Last November, I was hanging laundry near Sawada Beach when I heard clapping and whistling from across the road. It was the day of the 4th 17END Half Marathon. Runners with race bibs came streaming past, the blue sea behind them, heading toward Shiratori Cape. The quiet island roads — usually just cows and sugarcane fields — were filled with cheering voices for one day.
To be honest, I am not much of a runner. But watching from the roadside, I caught myself seriously thinking, "maybe I should enter next year." That is how unfair this course is. The scenery does half the work of carrying you along.
This article covers the "Skymark Presents 5th Miyakojima City 17END Half Marathon in Irabu Island" held on November 8, 2026 — the race outline, the courses, and the sightseeing spots scattered along the route. Entry for the 17END Half Marathon opened on July 1. Whether you want to run it or you are coming to cheer for family, this should help you plan the trip.
- Date, events, fees and capacity for the 17END Half Marathon 2026
- The three courses (21km, 8km, 2km) and their time limits
- Five scenic spots along the course, including 17END, Toguchi Beach and Shiratori Cape
- How to enter, plus the reality of hotels, access and November weather
- What Is the 17END Half Marathon? 2026 Race Overview
- 17END Half Marathon Courses: All Three Start at Heisei-no-Mori Park
- Five Scenic Spots Along the Course: Scout 17END and Toguchi Beach Before You Run
- Entry, Hotels and Access: The Practical Side
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Summary: Plan the Trip as a Set — Entry, Room, Flights
What Is the 17END Half Marathon? 2026 Race Overview
The 17END Half Marathon is a community race organized by Miyakojima City and its Board of Education. The full name is "Skymark Presents 5th Miyakojima City 17END Half Marathon in Irabu Island." It started in 2022, and 2026 marks the fifth edition.
The "17END" in the name refers to the northern end of the Shimojishima Airport runway. It is an aviation term — the end of runway "17" — and the spot is famous for a sandbar that appears only at low tide and for a gradient of blues that hardly looks real. Getting to run along the coast of Shimojishima and Irabu Island, right past 17END, is the biggest reward this race offers.
The title sponsor is Skymark Airlines — the carrier that flies direct to Shimojishima Airport from Haneda and Kobe. A remote island race where you land and reach the venue in ten minutes is rare anywhere in Japan. You could say this event was designed from the start for runners flying in from outside the island.
Here are the basics for the 2026 race.
| Date | Sunday, November 8, 2026 |
| Venue | Irabu Heisei-no-Mori Park (Miyakojima City Irabu Outdoor Sports Facility) - start and finish |
| Events | Course A 21km / Course B 8km / Course C 2km |
| Start times | Courses B and C 8:00 / Course A 8:30 |
| Time limits | Course A until 12:00 / Course B until 9:30 |
| Capacity | Course A 1,000 / Course B 600 / Course C 400 |
| Entry period | July 1 to August 31, 2026 (via Sports Entry) |
| Finisher goods | Commemorative T-shirt |
| Organizer | Miyakojima City and Miyakojima City Board of Education (sponsor: Skymark Airlines) |
Fees depend on the course and category. Course A (21km) is 6,000 yen for adults and 3,000 yen for high school students. Course B (8km) is 5,000 yen for adults, 3,000 yen for high schoolers, 2,000 yen for junior high schoolers and 1,000 yen for elementary school kids and younger. Course C (2km) is 3,000 yen for adults and high schoolers, 2,000 yen for junior high, 1,000 yen for elementary and under. Compared with big-city races in Japan, that is a very friendly price.
As for scale: the 4th edition (November 9, 2025) drew 1,918 entries across the three courses, and 1,763 runners finished — a finish rate above 97 percent. The winning times on Course A were 1:18:31 for men and 1:30:58 for women. This is not an elites-only event. Island kids, visiting travelers, serious club runners — everyone runs mixed together, and the atmosphere stays wonderfully relaxed.
What struck me from the roadside was how close the cheering feels. In front of the villages, the local grandmas set out chairs and call out to every single runner. Kids form high-five lines. It is nothing like the anonymous crowds of a big-city marathon — strangers cheering for strangers, at oddly warm range. With roughly 2,000 runners arriving on an island of a few thousand people, the whole island naturally turns into one big race day.
