Tokyo Marathon 2027: Date, Entry, Course and How to Plan Race Week

Tokyo Marathon 2027 at a Glance

What's New for the 20th Edition

The Tokyo Marathon Foundation, which organizes the event, has made the 2027 Tokyo Marathon bigger and broader. The total number of participants rises to 40,000. There is a new marathon division for para athletes, and the Duo Team category, trialled in 2025, becomes an official division. The Blue Impulse aerobatic team is due to fly over on race day, with details still to come. And from Friday 5 to Sunday 7 March, the Tokyo Marathon Foundation runs Tokyo Marathon Square in Shinjuku, at the Sumitomo Building's Sankaku Hiroba — part of the 20th-edition celebration.

Why Run (or Watch) the Tokyo Marathon

Abbott World Marathon Majors and the Age Group World Championships

Tokyo is one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors and the only one in Asia — for many runners it is the Major they still need. In 2027 it also hosts the Abbott World Marathon Majors Age Group World Championships on the same day, with qualified age-group men and women from around the world competing for world titles inside the main event. Qualifying closes on 30 September 2026.

A World Athletics Platinum Label Race and a Japanese Olympic Trial

The Tokyo Marathon holds the World Athletics Platinum Label, the top grade for road races, and the elite athletes it attracts show it. In 2026, Tadese Takele won the men's race in 2:03:37 and Brigid Kosgei set a women's course record of 2:14:29. Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner won the men's and women's wheelchair races, and 37,268 runners finished the marathon.

For Japanese runners it matters even more. The Tokyo Marathon 2027 is a G1 race in the MGC Series — the qualifying series for the Japanese Olympic trial race — and a selection race for the Japanese team at the 2027 World Championships and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics — for both men and women. Expect big crowds whenever Japanese athletes are competing near the front.

How to Get Into the Tokyo Marathon 2027

There are five ways to get a race bib. On 24 September 2026, four of them had closed:

The General Entry Lottery and the Entry Fee

One lottery covers everyone, in Japan and overseas. For 2027 it ran from 14 to 28 August 2026, and results came out on 18 September. If you were drawn, pay the entry fee — USD 230 overseas, ¥19,800 domestic — by 30 September 2026 at 17:00 JST, or the place is gone. Baggage check costs USD 12 and must be chosen at entry; it can't be added later.

ONE TOKYO GLOBAL Membership

ONE TOKYO GLOBAL is the Tokyo Marathon Foundation's paid membership for overseas runners (¥30,000 a year). Members get a separate draw: for 2027, 3,000 places shared with the domestic Premium members. Sign-up for this membership year closed on 28 August 2026. If places fall vacant, members get an extra draw as of 31 October.

The Charity Program (RUN with HEART)

The charity program had 5,000 places for 2027, and applications passed 5,000 within two days of opening on 24 June. Each of the 40 charities sets its own minimum donation, from ¥100,000 up to ¥350,000, and donations for the 2027 event reached ¥1.42 billion. If you want a charity place next time, watch the official site from late spring.

RUN as ONE Semi-Elite: Gun Time, Not Net Time

The semi-elite category is for very fast amateur men and women: under 2:22:00 for men and under 2:50:00 for women, run between July 2024 and June 2026 at a labelled road race. The standard is gun time, not net time, so a chip time just under the cutoff does not count. Overseas, only 25 men and 25 women get in.

Guaranteed Race Entry: Official Tours From Our Group, KNT

This is the way in that is still open, and it runs through our own group. Kintetsu International (KNT), part of the same group as Blue Planet, is the official travel agency of the Tokyo Marathon, and under the race rules only KNT and its partner travel agencies can sell tour packages that include entry. These official tours come with guaranteed race entry and sell on a first-come, first-served basis; you still have to meet the normal age and pace rules.

Outside Japan the packages are sold through KNT's partner agencies in each region, listed on the Tokyo Marathon website. The package price depends on the agency, the hotel and the nights, and it is far higher than the entry fee: one partner agency in Australia lists packages from A$5,530 per runner. If you already have an entry, KNT's official runners' hotel packages opened on 18 September 2026 on Japan Traveler Online; those do not include a race entry. If anyone outside this program offers you a “guaranteed” bib, walk away.

