Tokyo Marathon: Guide to the Lottery, Entry Fee and How to Get In
The Tokyo Marathon is one of the World Marathon Majors and in 2027 it holds its 20th edition with 40,000 runners, its biggest field yet. This guide covers what the official website says: date, how and when to apply, the fee for overseas runners, requirements, the official travel agency and what to know before travelling to Japan.
Tokyo Marathon 2027 key facts
According to the official Tokyo Marathon 2027 entry requirements:
| Item | 2027 edition |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday 7 March 2027 |
| Start | 9:10, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building |
| Finish | Tokyo Station, on Gyoko-dori Avenue |
| Time limit | 7 hours, counted from the starting gun |
| Runners | 40,000 |
| Minimum age | 19 on race day |
| Fee for residents outside Japan | 230 dollars, including handling fee and tax |
To enter, you must be able to finish in 6 hours 30 minutes or less.
How to get a place from abroad
General entry and the lottery
You apply during an entry period and, if there are more applications than places, there is a random draw. Order of application does not matter. For the 2027 edition, general entry was open from 14 to 28 August 2026 and general lottery results came out on 18 September in the My Entry personal area. Selected runners must pay before the deadline or lose their place.
If you are interested in the 2028 edition, watch the official website from summer 2027: following the 2026 calendar, entries would open in late July and August.
ONE TOKYO GLOBAL
Members of the ONE TOKYO GLOBAL programme, aimed at runners outside Japan, have their own entry period before general entry. For 2027 it ran from 31 July to 13 August 2026, with a draw if there were more than 3,000 applications.
Official travel agency
Travel packages including an entry for runners outside Japan can only be sold by Kinki Nippon Tourist and its partner agencies. The official website warns that entries sold by other agencies are cancelled without refund, so check who you are booking with.
Charity places
There are 5,000 charity places, with an earlier donation period. For 2027 it closed in July 2026 and applications exceeded the places available. Charity runners cannot enter any other category.
Semi-elite qualifying time
The RUN as ONE programme reserves places for runners living outside Japan who run under 2:22 for men or 2:50 for women, using official gun time in World Athletics Label races. If you are not accepted, your application moves to the general lottery.
Majors draws
With three Majors stars you can enter the circuit’s draws; I explain it in the guide to the World Marathon Majors.
What to know before travelling to Japan
- You collect your bib in person, with photo ID, from 4 to 6 March 2027 at Tokyo Big Sight. Nobody else can collect it for you and there is no race-day pickup.
- The official website recommends travel and medical insurance that covers marathon participation, because medical care in Japan can be very expensive for non-residents.
- Entry is not refunded if you withdraw by your own choice. It can only be deferred for pregnancy or childbirth, with notice before 3 March 2027.
- Baggage check costs 12 dollars and must be chosen when you enter.
Tips for preparing for Tokyo
- It is run in early March, so your preparation falls in winter; there are guidelines in the guide to running in the heat and cold.
- Arrive a few days early to adjust to the time difference and do not waste energy at the start; the strategy is in the guide to the negative split.
- Plan your trip early; there are tips in the guide to travelling to a race, and the marathon training plan to prepare.
Conclusion
The 2027 Tokyo Marathon is on Sunday 7 March with 40,000 runners and a 7-hour limit. The 2027 lottery was drawn in September 2026, so from abroad the remaining routes are packages from Kinki Nippon Tourist and its partner agencies or the Majors draws. For the 2028 edition, entries would open around summer 2027.
FAQ
When is the 2027 Tokyo Marathon?
Sunday 7 March 2027, starting at 9:10.
How much does the Tokyo Marathon cost for an overseas runner?
230 dollars for residents outside Japan, including handling fee and tax.
When do you apply for the Tokyo Marathon?
For 2027, general entry ran from 14 to 28 August 2026. If there are more applications than places, there is a draw.
Which agency sells Tokyo Marathon places?
Only Kinki Nippon Tourist and its partner agencies can sell packages with entry for runners outside Japan.
What is the Tokyo Marathon time limit?
7 hours from the starting gun, although to enter you must be able to finish in 6 hours 30 minutes.
