Kyoto International Half Marathon

This big international half-marathon attracts elite guest runners and top young Japanese talent, as well as about 6,000 fairly serious amateurs (the race cut-off time is two hours). Past winners include Khalid Khannouchi and Elena Mayer. The race is impeccably organized and the course is beautiful, starting and finishing at the gate of the famous Heian Jingu Shrine and winding through the streets of north Kyoto. A crowded start on a narrow street and a few hilly stretches along the way make it tough to PB on this course, but on balance the Kyoto Half-marathon is one of the best half-marathons in Japan.

When: Second Sunday of March

Getting there: From Tokyo, the Shinkansen (bullet train) ride takes about 2-1/2 hours.