17END Half Marathon Courses: All Three Start at Heisei-no-Mori Park
All three courses start and finish at Irabu Heisei-no-Mori Park. They differ a lot in distance and mood, so pick honestly based on your legs. Course maps and traffic control details are updated every year — always double-check the official course page (Japanese) before race day.
Course A (21km): Via Toguchi Port and the Shimojishima Loop, Turning at Shiratori Cape
This is the main half marathon. From Heisei-no-Mori Park you head to Toguchi Port, then onto the loop road around Shimojishima. You run north along the western coast, cross back to the Irabu side, and turn around at Shiratori Cape. Open to high school age and up.
Most of the course hugs the sea. The white sand of Toguchi Beach, the reef along the west coast of Shimojishima, and then that unreal blue around the 17END area. Even watching from the sidelines, I kept thinking, "just let me run this one section."
It is not all postcard, though. There is almost no shade along the coast, and even in November the sun carries a leftover bite of summer. And then the wind. Nothing blocks it out here, so a headwind section changes how the race feels entirely. The breeze that pushed your back on the way out greets you head-on after the turn. Every year, I suspect, plenty of runners hit the Shiratori Cape turnaround and think, "ah — now the real race starts."
The saving grace is the terrain. Neither Irabu nor Shimojishima has real hills, so the course is mostly flat — no heartbreak climbs hiding anywhere. The time limit runs from the 8:30 start until 12:00, roughly three and a half hours. That works out to about 10 minutes per kilometer, which is generous for everyday runners. As long as you can resist stopping for photos, that is.
Course B (8km): A Short Out-and-Back on the Shimojishima Loop Road
An 8km run that turns around shortly after entering the Shimojishima loop road. Open to elementary school kids and up, and preschoolers aged 5 and over may take part with a guardian under the race rules. Start is 8:00, cutoff 9:30.
It is the right distance for anyone thinking "a half still scares me, but I want to taste the atmosphere." You see a lot of parents and kids running side by side here. And 8km gives you a surprisingly real sense of accomplishment. The 90-minute limit allows about 11 minutes per kilometer, so even young legs can finish with some walking breaks mixed in.
Course C (2km): Run or Walk, Turning Near Tida-no-Sato
A 2km out-and-back from Heisei-no-Mori Park toward Tida-no-Sato. No age limit, and walking is perfectly fine. Families with strollers, grandpas and grandmas — everyone joins. The commemorative T-shirt is the same across all events, so "the whole family enters and gets matching shirts" is a legitimate strategy.
Five Scenic Spots Along the Course: Scout 17END and Toguchi Beach Before You Run
The course traces the sightseeing highlights of Irabu and Shimojishima almost exactly. So if you arrive the day before, drive the loop once with a rental car. Irabu and Shimojishima together take barely an hour to circle, with almost no traffic lights, so you can scout casually between packet pickup and shopping. Knowing tomorrow's scenery turns the painful sections into little rewards. Here are the five spots, in running order.
Toguchi Beach: The White-Sand Beach Right After the Start
Right by Toguchi Port, which Course A passes early on, lies Irabu Island's signature beach. About 800 meters of sand so fine it feels wonderful barefoot. A friend of mine calls it her favorite beach in Japan, and from the bow-shaped shoreline you can see all the way to Miyako Island and the Irabu Ohashi Bridge. There is parking and toilets, so it is an easy stop on your scouting drive.
During the race you only get a sideways glance at it, but for a post-race cooldown stroll there is no better place. My routine: wade in up to the ankles, let the run drain out, and walk back pressing footprints into that impossibly fine sand. More in our full guide to Toguchi Beach.
Toriike Ponds: The Mysterious Twin Ponds on the Loop Road
Partway along the Shimojishima loop road sit the Toriike Ponds — two ponds connected to the sea through underwater caves. A nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument, their deep ultramarine seems to pull you in when you peer over the edge. Legends of the dragon palace linger here, and even at noon the air feels a degree cooler. It is also a world-famous cave-diving site, which makes the contrast fun: dead-still surface, busy water below.
You cannot see the ponds themselves while racing, but the course passes right by on the road. On a day-before visit, it is just a 15-minute walk from the parking lot along the boardwalk. I wrote about that strange, quiet atmosphere in my Toriike Ponds article.
