Last year, nearly 43 million foreign visitors visited Japan. For a largely homogeneous country of 123 million people, this is a remarkable influx of visitors who enjoy a wide variety of cultural and historical sights, foods, cleanliness, and hospitality that Japan is known for.
The Japan International Open Water Swimming Association (JIOWSA) is doing its best to also open up its 15 races to the international crowd. All its events can be registered in English for the first time.
The schedule for the 2026 Japan International Open Water Swimming Series is below. The short-distance races range from the tropical seas of Okinawa and the cultural heart of Japan, Kyoto to the beaches north of Tokyo in Chiba.
- May 24th – 1st Okinawa Hamahiga Island Open Water Swim – Ryukyu Legends at Hamahiga Beach, Uruma City, Okinawa: 500m, 1 km, 1.5 km, 3 km, 4x400m relay, see here in Japanese, register in English here
- June 7th – 1st Kajishima Island to Waikiki Beach Crossing Swim at Waikiki Beach, Nishio City, Aichi: 2.5 km, register here in Japanese, here in English
- June 14th – 9th Awaji Island Open Water Swim – Seto Inland Sea at Keino Matsubara Beach, Minami-Awaji, Hyogo: 500m, 1 km, 1.5 km, 3 km, 4x400m relay, register here in Japanese, here in English
- June 28th – 1st Amanohashidate Open Water Swim – One of Japan’s Three Scenic Views at Amanohashidate Beach, Miyazu City, Kyoto: 500m, 1 km, 2 km, 3 km, register here in Japanese, here in English
- July 5th – 1st Iki Island Open Water Swim – Yamatai Kingdom Legend at Tsutsukihama Beach, Iki City, Nagasaki: 500m, 1 km, 1.5 km, 3 km, 4x400m relay, register here in Japanese, here in English
- July 12th – 12th Yokosuka Open Water Swim at Nagahama Beach, Yokosuka, Kanagawa: 500m, 1 km, 2 km, 3 km, register here in Japanese, here in English
- July 19th – 11th Sanuki Open Water Swim – Udon Prefecture Challenge at Tsuda no Matsubara Beach, Kagawa: 500m, 1 km, 1.5 km, 3 km, 4x400m relay, see here in Japanese, register in English here
- August 2nd – 8th Fukuoka Hakata Bay Open Water Swim at Marina Town Seaside Park, Fukuoka: 500m, 1 km, 1.5 km, 3 km, register here in Japanese, here in English
- August 30th – 14th Osaka Sennan Open Water Swim at Tarui Southern Beach, Osaka: 500m, 1 km, 1.5 km, 3 km, 4x400m relay, register here in Japanese, here in English
- September 6th – 21st Aichi Gamagori Open Water Swim at Nishiura Palm Beach, Gamagori, Aichi: 500m, 1 km, 1.5 km, 3 km, 4x400m relay, register here in Japanese, here in English
- September 13th – 32nd Atami Open Water Swim – Japan Grand Prix at Taga Nagahama Beach, Atami, Shizuoka: 500m, 1 km, 1.5 km, 3 km, 4x400m relay, register here in Japanese, here in English
- September 20th – 20th Chiba Minami-Boso Open Water Swim at Iwai Beach, Minamiboso, Chiba: 500m, 1.5 km, 3 km, register here in Japanese, here in English
- September 27th – 2nd Saikai Goto Islands Open Water Swim at Takahama Beach, Fukue Island, Nagasaki: 500m, 1.5 km, 3 km, register here in Japanese, here in English
- October 4th – 5th Nanki Shirahama Open Water Swim at Shirarahama Beach, Wakayama: 500m, 1 km, 1.5 km, 3 km, 4x400m relay, register here in Japanese, here in English
- October 18th – 10th Okinawa Nago Open Water Swim at 21st Century Forest Beach, Nago, Okinawa : 500m, 1 km, 1.5 km, 3 km, 4x400m relay, register here in Japanese, here in English
© 2026 Daily News of Open Water Swimming
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