How to get into the Tokyo Marathon
- 2027 qualifier entryJul 31 to Aug 13, 2026
- 2027 ONE TOKYO member drawJul 31 to Aug 13, 2026
- 2027 lotteryAug 14 to Aug 28, 2026
- ResultsSep 1, 2026
- ResultsSep 18, 2026
- Race dayMar 7, 2027
- 2028 qualifier entryJul to Aug 2027, expected
- 2028 ONE TOKYO member drawJul to Aug 2027, expected
- 2028 lotteryAug 2027, expected
- ResultsSep 2027, expected
Every way into the Tokyo Marathon
| Route | Who it's for | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lottery | Anyone 19 or older on race day who can finish within 6:30, in Japan or overseas | Aug 14 to 28, 2026, results Sep 18, pay by Sep 30. Next: expected August 2027 | ¥19,800 in Japan or $230 from overseas for 2027, charged only if picked |
| ONE TOKYO GLOBAL | Members living outside Japan, 19 or older | Join Apr 1 to Aug 28, 2026. Member draw Jul 31 to Aug 13, 2026, for 3,000 places shared with Premium | ¥30,000 a year (April 2026 to March 2027), plus $230 if drawn |
| ONE TOKYO Premium | Members living in Japan, 16 or older | Member draw Jul 31 to Aug 13, 2026, for the same 3,000 places | ¥5,500 a year, plus ¥19,800 if drawn |
| Charity | Anyone who pledges at least a program's minimum, in Japan or overseas | Pledges Jun 24 to Jul 9, 2026. Next: expected late June 2027 | ¥100,000 to ¥350,000 donation for 2027, most ¥150,000, plus the entry fee |
| Fast runners | Overseas men under 2:22:00 and women under 2:50:00, gun time, run Jul 2024 to Jun 2026 | Jul 31 to Aug 13, 2026, results Sep 1 | $230 |
| Tour operator | Overseas runners booking a package from KNT or one of its listed partners | Sold first come, first served from July 2026; some partners draw lots | From £3,399 (UK), $5,865 (US) or A$8,069 (Australia) per runner sharing for 2027 |
Tokyo Marathon lottery results
The 2027 General Entry draw ran August 14 to 28, 2026. Results were posted on each runner's My Entry page on September 18, and picked runners had until 5 p.m. JST on September 30 to pay or lose the place. The field grows from 39,000 to 40,000 for 2027.
The draw fills in order: 4,000 places for ONE TOKYO members who missed in 2024, 2025 and 2026, then 1,000 for Tokyo residents, then everyone else, including 500 places for people with disabilities. Runners who missed in the ONE TOKYO member draw or the semi-elite selection are put into this draw automatically. Places left after payment go to an extra draw for ONE TOKYO Premium and GLOBAL members who were members on October 31, 2026.
The foundation has not published applicant numbers or odds for 2027. Running press reports about 10% of general applicants were picked, odds of roughly 10 to 1.
ONE TOKYO membership: what it costs and what it gets you
ONE TOKYO is the Tokyo Marathon Foundation's runners' club. Membership runs April to March, renews automatically by card, and the full fee is due even if you join mid-year. Premium members (Japan) and GLOBAL members (overseas) get an advance member draw before General Entry: for 2027 it ran July 31 to August 13, 2026, for 3,000 places shared between them. Members who miss roll into the general lottery.
GLOBAL members can join from April 1 to August 28 for that year's race. They also get free entry to the RUN as ONE GLOBAL virtual run series, ten events a year, each with a draw for Tokyo Marathon entries. A separate draw for GLOBAL members who miss three years in a row starts with the 2028 race, for members who missed in 2025, 2026 and 2027.
Membership does not guarantee a place. The Supporting Member tier is limited to 100 overseas members at ¥300,000 per unit, sign-up June 1 to the end of September 2026, and its race entry right needs three units (¥900,000) and is only available if a participant withdraws.
| Tier | Price | What it gets you |
|---|---|---|
| Club Member (Japan) | Free | Basic entry; counts toward the three-misses draw |
| Premium Member (Japan, 16+) | ¥5,500 a year | Member draw for 3,000 places and a secondary draw |
| ONE TOKYO GLOBAL (overseas, 19+) | ¥30,000 a year | Member draw, secondary draw, virtual run draws |
| Supporting Member (overseas) | ¥300,000 per unit | Entry right at 3 units, only if a runner withdraws |
Tokyo Marathon charity entry
Charity runners skip the draw by pledging to one of 38 recipient organizations, which run 40 programs, for 5,000 places. You apply through the RUN with HEART site. For 2027 the pledge window was June 24 to July 9, 2026, and applications passed the number of places within two days. Selected runners paid the donation and entry fee July 14 to August 13.
Each program sets a minimum, from ¥100,000 to ¥350,000 for 2027, and most ask ¥150,000. Many programs then pick the highest pledges first, so the minimum may not be enough. Others choose by a written message or by drawing. Charity runners cannot enter any other category.