Missed Out? Other Ways to Be There

• Run the Friendship Run. On Saturday 6 March, a 5 km fun run for anyone aged 12 or over who can finish within 40 minutes — no marathon entry needed. It costs ¥9,900 for overseas residents and takes 2,000 participants; mark 1 December 2026 in your calendar, when applications are due to open (first come, first served).
• Watch. It is free, and the atmosphere is superb — see the spectating tips below.
• Line up future races. If you are in Japan in the autumn, the Fukuoka Marathon runs from Tenjin to Itoshima on Sunday 8 November 2026. Entry for Tokyo 2028 will be announced on the official site; this year the lottery opened in mid-August.

The Tokyo Marathon Course, Start Line to Finish Line

The Tokyo Marathon course is the same as in 2026: a point-to-point course across the city, mostly flat and fast, from the skyscrapers of Shinjuku to Tokyo Station. The official description reads: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building – Suidobashi – Ueno-hirokoji – Kanda – Nihonbashi – Asakusa Kaminarimon Gate – Ryogoku – Monzen-nakacho – Ginza – Tamachi – Hibiya – Tokyo Station. Volunteers run the aid stations all the way, and for many first-timers it is an unforgettable journey through old and new Tokyo.

The Start Area in Nishi-Shinjuku

The start area surrounds the metropolitan government's twin towers in Nishi-Shinjuku. In 2026 it opened at 7:00, the gates closed at 8:45 and volunteers had runners lined up in their blocks by 8:55; the 2027 runner guide is due in mid-February. The first kilometers run downhill out of Shinjuku — don't bank time there.

Asakusa, Ryogoku and Monzen-nakacho

After Suidobashi the course turns back at Ueno-hirokoji, heads through Kanda to Nihonbashi, then out east to the Kaminarimon gate in Asakusa, where the crowd support is among the loudest. It crosses to Ryogoku, the sumo district, and turns at Tomioka Hachimangu shrine in Monzen-nakacho, just before 24 km.

Ginza, Tamachi and Tokyo Tower

From Monzen-nakacho the runners come back across the river to Ginza's main street, then runs south past Shiba Park — with Tokyo Tower above you — to the turnaround at Tamachi Station at 37.5 km, and back through Shiba (36 km and 39 km) and Hibiya.

The Finish Line on Gyoko-dori by Tokyo Station

The finish line is on Gyoko-dori, the wide avenue between the Marunouchi side of Tokyo Station and the Imperial Palace, at the Wadakura-mon crossing. It is one of the great finishes in the marathon world and, for many, a highlight of their running life. Volunteers hand out medals and drinks in the finish area beyond it, which is for runners only, so agree a meeting point outside where family and friends can celebrate with you.

Tokyo Marathon EXPO and Packet Pick-Up

The Tokyo Marathon EXPO is where every runner collects their bib and packet. For 2027 it runs from Thursday 4 to Saturday 6 March at the Tokyo Big Sight South Halls in Ariake. Entry is free, the EXPO is cashless, and it is a big event in itself — allow a couple of hours.

Bib pick-up is in person only — nobody can collect it for you — and overseas runners need their passport. There is no pick-up on the morning of the race, so a Saturday-evening arrival is a real risk. Go on Thursday or Friday: Saturday is the busiest day, and you want to rest your legs, not queue.

Race Day Logistics

Getting to the Start Line: Skip the Taxi

Take the train. The Tokyo Marathon course closes under traffic control from early morning — the event takes over central Tokyo for the day — and a taxi is the slowest way to reach Shinjuku; the start is a walk from Tochomae station on the Oedo Line and from the west side of Shinjuku station. If you can, stay within walking distance.

The Seven-Hour Limit and the Cutoffs

The time limit is 7 hours from the start gun: the race starts at 9:10 and the finish closes at 16:10. You start in a block by predicted time, and from the back it takes a while to cross the start line, which counts against your time. There are cut-off points along the course, so if you expect to finish near the limit, pace the first half carefully. The entry rule is that you must be able to finish within 6 hours 30 minutes.

The road-closure times and finish-area map for 2027 had not been published yet; they come with the runner guide.