17END: The Runway-End Scenery the Race Is Named After
Spreading out from the northern end of the Shimojishima Airport runway, 17END is the very reason this race has its name. A pier of approach lights runs straight out over emerald water, and no matter how many times I see it, it refuses to look real. Catch the low tide and a pure-white sandbar appears far out into the sea. At high tide, the sand is underwater — same place, different world, all decided by the tide table. If you visit, check that day's low-tide time first. Always.
Normally the service road here is closed to cars — you walk or cycle in. Depending on the wind direction, landing aircraft cross low right above your head. Running through this section as part of the race is a privilege reserved for participants. Incidentally, the opposite end of the runway, the southern tip, is called 35END — another hidden spot where the planes feel even closer. Aviation-nerd tangents aside, the honest, practical caveats about 17END (a 15-minute walk from parking, zero shade, zero shops) are all in this article.
Sawada Beach: Giant Rocks, Shallow Water and Famous Sunsets
In the latter part of the course, back on the Irabu side, Sawada Beach is waiting. Rocks of every size scattered across a shallow lagoon — a landscape chosen among the "100 Best Beaches of Japan." The boulders are said to have been carried in by the great Meiwa tsunami of 1771, and once you know that, the view straightens your back a little. Seen at a runner's pace, the silhouettes look strangely alive. Good medicine for a tired head.
This beach saves its best for evening. When the sun drops into the mirror of the ebb tide, it becomes arguably the finest sunset on the island. As my "went at noon and regretted it" story explains, come back after the race, in the evening. A sunset watched through the afterglow of a finished half marathon is probably a keeper for life.
Shiratori Cape: The Turnaround Point of Course A
The half marathon turns around at Shiratori Cape in West Coast Park (the race documents call it Shiratori Misaki). It sits just off the standard tourist route — a hidden spot where deep open-ocean blue crashes against jagged Ryukyu limestone, some of the wildest scenery Irabu has. A small park with a gazebo and walking paths, usually shared by a few anglers and a couple of people waiting for sunset. That is all.
On race day, this is the 21km turnaround. Every year I think the same thing: turning around and leaving immediately is a waste of this place. Come back later, slowly. The Shiratori Cape article covers it in detail, right down to how to time the sunset.
Entry, Hotels and Access: The Practical Side
From here on, the practical part for people who have decided to go. The short version first: securing a room and flights is harder than securing a race bib.
Entry Closes August 31, via Sports Entry
Applications go through the race page on Sports Entry, from July 1 to August 31, 2026. Each course has a cap (A 1,000 / B 600 / C 400), so if you are on the fence, grab a slot while there is one. Course A requires high school age or older; B and C are as described above, and runners of high school age and under need guardian consent. One heads-up for overseas runners: the entry site is Japanese-only, so a translation tool or a Japanese-speaking friend makes it much smoother.
Packet pickup and parking details are published on the official site closer to the event (as of July 2026 they still showed "in preparation"). So do not enter and forget — recheck the official site in early autumn. Race inquiries go to the Sports Promotion Division of Miyakojima City Hall.
What about training? For a November race you will be logging your long runs in September and October. If you live somewhere with a real autumn, the cooling weather works in your favor. My rough benchmark for beating the 3.5-hour limit: run twice a week, with two 10km runs in the final month. A long-time runner friend told me "the island scenery moves your legs for you, so relax." Half true, honestly.
Book Your Room the Same Day You Enter
Accommodation on Irabu Island means mostly small guesthouses and villas, with few large hotels. Drop roughly 2,000 runners plus their cheering squads onto an island with a limited number of beds, and the night before the race becomes a scramble — of course it does. My advice: book your room the same day you complete your entry. While you are "comparing options for a bit," the reasonably priced guesthouses disappear one by one.
If the island is full, staying on the Miyako side and driving over on race morning also works (about 40 minutes by car from Miyako Airport to the venue). Still, if you can, stay on Irabu. The reason is simple: on race morning, those few minutes from your guesthouse to the venue, with the sunrise over the sea, are where your head gets ready. And if it is a family-run inn, the okami-san sends you off with a "ganbatte ne!" as a bonus. Our guide to staying on Irabu Island will help you choose.
