SUPA All Japan SUP Race Championship 2026

Why You Should Visit

Japan's national stand-up paddleboard (SUP) championship comes to Shirahama Beach in Himeji for two days. Organised by the Japan Stand Up Paddle Association (SUPA), the 2026 edition is the 13th. Paddlers who qualified at SUPA-sanctioned races around the country compete by gender and class in a long distance race and a technical race around repeated buoy turns. It is an open-water competition you can watch from the shore, a good pick if you want to see serious SUP racing on the Harima Sea up close. The Halloween & Lantern Night is held on the same beach the same weekend.

Essentials

location

Shirahama Beach (Shirahama-cho, Himeji, Hyogo)

period

October 24, 2026 (Sat) - October 25, 2026 (Sun)

cost

Free to watch from the beach. Entry is limited to qualified SUPA members

Links

Kobe · Gluten-free

Basque cheesecakeBaked with rice flour, no wheat. Whole 12cm, serves 2-3¥4,700 incl. shipping (Japan only)

access

About a 16-min walk from Shirahama-no-miya Station (Sanyo Electric Railway). By car, about 7 min from the Himeji-Higashi ramp of the Himeji Bypass

NOTE

Races

Distance race: long course. Elite / Open / Freshman / Junior / Kids classes (by gender, board divisions such as 14.0ft and under)
Technical race: lap course with repeated buoy turns. Elite / Open classes
Course maps, timetable and event-day parking will be posted on the SUPA site before the event

Organiser

Japan Stand Up Paddle Association (SUPA); run by the All Japan SUP Championship committee
Supported by Hyogo Prefecture, Himeji City and Kobe Shimbun, with local fishing cooperatives and marine clubs

Same weekend on the beach

Sat Oct 24: Himeji Shirahama Halloween & Lantern Night (marché, lantern release 18:30)

* The 12th edition (2025) was held in Hiroshima; the venue changes each year

FAQ

Does it cost anything to watch?

It is an open race on a public beach and watching is free. Only qualified SUPA members can compete.

What time do the races start?

The daily timetable and course maps are posted on the SUPA official site before the event. Last year the distance and technical races were held on separate days over the weekend.

Can I come by car?

About 7 minutes from the Himeji-Higashi ramp of the Himeji Bypass. Event-day parking details are posted on the SUPA site before the race. By train, it is about a 16-minute walk from Shirahama-no-miya Station.

Calendar

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