volunteer role, which gives a place in the 65th race.
- Saijo and Yumeshima accept entry by post as well as online (Yumeshima by postal transfer, 郵便振替, at a post office).
- Shikoku 30K and IYONIC RUN do not accept cancellations for personal reasons after you enter.
Checked with official pages on October 12, 2026 (Japan time).
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1. The five events in one table
Depends on the organizer
Tap an event name to jump to its section. The fee shown is for an adult entry in the main course. Student and children’s fees are in each section.
| Event | Date and place | Courses and fee | Entry deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ehime Marathon (runner volunteers) | Feb 7, 2027 (Sun) · Matsuyama | Volunteer role, 300 people (lottery) / free | Oct 16 (Fri) |
| IYONIC RUN 2026 | Nov 1 (Sun) · Iyo | 52 km maranic / ¥10,000 | Oct 20 (Tue) |
| Saijo Relay Marathon | Nov 15 (Sun) · Saijo | 42.195 km and 21 km relay / ¥3,400 per person | Oct 23 (Fri) |
| Shikoku 30K | Dec 19 (Sat) · Niihama | 30 km / ¥6,500 | Nov 8 (Sun), regular entry |
| Yumeshima Kaido Ikina Marathon | Mar 7, 2027 (Sun) · Kamijima | Half, 10 km, 3 km and more / half ¥6,000 | Nov 30 (Mon) |
2. What to know before you choose
Depends on the organizer
The five events are spread across Ehime. Two are in the east (Saijo in November and Niihama in December), two are in the middle (Iyo in November and Matsuyama in February), and one is on an island town in the Seto Inland Sea (Kamijima in March). The two eastern races fit together: a relay in November, then a 30 km run in December.
The Ehime Marathon general entry in Matsuyama was by lottery and closed on Thursday, August 20. What you can still do is apply as a runner volunteer, which gives a place in the 65th race.
Getting to each venue differs. Shikoku 30K is about 15 minutes from Niihama IC on the Matsuyama Expressway, has a temporary car park, and the organizer asks people to share cars. At IYONIC RUN, reception is at one place in Iyo and the finish is at another (Futami Seaside Park), so decide how you will get back before you enter.
For the island race, Yumeshima Kaido Ikina Marathon, the Kamijima Tourist Association is given as the contact for lodging. It is safer to check rooms early.
How to enter
- Pick an event and a course. Use the table above. Each section below lists the courses and fees.
- Open the entry page linked in that section. RUNNET and e-moshicom need a free membership account, and the pages are in Japanese. This guide did not check whether the entry sites offer an English screen.
- Enter before the deadline. Where a course has a set number of places, entry can end earlier when the places are full.
3. The five events, section by section
Depends on the organizer
Dates, fees and times below are from each organizer’s page or entry page. Check the page again before you enter, because details can change.
3.1 The 64th Ehime Marathon, runner volunteers: Matsuyama City, February 7, 2027
The race starts at 10:00 on Sunday, February 7, 2027 in front of the Ehime Prefectural Office and finishes at Shiroyama Park, over 42.195 km. The course is certified by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations, World Athletics and AIMS, and the time limit is 6 hours. The fee is ¥12,900 plus a handling fee. General entry closed on Thursday, August 20.
What you can apply for now is the runner volunteer role. Applications close on Friday, October 16, 2026 at 23:59, free of charge, on RUNNET. You must be 18 or over, and 300 people will be chosen; if there are more applicants, there is a lottery. If you are chosen, you get a place in the 65th race. The place is valid for the 65th race only, and you still pay the entry fee.
Results are sent on Thursday, November 5, and chosen applicants must then enter by Monday, November 16. There is a briefing on Saturday, January 16 or Sunday, January 17, 2027, 15:30 to 17:00, at Nankai Broadcasting Honmachi Hall in Matsuyama. There is no parking, so use public transport. On race day, February 7, you help on the course, for example in the Hojo area, by setting out and collecting traffic cones and assisting at checkpoints. If you do not attend the briefing or race day yourself, you do not get the place. A boxed lunch or a convenience-store meal voucher is provided; there is no pay and no travel allowance. Runners who have already paid for the 64th race cannot apply as volunteers.
Venue: start in front of Ehime Prefectural Office, finish at Shiroyama Park, Matsuyama City, Ehime. Google Maps · Organizer phone: 089-915-8460
Ehime Marathon: runner volunteer page (Japanese)
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Search hotels and inns in Matsuyama and Dogo on Rakuten Travel (Ad, Japanese)
Photo source: Matsuyama City press release on PR TIMES, July 30, 2026 (Japanese)
| Name | Ehime Marathon |
|---|---|
| Address | Matsuyama City, Ehime (start in front of the Ehime Prefectural Office, finish at Shiroyama Park) |
| Hours / Closed | Sunday, February 7, 2027, start 10:00 (entry for the 64th race and runner volunteer applications are closed) |
| Phone | 089-915-8460 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
3.2 IYONIC RUN 2026: Iyo City, November 1
This is a 52 km “maranic” (マラニック, a mix of marathon and picnic) through the sea, mountains and town of Iyo City. It is not timed or ranked, and you run at your own pace. The organizer is the Matsuyama Junior Chamber, with Iyo City and the Iyo City Tourism Association Soleiyo as co-organizers. Entry closes on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 23:59 on e-moshicom.