Access: About 10 Minutes by Car from Shimojishima Airport
The venue at Heisei-no-Mori Park is about 10 minutes by car from Miyako Shimojishima Airport, or about 40 minutes from Miyako Airport via the Irabu Ohashi Bridge. Skymark, the race sponsor, flies direct to Shimojishima from Haneda and Kobe, so access from mainland Japan is easier than the map suggests (schedules change by season — check before booking). On the island itself a rental car is close to essential, and the fleet is limited, so book it together with your flights. Early.
One small but real tip: carry your racing shoes in your cabin bag, not checked luggage. If your suitcase arrives late, you can still race as long as shoes and kit are with you. The opposite story — I have heard it told with tears more than once at races.
If you come from the Miyako side, crossing the 3,540-meter Irabu Ohashi Bridge is a treat in itself. For the full breakdown of flights, cars and buses, see the access guide below.
November Weather and What to Pack: Short Sleeves Plus Sun Protection
Early November in the Miyako region averages around 23°C. Think early-October warmth on the Japanese mainland, or a touch more — short sleeves and shorts are plenty for running. Sun and wind are separate problems, though. There is no shade along the coast, so a cap, sunglasses and sunscreen stay in service even in November. Check the forecast on the Japan Meteorological Agency site just before race day. Locals watch the wind forecast more closely than the rain — that is the island way.
If you add anything to your bag, make it a light layer for the pre-start wait. The venue at 8 a.m. can feel chilly when the wind cuts through. Also: a change of clothes and a towel for after the finish. Once the sweat cools, the November sea breeze bites harder than your summer instincts expect. Getting into dry clothes early is the comfort trick.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. I am a beginner. Can I finish Course A (21km)?
A. The limit is about three and a half hours, from the 8:30 start until 12:00 — roughly 10 minutes per kilometer, which is forgiving. If you can currently run 5-10km, it is a realistic goal. If not, run the 8km Course B this year to taste the island air, and go for the half next year. That order works well too.
Q. When does entry close?
A. Entries run July 1 to August 31, 2026 on Sports Entry. Each course has a capacity cap, so slots may fill before the deadline. Keep that in mind.
Q. Can I sightsee around the course on race day?
A. Roads on the course may be subject to traffic control during race hours. Avoid planning a morning drive to 17END or the Shimojishima loop on race day — do your sightseeing the day before, or in the afternoon. Check the official site for the confirmed traffic control details.
Q. Can children take part?
A. Yes. Course B (8km) is open from elementary school age, and preschoolers aged 5 and over may join with a guardian under the race rules. Course C (2km) has no age limit and walking is fine. Matching finisher T-shirts for the whole family is part of the fun.
Q. Is it fun even if I only come to cheer?
A. Very. The cheering side arguably gets more freedom: the start-line buzz, the roadside, the finish-line emotion — you can collect all of it while steering around the traffic-controlled hours. I started as a spectator, and it was fun enough to talk me into entering the next year.
Q. Can you swim in the sea around Irabu Island in November?
A. Some days, yes. The water is still around 25°C, but wind drops the felt temperature fast, so a rash guard is reassuring. Honestly, wading into Toguchi Beach up to your ankles the day after the race is exactly the right amount for the season.
Summary: Plan the Trip as a Set — Entry, Room, Flights
A quick recap of the 17END Half Marathon 2026.
- Sunday, November 8, 2026, starting and finishing at Irabu Heisei-no-Mori Park
- Three events — 21km, 8km, 2km — with entry open until August 31
- The course strings together Toguchi Beach, Toriike Ponds, 17END, Sawada Beach and Shiratori Cape
- Book hotels, rental car and flights the moment you enter — the iron rule
- Non-runners get plenty too: roadside cheering plus island sightseeing before and after
One more reward for finishers. Irabu has always been a bonito-fishing island. After the race, fresh bonito sashimi at a diner in Sarahama, and a bowl of Miyako soba soaking into your salt-crusted body. Winning back 21km worth of calories guilt-free is a right reserved for people who ran. I know several people who enter mostly for this part.
And the fun does not end on race day. Scout the course the day before; the day after, carry your sore legs to the sunset at Sawada Beach. Since you are coming all the way to Irabu Island anyway, pair the race with our "enjoying nothing" model course and make it a three-day trip of running, eating and staring at the sea. November on Irabu is exactly the right island for people who run. I hope we cross paths somewhere past the finish line.
