Recapping the Hakuba Half Marathon

The 2026 Hakuba Half turned race weekend into a full village wide festival.

Pre-Registration

The celebration kicked off on Friday at The Clubhouse, where runners gathered for evening cocktails and a bite to eat next door at gio’s. While enjoying the live music and social atmosphere, participants made their way to the outdoor registration area to collect their race numbers, browse the event merchandise on sale, and enjoy complimentary baked goods from Berliner Bakery.

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The Morning

On Saturday, April 18, setup crews and local vendors arrived early at the Ski Jump Stadium to prepare the start and finish lines and set up their stalls. As the sun rose, runners gathered at the registration tents to pick up their bibs and timing chips. By the 8:00 AM start, runners gathered beneath the ski jumps, stretching, warming up, and crowding into the starting chute as music echoed through the jumps.

The Run

The half marathon course treated runners to many of Hakuba’s most recognizable landmarks and spring scenery. Early in the race, participants followed the fast moving Matsu River as cold runoff from the snow covered peaks rushed beside the course. In several villages along the route, local residents pulled folding chairs to the roadside to ring cowbells, clap, and yell out words of encouragement to passing runners. The course then wound past the wooded roads surrounding Donguri Campground and the historic Shinden neighborhood full of the villages most vibrant sakura trees, before continuing through Iwatake. As runners approached Echoland, the atmosphere shifted again, with spectators gathered outside cafés and bars cheering on participants tackling one of the course’s longer climbs before the final push back toward the ski jumps.

The Festival

The celebration didn’t stop once the medals were handed out, as the Ski Jumps transformed into a vibrant Sports & Arts Festival. The finish area was alive with the deep thud of taiko drumming, local art displays, and a massive selection of recovery fuel, from steaming bowls of ramen to artisan coffee and craft beers from Mikkeller. It was the perfect atmosphere to decompress, allowing runners and their families to lounge on the grass and soak in the sun.

The Disaronno After-Party

As night fell, the energy shifted toward the village for the official after-party at Blizzard. Runners packed the venue for wood-fired pizzas, draught beers, and cocktails served by Disaronno guest bartender Tanaka-san. The room erupted during the grand prize raffle as sponsors like Salomon and Oakley handed out gear to lucky winners. Later in the evening, DJs took over as runners still wearing finisher shirts and medals filled the dance floor late into the night.

Spring Skiing

The weekend ended with the best experience Hakuba has to offer: a day on the slopes. Many participants headed up the mountain to enjoy the spring snow, skiing in warm weather attire while looking down at the valley they had just raced through. This rare mix of winter sports and spring running is exactly why this event is so special. It proves that only in Hakuba can you finish a great marathon and still get “bluebird” mountain days all in the same weekend.

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