The 2027 charity raised a record ¥1,422,568,866. Expect the 2028 window in late June 2027.
| Program | Minimum | Places |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Marathon Foundation Sports Legacy | ¥150,000 | 434 |
| Peace Winds Japan | ¥200,000 | 410 |
| Japan for UNHCR | ¥150,000 | 214 |
| Japan Cancer Society | ¥150,000 | 147 |
| Special Olympics Nippon | ¥100,000 | 132 |
| The Nippon Foundation children's fund | ¥350,000 | 30 |
Tokyo Marathon fast runner entry
RUN as ONE is the semi-elite route. For 2027 overseas runners needed under 2:22:00 for men or under 2:50:00 for women, gun time, run between July 2024 and June 2026, with a finisher certificate. There are 280 semi-elite places in all, and the overseas page lists 25 each for men and women.
The fastest applicants are accepted, and the standards are reset each year so entries roughly match the places. Results came September 1, 2026. Applicants who miss move into the general lottery. The 2027 race also hosts the Abbott World Marathon Majors Age Group World Championships, by invitation from the age-group rankings that closed September 30, 2026.
Any runner who declares 3:00:00 or faster on entry must prove a marathon under 3:00:00 or a half under 1:25:00, run July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026, or may start further back.
Tokyo Marathon tour operators
Only the official travel agency, Kinki Nippon Tourist (KNT), and the International Travel Partners it names can sell packages that include entry. Entries bought anywhere else are cancelled without a refund. A bib comes only with a package: there is no entry-only option, and the hotel is mandatory. KNT's own hotel packages, on sale from September 18, 2026, do not include entry. Partners include Marathon Tours & Travel (US and Canada), Japan World Tours and Dream Travel Canada (Canada), Plaza Maratones and Maratones y Viajes (Mexico), 2:09 Events and Sports Tours International (UK), Travelling Fit and Kintetsu International Express (Australia), and Marathon World Travel and Marathon Tours NZ (New Zealand). Most sell only to residents of their own country.
2:09 Events requires five nights at the New Otani on bed and breakfast, with an expo visit and city tour on arrival, a Friday dinner, a race jacket and Japanese-speaking staff; flights are extra. Marathon Tours & Travel sells five nights with an expo transfer, a day tour, a pre-race dinner and a post-race party, with the entry fee extra, and says its guaranteed entries are for Seven Continents Club members. Travelling Fit sells four nights at the Keio Plaza with breakfast, a Friday group run, a Saturday dinner, a finish-to-hotel bus and a race jacket, to Australian residents only.
Places sell out months ahead. 2:09 Events opened for 24 hours at midday on August 13, 2026, drew lots and is now sold out: £1,000 deposit, £1,000 more by October 31, balance January 3, deposits non-refundable, 80% lost after the balance and 100% after January 22, 2027. Marathon Tours & Travel takes 30% to book, 30% on September 30, 2026 and the rest on November 15, 2026, all non-refundable, and its Hilton rooms are sold out. Travelling Fit asked A$1,500, then A$1,900 by September 21, 2026, then the balance by November 2, 2026, and now sells on request.
| Operator | Country | Package from |
|---|---|---|
| Marathon Tours & Travel | USA and Canada | $5,865, 5 nights, entry fee extra (2027); next available $6,445 |
| 2:09 Events | UK | £3,399, 5 nights (2027), sold out |
| Travelling Fit | Australia | A$8,069, 4 nights (2027) |
Tokyo entry at a glance
Tokyo Marathon entry questions
When are the Tokyo Marathon lottery results?
For 2027 they were posted on the My Entry page on September 18, 2026, with payment due by September 30. Expect the 2028 results in mid-September 2027.
When is the Tokyo Marathon 2028 lottery?
Not announced. The 2027 lottery ran August 14 to 28, 2026, so expect mid-August 2027.
How much does ONE TOKYO cost?
Premium membership for Japan residents costs ¥5,500 a year and ONE TOKYO GLOBAL for overseas residents ¥30,000 a year. Both give an advance member draw for 3,000 places, not a guaranteed entry.
What are the odds in the Tokyo Marathon lottery?
The organizers do not publish them. Running press reports about 10% for the 2027 general draw.
How much is Tokyo Marathon charity entry?
For 2027 each program set a minimum from ¥100,000 to ¥350,000, most ¥150,000, plus the entry fee. Many programs take the highest pledges first.
Can I buy a guaranteed Tokyo Marathon entry with a tour?
Yes, from KNT or a listed partner, and only with a hotel package. For 2027 they started at £3,399 in the UK, $5,865 in the US and A$8,069 in Australia per runner sharing.
What is the Tokyo Marathon time limit?
7 hours from the gun, but entrants must be able to finish within 6 hours 30 minutes.
Can I defer my Tokyo Marathon entry?
No, except for pregnancy and childbirth, which allow a one-time move to 2028, 2029 or 2030 with the fee paid again.
More bucket list races
Dates come from the race's official site. An expected date follows last year's timing until the race announces it.