The Tokyo Marathon is one of the most recognizable road races in the world. It’s among the six Abbott World Marathon Majors, making it a major attraction for professional athletes and running enthusiasts all over the world. On March 1, 2026, the 19th annual Tokyo Marathon will commence! If you’re interested in participating in the 2027 Tokyo Marathon, read on to find out more about the application process and prospective timeline.
Tokyo Marathon Event Details
The Tokyo Marathon is an interesting event that allows a wide variety of people to enter. However, it has limited field space, so getting accepted into the registration stage is a competition in and of itself!
Throughout this article, we’ll outline the Tokyo Marathon 2026 schedule and information.
The Tokyo Marathon 2027 schedule has not yet been released, so we’ll be using estimated dates to help you get an idea of when things will take place. When it comes to events like international marathons, it’s best to plan your entry, training, and travel plans as far in advance as possible – even up to a year prior!
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Date and Schedule
The Tokyo Marathon takes place in the spring, when the weather in Japan is warm and generally pleasant. It’s usually held on a Sunday in late February or early March.
Tokyo Marathon 2026 Date
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Tokyo Marathon 2027 Date
Expected Sunday, February 28, 2027
The three days leading up to the marathon are when runners can pick up their bibs and packets.
In 2026, packet pick-up times are:
- 10 AM to 8:30 PM – Thursday, February 26 and Friday, February 27, 2026
- 10 AM to 5:30 PM – Saturday, February 28, 2026
Pickup is located at the Tokyo Big Sight South Exhibition Halls. Runners must bring their photo ID and appear in person to get their packet and check in for the event.
Along with the Tokyo Marathon is an exclusive 10.7 km race for certain demographics, like junior & youth, visually or intellectually impaired, organ transplant recipients, and wheelchair users. Registration for this event is separate from the Marathon.
The schedule on the day of the marathon is simple.
The marathon begins at 9:10 AM and ends at 4:10 PM.
The Wheelchair wave begins at 9:05 AM and ends at 11:15 AM.
The Tokyo Marathon has strict cut-off times for runners; if you don’t make it to the checkpoint in time, you will be dropped from the race. Keep this in mind while training! We’ll dive further into this information in the next section.
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Race Categories and Participant Limits
The Tokyo Marathon consists of two races: The 26.2-mile (42.2-km) marathon and the 10.7-km race. The short race is much more exclusive, aimed at youths and people with conditions that would make it difficult to run a full marathon.
Most people interested in the Tokyo Marathon are talking about the full marathon (it’s also what the focus of this article is about).
The Tokyo Marathon has a field limit of 38,500 participants in 2026 (increased from 33,000 in 2025). The 2027 marathon may increase the field limit if logistically possible.
The 10.7km race only accommodates 500 runners per year.
The marathon categorizes participants into one of five categories:
- General (male, female, non-binary)
- Semi-Athlete (male, female)
- Elite (male, female)
- Wheelchair (male, female, non-binary)
- Wheelchair Elite (male, female)
General participants must be able to complete a marathon within 6 hours and 30 minutes (running) or 2 hours and 10 minutes (wheelchair). This includes those who enter the race through a tour package.
Semi-elite and elite athletes must be registered and adhere to the time limits and other stipulations outlined in RUN as ONE “Semi-Elite” category, JAAF, JPA, IPC, and/or the World Para Athletics Classification as appropriate.
General applicants do not need to submit formal proof of qualifying times to enter the Tokyo Marathon. Instead, it’s understood that applicants take the event seriously and will only apply if they can finish a marathon within the 6hr 30min time limit. The series of timed checkpoints along the route cuts slower runners from finishing if they fall too far behind.
The race itself begins around 9AM, releasing runners in several waves. Wheelchair and elite runners usually start first, so they have the clearest course. General runners start afterward.
registered participants
participants are non-Japanese residents
Many are cut to fit the very small field size
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Course Overview
The Tokyo Marathon is known for its relative flatness, making it a great course for all runners. Those who want to set a personal best usually seek out the Tokyo course.