The fee is ¥10,000 and there are 100 places. Reception opens at 7:00 and the opening ceremony is at 7:45. You start at any time from 8:00 to 18:00, and the time limit is 10 hours. A get-together starts at 19:00. The first half runs through the old town of Gunchu, and the second half climbs through the hills of Nakayama and Futami. Each aid station is expected to serve local specialties of Iyo. After finishing you can use a hot spring in the city.
Reception is at Tezukuri Koryu Ichiba Machiya, and the finish is at Futami Seaside Park. It is a one-way course, so plan your way back. The minimum is 35 runners; if fewer than 35 have entered at the deadline, the event can be cancelled or changed. You cannot cancel for personal reasons after you enter. The organizer recommends bringing your own cup. e-moshicom page for IYONIC RUN 2026 (Japanese)
Venue: Tezukuri Koryu Ichiba Machiya, 827-4 Yonaminato, Iyo City, Ehime. Reception 7:00 to 7:30. Google Maps
| Name | IYONIC RUN 2026 |
|---|---|
| Address | 827-4 Yonaminato, Iyo City, Ehime (Tezukuri Koryu Ichiba Machiya; finish at Futami Seaside Park) |
| Hours / Closed | Sunday, November 1, 2026, reception 7:00–7:30, start 8:00–18:00 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
3.3 FM Ehime 42.195 km Saijo Relay Marathon: Saijo City, November 15
This is the 9th relay marathon, run in turns on a 1.5 km loop at Hiuchi Athletics Stadium, inside Saijo Sports Park. Entry closes on Friday, October 23, 2026, on RUNNET or by posting an entry form to the organizer’s office (it must arrive by the deadline). There are 250 teams, and entry ends when the places are full.
The 42.195 km division starts at 10:00 on Sunday, November 15, and the 21 km division at 10:03. The time limit is 4 hours 30 minutes, and the race is held in rain (the RUNNET page says 4 hours, but the organizer’s page says 4 hours 30 minutes). A team has 2 to 14 people in the 42.195 km division and 2 to 10 in the 21 km division.
The fee is per person. Through the organizer’s office it is ¥3,300 for adults and ¥1,800 for junior high school students and under. Through RUNNET it is ¥3,400 and ¥1,900. It includes insurance and a commemorative relay-marathon T-shirt, and does not include lunch. The divisions are general, family (42.195 km only), workplace, junior and masters (aged 50 and over, 42.195 km only).
Venue: Hiuchi Athletics Stadium, inside Saijo Sports Park, 1-2 Hiuchi, Saijo City, Ehime. Reception from 8:00. Google Maps · Organizer phone: 0120-846-598 · Official outline (Japanese)
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Search hotels and inns in Saijo, Niihama and Shikokuchuo on Rakuten Travel (Ad, Japanese)
| Name | FM Ehime 42.195 km Saijo Relay Marathon |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-2 Hiuchi, Saijo City, Ehime (Hiuchi Athletics Stadium, inside Saijo Sports Park) |
| Hours / Closed | Sunday, November 15, 2026, reception from 8:00, start 10:00 |
| Phone | 0120-846-598 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
3.4 Shikoku 30K: Niihama City, December 19
This is a 30 km race of ten laps on a 3 km loop, starting and finishing at Shinonome Athletics Stadium in Niihama. The organizer is the RBS Sports Foundation. Pacers run at paces from 3 hours to 5 hours in full-marathon terms, and runners start in one-minute waves by pace group. The start is at 10:00.
You must be 18 or over and able to finish within 4 hours; there are 800 places. There are no prizes, and a finisher’s certificate is issued online. Regular entry closes on Sunday, November 8 at 23:59 and costs ¥6,500. After that, late entry from November 9 to December 6 is ¥7,000, and last-minute entry from December 7 to December 19 is ¥7,500; both end when the places are full. A participation T-shirt goes only to people who enter by November 8. RUNNET adds an entry handling fee: ¥240 up to ¥4,000, and 6.0% above ¥4,001. You cannot cancel for personal reasons after you enter.
By car it is about 15 minutes from Niihama IC on the Matsuyama Expressway and about 10 minutes from Niihama Station, and there is a temporary car park. By public transport, take a Setouchi Transport bus from JR Niihama Station to Shinonome bus stop, then walk 5 minutes. Walking from the station takes about 25 minutes. Hotels: see the Saijo and Niihama link in section 3.3.
