How do I enter the Tokyo Marathon?

The primary entry method is a lottery that opens in mid-August for about two weeks. Charity entry is also available through the official Tokyo Marathon charity program. Semi-elite athletes with qualifying times have a separate entry window in late July.

When does Tokyo Marathon registration open?

For 2027, general entry opens August 14 and closes August 28, 2026. Semi-Elite and ONE TOKYO GLOBAL Member entry opens July 31, 2026. Charity entry runs June 24 through July 9, 2026.

What is the time limit for the Tokyo Marathon?

The race has a 7-hour time limit based on gun time. Runners in later corrals will have effectively less time, and there are strict intermediate cutoffs enforced at checkpoints along the course.

Is the Tokyo Marathon a Boston qualifier?

Yes. The Tokyo Marathon is a World Athletics Platinum Label race certified by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF) and recognized by the BAA as a Boston qualifying race.

What is the elevation profile like?

The course has 198 feet of gain and 322 feet of loss for a net downhill of 124 feet. Most of the descent comes in the first 5 kilometers out of Shinjuku; the rest of the course is nearly flat with one notable bridge climb around mile 17.

What is the typical race-day weather in Tokyo?

Early March in Tokyo is generally cool and dry, with average highs around 52°F and average lows around 37°F. Conditions are usually favorable for fast running, though the early morning start can feel cold.

How big is the Tokyo Marathon field?

The marathon draws approximately 36,000 finishers annually, making it one of the largest marathon fields of the World Marathon Majors. Over 300,000 people typically apply for the lottery each year.

Sun, Mar 7 · 2027TokyoSince 2007

Tokyo Marathon

Tokyo is fast, flat, and fiercely competitive for a bib. The course runs from Shinjuku through some of the city's most storied neighborhoods before finishing at Tokyo Station, with a net downhill that rewards disciplined pacing over the first few miles.

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TOKYO · JP

Tokyo

SUN, MAR 7

2027

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Race Overview

EST. 2007

Tokyo starts the moment you step off the corrals in front of the Metropolitan Government Building. The first few kilometers drop steadily through Shinjuku's wide avenues, and the crowd noise and cool morning air make it very easy to go out too fast. Don't go with it. The early descent will feel like a gift, but you'll want those legs later. From there the course levels out and runs east through Akihabara, up toward Asakusa and the Kaminarimon gate, then doubles back through Ginza. The out-and-back nature means you pass faster runners heading the other way, which is a nice pace check. Around mile 17 you cross a bridge that's the one real climb on the whole course. Short, but at that point in the race, keep your cadence up and don't attack it.

For PR chasers, Tokyo is about as good as it gets in the Majors: net downhill, cool temperatures, wide roads that open up after the first few kilometers, and a field that tends to run fast. Getting in is the hard part. The lottery opens in August and closes within two weeks, and with over 300,000 people applying for roughly 38,000 spots, your odds are real but not guaranteed. Charity entry is the backup route if the ballot doesn't go your way. The organization on race day is precise, the volunteers are everywhere, and the whole thing runs on schedule. If you get in, treat the first descent as a warm-up lap, not a head start.

Field size

~36k

36,175 finishers

BQ rate

—

Boston qualifier

Time limit

7:00

Generous cutoff

Entry

Lottery

Annual draw + charity

Course records

Men

2:02:16

Benson Kipruto

2024

Women

2:14:29

Brigid Kosgei

2026

The Course

198 ft total gain

Total ascent

↑198 ft

Total descent

↓322 ft

Net elevation

↓124 ft

Highest point

134 ft

Lowest point

5 ft

Course shape

Point to point

Different start and finish

Tokyo starts with a meaningful descent: the first 5 kilometers drop roughly 30 meters from the Metropolitan Government Building through Shinjuku. That gradient feels easy and invites you to run too fast, but it shreds quads you need in the final 10 kilometers. After the initial drop the course flattens almost completely and stays that way for the majority of the race. The route is structured as four overlapping out-and-back sections, which means numerous 180-degree turns and frequent city-block corners that add distance if you run wide. The steepest single climb is a short bridge around mile 17, gaining roughly 17 feet in a tenth of a mile. Net elevation loss is 124 feet overall, which makes Tokyo one of the fastest Major courses, but the technical turns and subtle micro-undulations prevent purely metronomic pacing. Cool early-March temperatures amplify the pace-friendly terrain.

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Race-Day Weather

10-year median

Low

43°F

High

57°F

30°MARATHON-IDEAL 45–60°80°

What to expect

March in Tokyo tends to be cool and dry, which is about as good as marathon weather gets. You'll likely start in the low-to-mid 40s, so dress for a chilly corral. A throwaway layer is worth it. By the later miles it warms into the mid-to-upper 50s, which is manageable but means you won't stay cold for long. It's not a day where heat becomes a serious problem, but don't overdress for the gun or you'll regret it by mile 15.

Entry

LOTTERY · CHARITY

The Tokyo Marathon uses a lottery (ballot) for general entry, with no qualifying time required to apply; for the 2027 race, general entry opens August 14 and closes August 28, 2026. Charity runner spots open earlier (June 24–July 9, 2026) and require a fundraising commitment.

Register on race site

Logistics

For runners travelling in

Closest airport

HND

11 mi

from the start

≈ 17 min transferOn the doorstep

What to expect

Most travelling runners fly into HND, about 11 miles from the start, right on the doorstep by rideshare or transit, roughly a 17-minute trip. Stay close to the start in Tokyo so you're not fighting race-morning closures and transit on tired legs. Arrive a day early to clear the expo and bib pickup, and build in buffer for gear-check and corral entry.