The course begins near the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku. Runners pass through some of the most well-known districts in the area. Runners can look forward to visiting these districts and seeing these landmarks:
- Suidobashi and the Tokyo Dome stadium
- Ueno-hirokoji, full of beautiful parks and recreational areas
- Kanda, known for traditional Japanese architecture
- The Nihonbashi Bridge and the Kaminarimon Gate
- The modern and historic neighborhood of Monzen-nakacho
- Tamachi, with the Tokyo Tower, one of the most well-known Tokyo landmarks
- Hibiya, known for its greenery
The race ends at Tokyo Station.
Registration and Entry Requirements
One of the aspects of the Tokyo Marathon that makes it unique is the registration process. There are several different entry paths for hopeful participants, which gives runners multiple opportunities to be chosen. The caveat is that it can also be quite confusing to understand.
Here, we’ll break down the entry and registration options and requirements to give you a better general understanding of the process. But, be sure to check the official website for details, since the 2027 sign-up instructions have not yet been released as of the time of writing.
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Qualifying Times and Criteria
All participants of the marathon must be at least 19 years old by race day to compete. The 10.7km race requires participants to be at least 16 years old on race day.
Beyond that, the Tokyo Marathon simply requires general participants to be able to adhere to the 6hr 30min time limit. Semi-elite and elite athletes prove their Tokyo Marathon qualifying times by being registered with the proper pro-athlete association.
In the actual race, semi-elite and elite athletes will not need to worry about adhering to the time limits enforced via checkpoints, since they are quite fast. The cut-off times are considered a moderate pace. Most participants will easily be able to meet them. Those who are slower than the cut-off times will be asked to leave the course, so make sure you’re conditioned for the marathon in advance!
The cut-off times and cut-off points for the 2026 marathon are as follows:
| Cut-Off Point | Location | Cut-off Time for Runners | Cut-off Time for Wheelchairs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.9 km | Ichigaya-Mitsuke | 10:25 AM | 9:25 AM |
| 11.3 km | Soto-Kanada 5-chome | 11:10 AM | 9:45 AM |
| 15.4 km | Hisamatsucho | 11:55 AM | - |
| 20.9 km | Midori 1-chome | 12:45 PM | 10:10 AM |
| 24.7 km | Fukagawa 1-chome | 1:20 PM | - |
| 29.2 km | Asakusabashi | 2:00 PM | 10:40 AM |
| 33.5 km | Sukiyabashi | 2:35 PM | - |
| 37.8 km | Shiba 5-chome | 3:15 PM | - |
| Finish | Tokyo Station/Gyoko-dori Ave | 4:10 PM | 11:15 AM |
Registration Process
By far, deciphering all the different entry pathways into the Tokyo Marathon is the thing that trips most people up. To make it easier to understand, think of it as a 3-step process: choosing an entry type, getting selected, and payment and finalization.
You can find more details and apply for entry through the official Tokyo Marathon website.
Here are the basics about the different types of entries available for the Tokyo Marathon.
Charity Donation Entry
- First type of entry to open
- Requires hefty monetary donation to one of 39 approved charities
- Some charities only allow Japanese citizens or residents
- Limited space per charity, and only 5,000 charity entrants can be selected overall
- Some require additional effort, such as writing an essay about a topic like charity or unity
- Not first-come, first-served; charities select winners
- If you are not selected, you cannot try to enter the marathon through another entry type
- 2026 field limit: 5,000
Semi-Elite Athletes Entry (RUN as ONE)
- Second type of entry to open (along with ONE TOKYO GLOBAL)
- Requires athletes to meet qualifying times for full marathons
- 2026 Men’s qualifying time: 2:28:00
- 2026 Women’s qualifying time: 2:54:00
- 2026 field limit: 280
For most runners, this will be a once in a lifetime trip, an experience they will remember for decades. That may sound like an exaggeration, but it is largely true. Above all, enjoy the unique experience that is the Tokyo Marathon.
