SAIPAN SUGARCANE RUN REGISTRATION DEADLINE ON DEC. 12, 2025
Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — The Saipan Sugarcane Railroad Journey Run is picking up steam and heading down the track for its 81KM adventure on January 17, 2026, in the Marianas, with participation now open to all interested runners. Registration is pulling out of the station soon, with the deadline set for Friday (Dec. 12).
The run, jointly organized by Sports Aid Japan and the Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA), will follow the historic sugarcane railway route that once crisscrossed Saipan during the bustling days of the Japanese administrative period in the early 1900s. This endurance event commemorates the 150th birthday of Haruji Matsue, the legendary “Sugar King” who helped lay the tracks for the Marianas’ sugar industry.
General registration for individuals is ¥19,200 (approximately $124 today) via the Sports Aid Japan portal at www.sportsentry.ne.jp/event/t/102473. Registration for Marianas resident individuals is $80 and must be made in person at the MVA office on Beach Rd., I Liyang, Saipan, to avail of the Marianas rate. Marianas resident relay teams are also welcomed for $80/team. English registration forms and race fact sheet are available on The Marianas Calendar at www.mymarianas.com.
“Sports Aid Japan organizes races for its members around Japan featuring significant sites, scenery, and history, and we’re thrilled they’ve chosen the Marianas for their first-ever overseas event,” said MVA Managing Director Jamika R. Taijeron. “We’re working closely to make this run and its historical backstory a far-from-ordinary experience for all participants, filled with adventure, camaraderie, and a celebration of history.”
The story of The Marianas is a rich tapestry, woven from the heritage of the indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian people, and seasoned by centuries of Spanish, German, Japanese, and American influence. During the Japanese era, The Marianas was a major hub for sugarcane cultivation, with a legendary 50-mile (80.5 km) narrow-gauge railway encircling Saipan, transporting sugarcane and goods—a legacy that still whistles through the island’s landscape. Similar railways once ran on the neighboring island of Tinian and Rota.
“Saipan Sugarcane Railroad Journey Run is unique—it’s an endurance race, a road run, and a trail run all rolled into one,” said MVA Community Projects Manager Martin Duenas. “We encourage all interested runners to make sure to register by December 12. It’s an earlier deadline than most of the MVA’s usual races, as Sports Aid Japan is putting extra care into every detail, from amenities to safety. We’re looking forward to a full train of participants!”
- The journey run traces the historic railway route, including climbs to Mt. Tapochao, the scenic northern coastline, and World War II heritage sites.
- The race starts and finishes at American Memorial Park, Micro Beach, Garapan. The starting ceremony will be held at 4:30 a.m., with the race departing the station at 5 a.m. The finish line closes at 9 p.m.
- Relay teams of 2–6 members will switch runners at designated aid stations.
Awards and Amenities:
- Digital finisher’s certificate
- Official race t-shirt
- Marianas specialty product
- Pre-event reception on January 16 with food, drinks, and performances
- Optional post-event party on January 18 and sightseeing tours for an additional fee
Safety, self-sufficiency, and respect for the Marianas’ natural and historical heritage are top priorities, organizers said. Participants must navigate using official course maps, pass all checkpoints, and carry mandatory night gear and cell phones. Individual runners must show proof of finishing a marathon in October 2022 or later (waived for team entries). Additional requirements apply. The official course map is available at: https://shorturl.at/HQ9j5.
For more information, contact MVA Community Projects Coordinator Ed Diaz at [email protected], call 1.670.664.3200, or visit The Marianas Calendar at http://www.mymarianas.com.
A train engine from the early 1990’s sugarcane industry in The Marianas is on display at Sugar King Park in Saipan. Registration closes on Dec. 12, 2025, for the Saipan Sugarcane Railroad Journey Run on Jan. 17, 2026. The race will retrace the historic 50-mile railroad route across the island and is open to members of Sports Aid Japan and residents of the Marianas, who may register in person at the Marianas Visitors Authority office on Beach Rd. in I Liyan, Saipan, by Dec. 12, 2025. For more information, visit The Marianas Calendar at www.mymarianas.com.
People harvest sugarcane in the Marianas in the early 1990s during the Japanese administrative period. Registration closes on Dec. 12, 2025, for the Saipan Sugarcane Railroad Journey Run on Jan. 17, 2026. The race will retrace the historic 50-mile railroad route across the island and is open to members of Sports Aid Japan and residents of the Marianas, who may register in person at the Marianas Visitors Authority office on Beach Rd. in I Liyan, Saipan, by Dec. 12, 2025. For more information, visit The Marianas Calendar at www.mymarianas.com. (Photo credit: Georg Fritz Collection).
The smokestack of the Saipan sugar mill under construction in the Marianas in the early 1990s during the Japanese administrative period. Registration closes on Dec. 12, 2025, for the Saipan Sugarcane Railroad Journey Run on Jan. 17, 2026. The race will retrace the historic 50-mile railroad route across the island and is open to members of Sports Aid Japan and residents of the Marianas, who may register in person at the Marianas Visitors Authority office on Beach Rd. in I Liyan, Saipan, by Dec. 12, 2025. For more information, visit The Marianas Calendar at www.mymarianas.com. (Photo credit: Yoshimatsu Nakanishi Collection).
The Marianas is an archipelago of 14 islands - including Saipan, Tinian, and Rota - in the Western Pacific. The Marianas are home to indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian people, as well as over 20 different ethnicities from around the world who live and work in this harmonious tropical paradise. Ancient latte stone limestone monoliths, traditional nature-based ocean navigation not reliant on modern technology, and a culture seasoned by East and West influences are just a few of the experiences found in The Marianas, where pristine sea, sand, and skies are only a 3–4-hour flight from major Asian gateway cities. From Korea Republic, Jeju Air and T’Way provide direct flights to Saipan from Seoul-Incheon. United Airlines flies three times a week from Tokyo-Narita, Japan, and daily from Guam4. Hong Kong Airlines flies twice weekly from Hong Kong, China. Interisland travel between Saipan, Tinian, and Rota is provided by Star Marianas Air. For more information on The Marianas, visit www.mymarianas.com, Facebook/VisitTheMarianas, or Instagram @themarianas.