Marathon routes in Japan

Tokyo is the only Japanese race in the series, and the only one in Asia, held on the first Sunday of March. It has been part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors since 2013, and its flat route through Shinjuku, Asakusa and Ginza has made it a popular target for a personal best. Entry is by ballot, and the domestic and international pools are both heavily oversubscribed.

AsiaJPN9 races

Course guides in Japan

TokyoMajor since 2013Tokyo MarathonFrom the Metropolitan Government building through Nihonbashi, Asakusa's Kaminarimon gate and Ginza to the finish by Tokyo Station. Flat and fast, a favourite for personal bests.First Sunday of MarchJPNCourse records2:03:37 / 2:14:29Full course page

Which marathons run in Japan?

The rest of the country's marathon calendar: next edition date, course character and climbing, with a page for each race.

Race days fall in February, March, April, August, November, December. The flattest course listed here is Biwako Marathon, at about 95 m of climbing; the hilliest is Naha Marathon, at about 287 m.

Osaka MarathonPB courseGood for debutsOsaka28 February 2027▲ 145 mUndulating Nagoya Women's MarathonPB courseGood for debutsNagoya14 March 2027▲ 125 mUndulating Biwako MarathonPB courseOtsu14 March 2027▲ 95 mFlat Kobe MarathonPB courseKobe15 November 2026▲ 115 mUndulating Fukuoka MarathonPB courseFukuoka08 November 2026▲ 145 mUndulating Hokkaido MarathonPB courseSapporoAugust 2027 (expected)▲ 121 mUndulating Nagano MarathonPB courseNaganoApril 2027 (expected)▲ 140 mUndulating Naha MarathonNaha06 December 2026▲ 287 mHilly

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