Tokyo Weather in March: What to Wear

Average temperatures in Tokyo in March are 14.2°C by day and 5.0°C at night (Japan Meteorological Agency, 1991–2020), and early March sits at the cold end of that. It is often bright and dry, but wind funnels between the Shinjuku towers at the start and rain is always possible. Wear a throwaway layer or poncho while you wait to start, and pack thin gloves. Spectators stand still for hours, so dress warmer than the runners.

Early March is before the cherry blossoms, which usually open in Tokyo in the last week of the month; see our Japan in March 2027 guide for later in the month.

Where to Stay and Getting In From the Airport

The ideal location is Shinjuku, within walking distance of the start, or around Tokyo Station, a walk from the finish; Ginza is a short ride from both. Hotels near the start and finish fill up for race weekend, so book the hotel and flights as soon as your entry is confirmed. Our guide to where to stay in Tokyo compares the areas.

From Narita or Haneda

From Narita International Airport, the Narita Express reaches Tokyo Station in 53–60 minutes (¥3,140), and the Airport Limousine Bus runs to Tokyo Station and major hotels in 90–100 minutes (¥3,100) — the easy option with a big bag. Haneda is much closer: about 30 minutes to central Tokyo by monorail and train. Our Narita vs Haneda guide has the details.

Watching the Tokyo Marathon: Tips for Non-Runners

For non-runners the Tokyo Marathon is a great event to watch, it costs nothing, and the whole finish stretch on Gyoko-dori is one long celebration. Spectators line the whole course and shout “ganbatte!” (keep going) at fellow runners and strangers alike, and the volunteers are famously well organized — thank them as you pass.

• Pick two or three spots and move by subway. Asakusa for the atmosphere, Ginza for the crowds, then Hibiya or Marunouchi for the last kilometers.
• Stay on one side. You can only cross the course at set points, where volunteers manage the crossings.
• Know your runner's bib number and pace so you can work out when they reach each spot — the support at 30 km and beyond matters most.
• Catch the elite race early. The elite athletes start first, and the lead men and women come through far ahead of everyone else.

You don't need tour guides or an English-speaking guide to watch — the subway has English signs and the crowds are friendly, so you can support your runner your own way.

A Race-Week Itinerary for Tokyo Marathon 2027

Keep the race dates fixed and build the other days around them. This is how we would plan a first marathon adventure in Japan:

• Wednesday 3 Mar: land, check in, short walk, early night.
• Thursday 4 March: EXPO and bib pick-up at Tokyo Big Sight; an easy run around the Imperial Palace.
• Friday 5 Mar: free time and light sightseeing — Meiji Jingu, then Tokyo Marathon Square in Shinjuku.
• Saturday 6 Mar: the Friendship Run — a separate event — or complete rest.
• Sunday 7 March: race day. Celebrate that evening with an izakaya dinner — you've earned it.
• Monday 8 March: take it easy and explore Tokyo slowly; a public bath works wonders.
• Tuesday 9 March onward: bullet train to Kyoto, Hakone or Hiroshima, with a day trip to Nara Park from Kyoto or Osaka.

Wait a day before the bullet train — station stairs on Monday are brutal — and have your suitcase sent ahead with a luggage forwarding service so you are not carrying it on sore legs.

After the Race: Self-Guided Routes From Tokyo

Race entries come only through the official channels above — for tour packages, our group company KNT and its partner agencies. At Blue Planet, what we offer are itinerary services for the trip around the race. Our self-guided routes start in Tokyo with two nights, so a common shape is to book your own race-week hotel and start one the day after the Tokyo Marathon: the Tokyo nights become your recovery, then you go on by bullet train with the hotels, tickets and luggage forwarding arranged, and 24/7 support from our team in Japan. If you need a different shape — extra nights before the race, a different last city — tell us your race dates when you ask for a quote and we will say plainly what is possible.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Missing the payment deadline. 30 September, 17:00 JST, is the middle of the night in North America.
2. Booking flights that land on Saturday. There is no bib pick-up on the morning of the marathon.
3. Forgetting your passport at the EXPO. It is the ID overseas runners need.
4. Counting on a taxi on race morning. The roads are closed.
5. Booking the bullet train for Monday morning. Give your legs a day.
6. Buying a bib from an unofficial seller. Only KNT and its partner agencies can sell packages with entry.
7. Skipping travel insurance. Check that it covers running events and medical care in Japan.

FAQ: Tokyo Marathon 2027