Tokyo Marathon 2027: Lottery, Route, Spectator Guide

The Tokyo Marathon is one of the six World Marathon Majors, with a 10% general-lottery acceptance rate and crowds that cheer every single runner through all 42.195 km. March 7, 2027 is the 20th anniversary edition — 40,000 bibs, a flat PB-friendly course, and one of the best marathon atmospheres in the world.

Quick facts: Tokyo Marathon 2027

The lottery timeline

• ●August 14, 2026, 11 AM JST — General lottery opens
• ●August 28, 2026, 5 PM JST — Lottery closes
• ●September 18, 2026 — Lottery results announced
• ●September 18–30, 2026 — Payment window for selected runners
• ●October 2026–February 2027 — Charity entries + tour packages still available
• ●March 5–6, 2027 — Expo & bib collection at Tokyo Big Sight
• ●March 7, 2027 — Race day

The route

Tokyo's route starts at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku, winds through Iidabashi and Suidobashi, past the Imperial Palace, through Nihombashi, across the Sumida River to Asakusa, down to Odaiba, and finishes near Tokyo Station in Marunouchi. The course is officially IAAF-certified and famously flat — one of the fastest marathon courses in the world.

• ●Start — Shinjuku (0-2 km) — High-rise canyon; 40,000 runners spread across 7 waves
• ●Iidabashi/Suidobashi (5-10 km) — Past Tokyo Dome area; cheering sections
• ●Hibiya/Imperial Palace (12-18 km) — Flat, scenic, major cheering zone
• ●Nihombashi/Asakusa (18-27 km) — Across the Sumida River; U-turn at Senso-ji area
• ●Ginza/Odaiba (28-36 km) — Flat, open roads
• ●Finish — Marunouchi (42.195 km) — Finish line near Tokyo Station

Spectator strategy

Tokyo Marathon spectators get the best deal of any Marathon Major — the subway lets you jump across the route easily, so you can cheer the same runner at 10 km, 25 km, and the finish. Here's a 3-stop plan that works.

Bookable experiences — Tokyo Marathon weekend

Marathon weekend coincides with early cherry blossom hints — some varieties begin blooming by March 7. The expo at Tokyo Big Sight is open to the public and runs Thursday–Saturday.

• ●Marathon Expo visit (free) — Tokyo Big Sight, Rinkai Line to Kokusai-Tenjijo
• ●[Tokyo](https://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?ss=Tokyo&aid=8095781&label=auto-tokyo-autolink&nflt=review_score%3D80&order=popularity) Skytree observation ticket — ¥2,100; great marathon-eve activity
• ●Shinjuku pre-race ramen [tour](https://www.klook.com/en-US/search/?query=Japan&tp_sub=japan) — ¥4,500 per person; carb-load with a guide

FAQ

• ●When exactly is the [Tokyo](https://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?ss=Tokyo&aid=8095781&label=auto-tokyo-autolink&nflt=review_score%3D80&order=popularity) Marathon 2027? Sunday, March 7, 2027.
• ●Can I still enter for 2027? Only via charity entries (~USD 2,500+) or tour operator packages. General lottery closed August 28, 2026.
• ●What's the acceptance rate? ~10% for the general lottery.
• ●Is there an age minimum? 19 on race day.
• ●What's the time cutoff? 6 hours 30 minutes.
• ●Where is bib collection? Tokyo Big Sight; must be collected in person March 5-6, 2027.
• ●Can my family collect my bib? No — the runner must appear with passport.
• ●Is the course flat? Yes — one of the flattest Marathon Majors; PB-friendly.
• ●Where do spectators get the best view? Hibiya (13 km) and Senso-ji (24 km) are classics.
• ●Does [Tokyo](https://www.booking.com/searchresults.html?ss=Tokyo&aid=8095781&label=auto-tokyo-autolink&nflt=review_score%3D80&order=popularity) close roads for the marathon? Yes — significant central Tokyo closures 7 AM to 4 PM.