From the start time and the route to the nutrition you can expect on course, here’s all the information you need about Japan’s most famous race.
By Rachel Boswell and Scarlett Coughlin.
The motherland of the annual ekiden, a century-old relay race that attracts millions of spectators each time, it’s safe to say that Japan is obsessed with long-distance running. So, it should come as no surprise that the Tokyo Marathon is a big date in the country’s diary, too.
Held every March on the favourably flat streets of Japan’s vibrant capital, the oversubscribed Tokyo Marathon also attracts thousands of international runners every year, making it one of the most enticing marathons on the planet. In fact, while Japan is often referred to as the ‘Land of the Rising Sun’, it could equally be named the ‘Land of the Rising Run’ thanks to the ever-increasing appeal of its best-known marathon.
Intrigued to learn more about the fast, fascinating, world-famous race that is the Tokyo Marathon? Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 event.
What is the Tokyo Marathon?
First held in 2007, the Tokyo Marathon quickly established itself as a top-tier, must-do marathon and, in 2012, became the sixth event to join the iconic Abbott World Marathon Majors (AWMM) series.
Due to the race’s huge popularity, applications for the Tokyo Marathon continue to well exceed the number of spots available, with almost 300,000 hopefuls applying for 37,500 places in the 2025 event. Not only a hotbed for runners, the race also attracts as many as 2 million spectators annually – that’s around 15% of Tokyo’s population.
While the field size of the Tokyo Marathon seems diminutive compared with those of other AWMM races like the London Marathon and New York City Marathon (which, in 2024, catered for more than 53,000 and 55,000 runners, respectively), it is still a large and extremely well-managed race. After all, with around ten thousand volunteers onboarded each year, it makes sense that the Tokyo Marathon should be prized for its slick organisation and efficiency.
When is the 2025 Tokyo Marathon?
This year’s Tokyo Marathon will take place on Sunday 2 March.
What time does the Tokyo Marathon start?
The 2025 Tokyo Marathon will kick off at 9:05am, when the wheelchair competitors cross the start line. Runners, who are all assigned corrals, will then set off in waves from 9:10am.
To avoid any confusion on race day, you’ll find your corral number, start wave and start time on your race bib.
Are there any other race options?
A unique 10.7km race, accommodating 500 runners, will take place in Tokyo on the same day as the main 42.2KM event this year. Although it is a little longer than the traditional 10K distance, at least with this event you are (probably) guaranteed a 10.7km road race PB – especially since it’s held on a fast, flat route.
What is the Tokyo Marathon route?
Talking of fast, flat routes, not many courses are more pancake-like than that of the Tokyo Marathon. To prove this, the sixth-fastest man and eighth-fastest woman of all time over 42.2KM clocked their marathon PBs at the 2024 Tokyo Marathon, setting new men’s and women’s course records in the process. On the men’s side, Kenya’s Benson Kipruto stormed to victory in a time of 2:02:16, while Ethiopia’s Sutume Asefa Kebede won the women’s race in a swift 2:15:55.
Starting at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office, the course heads east and through the Shinjuku district toward Suidobashi, which is known for the Tokyo Dome stadium and entertainment zone.
Next up on the route is Ueno-hirokoji, home to one of the city’s most famous parks and recreational hubs. From there, you’ll head to Kanda, where you can enjoy sights of the area’s traditional Japanese architecture.
Once you’ve passed the Nihombashi Bridge and Asakusa Kaminarimon Gate, you’ll hit the halfway point at Ryogoku, which is acclaimed for its sumo wrestling.
In the second half of the race, you’ll pass Monzen-nakacho, which juxtaposes the modern with the historic, then hit the shopping district Ginza. With just a few kilometres remaining, and with the famous Tokyo Tower in sight, you’ll weave through charming Tamachi and the wonderfully green Hibiya before finishing the epic race at Tokyo Station.
While the course does feature its fair share of switchbacks, it’s ripe territory for some rapid marathon times.
Where is the Tokyo Marathon start line?
As mentioned, the start line of the Tokyo Marathon is located at the city’s Metropolitan Government Building, 2-chōme-8-1 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 163-8001. Boasting two turrets exceeding 240m, it’s not a building that you can miss easily, even in skyscraper-dense Tokyo.
The easiest way to access the start line is by foot or public transport – handily, you’ll find a travel pass for marathon day in your race pack. The closest stations to the start line are Shinjuku and Nishi-Shinjuku.
Can I drop off my bag before the race?
If you applied for the baggage check-in service when you entered the 2025 Tokyo Marathon, you will be able to drop off a bag near the start line on race day. Your race bib will specify where you can then reclaim your bag once you’ve crossed the finish line.
Unfortunately, if you didn’t apply for the baggage check-in service at the time of entering the race, you won’t be able to add this on now – so arrive at the start line ready to run.
How do I get my race bib?
You’ll need pick up a race pack, containing your all-important race bib, at the Tokyo Marathon Expo, which will be held in the Tokyo Big Sight South Exhibition Halls, 3-11-1, Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, 135-0063.
The 2025 Tokyo Marathon Expo, which is free to enter, will be open at the following times:
- Thursday 27 February: 10am-9pm
- Friday 28 February: 10am-9pm
- Saturday 1 March: 10am-6pm
Will there be nutrition and water on the course?
The Tokyo Marathon features 15 evenly distributed aid stations along the route, starting at the 5K mark. All of the aid stations will provide water and every other aid station – eight in total – will stock the Japanese sports drink Pocari Sweat. To further boost your energy levels along the route, many of the aid stations will offer edible fuel as well – and there are some particularly intriguing (if not downright rogue) delicacies to enjoy here. As in recent years, marathon fuel will range from salty candy and chocolate to pickled plums, sweet jellied azuki bean paste, cream-filled rolls and doll-shaped pancakes. Delightful!
Does the race have a cut-off time?
The cut-off time for the 2025 Tokyo Marathon is 4:10pm sharp, which is seven hours after the race begins.
It’s worth noting that cut-off times really are strict – and very much enforced – at the Tokyo Marathon. The organisers even say that runners who ‘lag excessively behind the cut-off time pace may be stopped to leave the course at any time’, so you’ll need to make sure that you can make it to the finish line within the time limit.
Can I defer my place if I’m injured?
Unfortunately, it isn’t possible to get a refund or defer your place if you can no longer run this year’s Tokyo Marathon.
How do I enter the 2026 Tokyo Marathon?
Applications for 2026 Tokyo Marathon should open this August on the official race website. Here, you’ll be able to enter the general ballot or commit to a charity place.
