Running a half marathon across three islands might not be the most conventional way to experience Japan, but that is exactly what makes the Koshiki Marathon in Kagoshima Prefecture distinctive.
The event takes place on Koshikijima, an archipelago in the East China Sea about 30 kilometers west of Satsumasendai City. The Japan Association of Athletics Federations-certified half marathon starts on Kamikoshikijima and crosses three bridges, including the 1,533-meter Koshiki Ohashi Bridge, before reaching a turnaround point on Shimokoshikijima.
The route passes rugged coastlines, dramatic cliffs, inlets, and other scenery within Koshikijima Quasi-National Park. It also crosses all three of the islands that make up the archipelago, offering runners a particularly active way to experience the area's landscape.
In addition, the islands are home to a large colony of Lilium speciosum, a striking lily that grows naturally along the coastline. The Katanoura colony on Shimokoshikijima is particularly notable, with the area designated as a National Natural Monument.
The Koshiki Marathon offers several distances, including the half marathon, 5-kilometer, 3-kilometer, and 1-kilometer races. The shortest event also includes a family division, making the festival accessible to younger participants and their guardians.
The race has its roots in an earlier marathon established to celebrate the bridges connecting the islands. When the Koshiki Ohashi Bridge opened in 2020, the three islands were connected by road for the first time, inspiring the event's current identity around the idea that "Koshiki is one."
For visitors from outside the islands, organizers also offer a limited sightseeing tour around the race period, combining ferry travel, accommodation, meals, and sightseeing. As half marathon participants travelling from outside Koshikijima are required to arrive the day before, this can be a convenient way to combine the race with an introduction to the islands.