Kristyn Smith, 2025 Tokyo Marathon runner & Six Star Finisher
ONE TOKYO GLOBAL Member Entry
- Second type of entry to open (along with RUN as ONE)
- Gives runners multiple entries into the Tokyo Marathon lottery (up to 3 chances)
- Runners can join virtual runs and earn more chances at entry
- If you are a member for 3 years and are not selected, you are given much better odds in the fourth year
- Chance to participate in the marathon as a pace setter
- Requires paid membership
- Those not chosen are entered into the General Entry pool
- 2026 field limit: 3,000
General Entry
- Last opportunity for entry
- Includes everyone not selected in the Semi-Elite and ONE TOKYO categories
- Entries are chosen at random (not first-come, first-served; not based on skill)
Tour Package
- Book with an official organization that arranges tours for athletes
- Tours fill up quickly because they have guaranteed but limited entry spots for runners
- Using a tour package is typically the most expensive option ($5,200 to $9,400 per person)
- Convenient, since the company arranges the hotel and assists with registration
- Good for professional athletes who need to invest in participation
The odds of getting into the Tokyo Marathon are slim. Even semi-elite athletes aren’t guaranteed a spot. For a non-professional athlete, the best chance is by donating to a charity, since it has a large field limit and fewer applicants (due to the higher cost). Otherwise, your best bet is to simply apply for the general entry pool every year and cross your fingers!
If you've got the money for it, using a tour package is the only guaranteed way to make it into the Tokyo Marathon.
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Winners are chosen at random, and hundreds of thousands enter.
The selection process takes place after the entry period is closed. Applicants are notified of selection or non-selection generally by early-to-mid September. Those who are selected will have a limited window to submit payment or else forfeit their spot.
In the 2026 marathon, Semi-Elite and ONE TOKYO applicants were notified by September 1, 2025, and needed to submit payment by September 12, 2025. General entry applicants were notified by September 19, 2025, and required to submit payment by September 30th, 2025.
For the 2027 Tokyo Marathon, runners should begin thinking about the application process now.
Here is a prospective timeline for the 2027 Tokyo Marathon to help you plan:
April 2025 - March 2026
Entry Opportunity: RUN as ONE - GLOBAL Virtual Run Series
Participate in virtual half marathons via the official app to earn entries into the 2027 Tokyo Marathon.
December 16, 2025 - January 15, 2026
Entry Opportunity: Win a Chance to Run with the Interview Relay 2nd Run Story Campaign (1 of 2)
Enter for a chance to share your story and win an entry to the Tokyo Marathon in 2027.
February 26, 2026 - March 19, 2026
Entry Opportunity: Win a Chance to Run with the Interview Relay 2nd Run Story Campaign (2 of 2)
Enter for a chance to share your story and win an entry to the Tokyo Marathon in 2027.
End of June - Beginning of July, 2026
Charity Runner Entry Opens
Donate to an approved charity through the official Tokyo Marathon website and complete any required tasks by the charity to earn a chance for selection.
Mid-to-end July, 2026
Charity Runner Selection Announced
Entrants will be notified of their selection or non-selection
Mid-July to Mid-August, 2026
Charity Runners Finalize Donations and Entry Fee Payments
Selected charity runners need to finalize entry fee payments to secure their spots.
Early August, 2026
Semi-Elite Athletes and ONE TOKYO GLOBAL Entry Opens
Runners in these categories can submit their applications for entry.
Mid-August, 2026
General Entry Opens
All other types of entrants can submit their applications.
Early September, 2026
Semi-Elite Athletes and ONE TOKYO GLOBAL Selection Announced, Payment Due
Entrants in these categories will be notified of their selection or non-selection. They will then need to finalize payment for their entry fee to secure their spots.
Mid-September, 2026
General Entry Selection Announced, Payment Due
Entrants in the general pool will be notified of their selection or non-selection. They will then need to finalize their entry fee payment.
October, 2026
Begin Training
Runners should begin training and conditioning for the race if they haven’t already started.
Mid-February 2027
Runner Handbooks Distributed
All registered runners will receive their handbook in their email.
February 25, 26, 27, 2027 (Tentative)
Packet Pick-Up and Check-In
Runners travel to Tokyo and check in at the marathon Expo. They receive their packets and bibs.
