Biwako Marathon

About this Race

The Lake Biwa Marathon was for decades Japan's oldest and most prestigious elite men's marathon, a lightning-fast course along the shores of the country's largest lake near Otsu that produced a long lineage of national records. The route was flat, precise, and built purely for speed, with strict qualifying standards that kept the field sharp and the times remarkably deep. Run in late winter under cool, still conditions, it was a connoisseur's race rather than a traditional mass-participation event. Its final standalone elite edition took place in 2021, after which its competitive legacy was effectively absorbed into the Osaka Marathon. However, the spirit of the historic race did not disappear from Shiga Prefecture. In the wake of this merger, a new chapter began on the same shores as the event was reimagined into the fully inclusive Biwako Marathon. Retaining the signature flat, high-speed traits of its predecessor, the modern iteration opened the legendary course to thousands of general runners of all skill levels, successfully transforming a hyper-exclusive time trial into a massive celebration of community and regional pride. It remains a touchstone of Japanese distance-running history, remembered both as a historic proving ground for the fastest in the country and celebrated today as an accessible bucket-list race for the everyday marathoner.