Oct242026
SMBC Japan Series 2026
NPB's best-of-seven championship series between the Yokohama DeNA BayStars and the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
33 events
Sport in Japan.
Every sport event on the calendar, checked against official sources.
Oct302026
Saga International Balloon Fiesta
International hot air balloon competition on the Kase Riverbank in Saga City, with 123 balloons entered for 2026.
Nov12026
Shimonoseki Kaikyo Marathon 2026
A hilly, scenic marathon along the Kanmon Strait and the Sea of Japan coast of Shimonoseki, with a 'kaikyo' (strait) fun run; about 10,000 runners.
Nov82026
Fukuoka Marathon 2026
Point-to-point city marathon for 13,000 runners from central Fukuoka to a coastal finish in Itoshima.
Nov82026
Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament 2026
The November grand sumo tournament: 15 days at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center.
Nov152026
Kobe Marathon 2026
Marathon for about 20,000 runners from central Kobe along the coast towards Akashi and back.
Nov292026
Japan Cup 2026 (G1 horse race)
Japan's premier international invitational turf race over 2,400 m at Tokyo Racecourse, with a purse among the richest in the world and overseas challengers invited each year.
Dec62026
NAHA Marathon (40th)
Japan's largest full marathon by field (c. 30,000) run through southern Okinawa with island-wide roadside support; 6h15 cut-off makes it a popular first marathon.
Dec132026
Aoshima Taiheiyo Marathon 2026
Miyazaki's flat, palm-lined December marathon ('Aotai') along the Pacific to Aoshima island, with 10 km and 3 km races; one of Kyushu's best-loved winter road races.
Dec272026
Arima Kinen 2026 (Grand Prix, G1)
The fan-voted year-end Grand Prix over 2,500 m, the highest-turnover horse race on earth and Japan's traditional last big sporting event of the year.
Jan12027
Emperor's Cup JFA 106th All-Japan Football Championship Final
Japan's oldest football competition ends with the traditional New Year's Day final at the National Stadium, a fixture of the Tokyo oshogatsu sports calendar alongside Hakone Ekiden.
Jan22027
Hakone Ekiden 2027 (103rd)
Japan's biggest university relay: 21 teams race Tokyo to Hakone and back over two days, 217.1 km in all.
Jan102027
Hatsu Grand Sumo Tournament 2027
The New Year grand sumo tournament: 15 days at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
Feb72027
Ehime Marathon (64th)
Shikoku's largest marathon (10,000 runners) looping from Matsuyama city centre to the Seto Inland Sea coast with a reputation for warm roadside support.
Feb212027
Kumamoto Castle Marathon 2027
A 13,000-runner city marathon that finishes beneath Kumamoto Castle's keep, held in late February alongside a 30 km race and fun run.
Feb212027
Kyoto Marathon 2027
City marathon through Kyoto's streets, from Nishikyogoku athletic park to a finish in front of Heian-jingu Shrine.
Feb212027
Okinawa Marathon
Central Okinawa's winter marathon with a 10 km option, famous for the section inside Kadena Air Base and for roadside support in Uruma and Okinawa City.
Feb282027
Osaka Marathon 2027
One of Japan's largest city marathons, finishing inside Osaka Castle Park.
Mar72027
Kagoshima Marathon 2027
Kagoshima's bayside marathon with Sakurajima smoking across the water, 10,000 runners plus a fun run; the 2027 edition is branded for the Saigo Takamori anniversaries.
Mar72027
Tokyo Marathon
Marathon through central Tokyo from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building to Tokyo Station.
Mar142027
Haru Grand Sumo Tournament 2027
The March grand sumo tournament: 15 days at EDION Arena Osaka.
Mar142027
Nagoya Women's Marathon 2027
The world's largest women-only marathon, with about 22,000 runners starting and finishing at Vantelin Dome Nagoya.
Mar142027
Tottori Marathon 2027
A JAAF-certified point-to-point marathon starting at the Tottori Sand Dunes and running along the San'in coast and the Inaba Manyo countryside to Tottori city.
Mar192027
99th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament (Spring Koshien / Senbatsu)
The spring invitational of 32 top high school teams at the sacred Koshien ground, opening the Japanese baseball year with brass bands and cheering squads.
Apr92027
Formula 1 Lenovo Japanese Grand Prix 2027
Round four of the 2027 Formula 1 season at Suzuka Circuit, run as a sprint weekend with the grand prix on Sunday 11 April.
May92027
Natsu Grand Sumo Tournament 2027
The May grand sumo tournament: 15 days at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
May152027
Yokohama Triathlon 2027 (T50 World Championship Tour)
Elite triathlon around Yamashita Park, Yokohama's round of the new T50 World Championship Tour.
Jul112027
Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament 2027
The July grand sumo tournament: 15 days at the IG Arena in Nagoya.
Aug52027
109th National High School Baseball Championship (Summer Koshien)
The summer national championship for 49 prefectural champions, Japan's most emotional sporting tradition, played in August heat with morning and evening sessions.
Aug292027
Hokkaido Marathon
Japan's major summer marathon, run through central Sapporo partly on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic marathon course, with around 20,000 runners.
Sep122027
Aki Grand Sumo Tournament 2027
The September grand sumo tournament: 15 days at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
Sep292027
Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships 2027 (ATP 500)
Asia's oldest ATP tournament, an ATP 500 at Ariake drawing top-10 players in the week before the Shanghai Masters.
Oct152027
MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix 2027
Round 18 of the 2027 MotoGP world championship at Mobility Resort Motegi, race day Sunday 17 October.