February 28, 2027 (Tentative)
2027 Tokyo Marathon!
Runners get ready, get set, and go!
The entry fee for non-Japanese runners is about $230.
Charity runners will need to make a donation of JPY ¥ 100,000 to 375,000 (about $640 to $2,400), depending on the charity, and then will need to pay the entry fee on top of that if they are selected.
Semi-elite runners must pay the associated fees for their organizations plus the entry fee.
ONE TOKYO GLOBAL members must pay an annual fee of JPY ¥ 39,000 (about $200) for membership, plus the entry fee if selected.
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Preparation and Training Tips
Preparation for any marathon requires months of planning, both for the physical act of running and the logistics associated with travel. 2026 runners have very little time left to prepare. Thankfully, the Tokyo Marathon is extremely well-organized, making it as easy as possible for travelers to come, check into their hotels and the event, and participate.
2026 Tokyo Marathon Last-Minute Tips
Runners preparing for marathons taper off their long-distance practice a few weeks before marathon day to avoid strain and injury. Instead, they focus on shorter runs and other conditioning exercises to remain strong and limber, and maintain their stamina, while allowing the body to recover from intense training.
Runners need to focus on sleep and nutrition. For those who are traveling a long distance to Japan, this also means considering jet lag. If possible, try modifying your sleep schedule a little each day in the 10-or-so days leading up to your travel date so it’s easier to adjust once you land. Arrive at least 2 days in advance, if possible.
As tempting as it is to indulge in Japanese cuisine as soon as you arrive, save it for your post-marathon meal. The last thing you want to do the day before your race is eat something new that doesn’t agree with you!
Make sure seek out the expo with plenty of time to spare. Familiarize yourself with the course map, bag drop procedures, bathroom, medical, and hydration resource policies, and any other information given to you.
Be sure to arrive early at the start line and stick to your training when you begin running.
For every traveler, it’s imperative to remember to bring the critical items and documents with you:
- Passport and other important ID (for border control and checking into the event)
- Cash (Japanese Yen), as well as traveler’s debit cards and/or international credit cards
- A smartphone with adequate internal memory to download vital apps used in Japan
- Your running outfit and shoes
- Medicine and other personal necessities
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2027 Tokyo Marathon Preparation
For those with another year left to prepare, be sure to start planning your marathon training as soon as you can. Though you won’t know if you make the cut for entry until around September 2026, starting cold will be more difficult than maintaining your running health in the meantime.
Avoid overly-strenuous training that can cause injury, but stay reasonably conditioned. Working with a personal trainer is the best way to create a sustainable workout routine with conditioning exercises built in. You’ll also need to monitor your nutrition and hydration, which a personal trainer can also assist with.
When you receive notice of acceptance into the marathon, the first thing you need to do is book your flight and accommodations! They will no doubt fill up fast and have a spike in pricing, so the earlier, the better.
If you plan to utilize a tour package to guarantee your slot in the Marathon, be sure to look into booking as soon as possible (try finding tours in the week after the 2026 Marathon) since they fill up fast. Be sure to carefully look at the details of the tours package to find out what's included in the price.
For all runners, you can find videos of many running vloggers who can help explain more about the race, including the check-in process, getting to the start line, running, and what to do after the finish line. For many, traveling to Tokyo can be daunting due to the culture shock. Remember that this event is designed with foreigners in mind, and the Japanese people involved with preparations are generally happy to help you!
References
- Tokyo Marathon 2025: Your guide to the world-famous race in Japan. (2025). In Runner’s World. https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/events/a46752196/tokyo-marathon-ultimate-guide
- 東京マラソン2026. (n.d.-a). In https://www.marathon.tokyo/. https://www.marathon.tokyo/en/participants/entry-ticket
- 東京マラソン2026. (n.d.-b). In https://www.marathon.tokyo/. https://www.marathon.tokyo/en/participants
- 東京マラソン2026. (n.d.-c). In https://www.marathon.tokyo/. https://www.marathon.tokyo/en/about/course
- (N.d.). marathon.tokyo. https://www.marathon.tokyo/en/participants/guideline
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