Venue: Shinonome Athletics Stadium, Shinonome-cho 3-chome, Niihama City, Ehime. Reception from 8:00. Google Maps · Official site (Japanese)
| Name | Shikoku 30K |
|---|---|
| Address | Shinonome-cho 3-chome, Niihama City, Ehime (Shinonome Athletics Stadium) |
| Hours / Closed | Saturday, December 19, 2026, reception from 8:00, start 10:00 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
3.5 Yumeshima Kaido Ikina Marathon: Kamijima Town, March 7, 2027
This is the 38th race, run across the islands of Kamijima Town (Yuge, Sashima, Ikina and Iwagi). More than 90% of the course is along the coast, and the half marathon crosses three bridges. The start and finish are around the multipurpose plaza at Ikina Tateishi Port, and the guest runner is the TV personality Misako Yasuda.
The courses are the half marathon (600 places), 10 km (400), 3 km, and an untimed health marathon of 3 km, and you can enter one course only. The half starts at 10:00, the 10 km at 10:15, and the 3 km and health marathon at 10:30. The half marathon time limit is 3 hours 30 minutes, with a checkpoint at about 12 km.
Fees: half and 10 km are ¥6,000 for general entries and ¥3,000 for high school students and under; the 3 km is ¥4,000 and ¥2,000; the health marathon is ¥1,000. Entry closes on Monday, November 30, 2026, on RUNNET or by postal transfer with the dedicated form at a post office. Bib numbers are sent in advance, so there is no reception on the day. The participation prize is a T-shirt, a laundry bag, taimeshi (鯛めし, sea bream rice) and more (not for the health marathon).
The Kamijima Tourist Association is given as the lodging contact. You can also look at hotels in Imabari and along the Shimanami Kaido. Questions go to the organizing committee (Lifelong Learning Division, Kamijima Town Board of Education). Kamijima Town: entry page for the marathon (Japanese)
Venue: Ikina Tateishi Multipurpose Ground, 1881-3 Ikina, Kamijima Town, Ochi-gun, Ehime. Half starts at 10:00. Google Maps · Organizer phone: 0897-77-2128
PR · Ad / affiliate link. Rakuten Travel is one of several ways to book a hotel. The site is in Japanese; check the date, room type and price on the final confirmation screen.
Search hotels and inns in Imabari and the Shimanami Kaido on Rakuten Travel (Ad, Japanese)
| Name | Yumeshima Kaido Ikina Marathon |
|---|---|
| Address | 1881-3 Ikina, Kamijima Town, Ochi District, Ehime (Ikina Tateishi Multipurpose Ground) |
| Hours / Closed | Sunday, March 7, 2027, half marathon start 10:00 |
| Phone | 0897-77-2128 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
4. How to choose
Depends on the organizer
If this is your first race, look for an event with several lengths. Yumeshima Kaido Ikina Marathon has a 3 km and an untimed health marathon (¥1,000), so a family can take part together. If you are going with friends, the Saijo Relay Marathon is run in turns on a 1.5 km loop, at ¥3,400 per person.
If you are building up to a full marathon, Shikoku 30K is a chance to test 30 km before race day. IYONIC RUN suits people who want to go a long way at a walking-and-running pace and enjoy the scenery and food. If you want to run the Ehime Marathon, apply for the runner volunteer role by October 16.
Common questions
Can I still enter the Ehime Marathon itself?
General entry for the 64th race closed on Thursday, August 20. You can now apply as a runner volunteer, and if you are chosen and take part, you get a place in the 65th race.
Can I cancel after I enter?
Shikoku 30K and IYONIC RUN say they do not accept cancellations for personal reasons. For the other events, read the rules on each entry page before you enter.
Can entry close before the deadline?
Yes. The Saijo Relay Marathon, Shikoku 30K and Yumeshima Kaido Ikina Marathon say entry ends when the places are full.
Sources (checked October 2026)
7 pages we checked
- RUNNET: race search for Ehime Prefecture (Japanese), used to find races and compare deadlines
- Ehime Marathon: runner volunteers, outline, entry (Japanese)
- IYONIC RUN 2026 on e-moshicom (Japanese)
- FM Ehime 42.195 km Saijo Relay Marathon: official outline (Japanese)
- Shikoku 30K: outline, entry, course (Japanese)
- Kamijima Town: Yumeshima Kaido Ikina Marathon entry page (Japanese)
- Photos: Matsuyama City / Ehime Marathon Executive Committee, from a July 2026 press release. Embedded videos: official YouTube channels of the Ehime Marathon and Kamijima Town; unofficial videos by Tsugu-chan Channel and FM Ehime, labelled as unofficial
Dates, fees and reception times can change. Check the organizer’s page before you enter.
