Every marathon in Japan for 2026 & 2027, sorted by date — from the Tokyo Marathon, Japan's only World Marathon Major, to the cool, fast January-to-March season and the temples, castles and Mt Fuji views in between. Jump by month or filter by course profile below.
Japan's only World Marathon Major and the Asian leg of the Six Star journey. Roughly 300,000 chase about 38,000 places, so odds sit near 1 in 10 — enter the lottery, but bank a charity or tour slot as backup.
The flattest fast course on this calendar at about 21 m of climb. A late-February JAAF-certified big-city race built for honest splits and a clean Boston qualifier.
The world's largest women-only marathon (Guinness-recognized), a flat Platinum Label course in March. Finishers get a luxury keepsake instead of a medal — recently a Baccarat crystal tumbler.
A bucket-list run through the old capital — past World Heritage temples and shrines in late February. You race it for the scenery and the history, not the clock.
Okinawa's tropical December destination race along the island coastline — warm even in winter, big and festive. Run it for the trip, and pace for the heat.
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Japan runs one of the most rewarding marathon calendars on earth, and it peaks in winter: from January through March, crisp, dry air makes for cool, fast, PR-friendly racing. The crown jewel is the Tokyo Marathon (March 7, 2027), the country's only Abbott World Marathon Major, filled through one of the sport's most oversubscribed lotteries — roughly 300,000 applicants chase a field of about 38,000, so the general-lottery odds sit near 1 in 10. A second cluster of races runs in autumn from October into December, and a few outliers like the Hokkaido Marathon in Sapporo brave the summer heat.
For foreign runners, entry mechanics matter more than the race-day plan. Lotteries are the norm at the biggest events, so flexibility and a backup race are essential — many overseas runners pair a Tokyo lottery entry with official charity or travel-package slots as a more reliable path, while smaller regional races are often first-come or directly bookable. As of 2026 Japan has no ESTA/eTA-style system (a JESTA authorization is planned for the late 2020s): many nationalities enter visa-free for a short tourist stay (always confirm your own passport's rules with an official Japanese government source). Use the month chips above to jump to your racing window, or filter the grid by course profile and qualifying status.
Course quality is a quiet strength. Most major Japanese marathons run on JAAF-certified (公認) courses, so times can count toward a Boston qualifier — check your target with the Boston Qualifying calculator. The flattest, fastest options here are Osaka (about 21 m of climb) and Fukuoka (about 35 m), while Beppu-Oita is the one race on this page that requires a qualifying time just to enter. Each card shows a live countdown, field size and course profile, all checked against official race sources.
RunDida covers around 18 major Japanese marathons across 2026 and 2027, from the Tokyo Marathon and big-city races (Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Kobe, Yokohama) to scenic regional events like Kyoto, Shizuoka near Mt Fuji, and Naha in tropical Okinawa. Japan hosts many more community and regional races beyond these flagships — the list above is always sorted by date.
Japan has one Abbott World Marathon Major: the Tokyo Marathon (March 7, 2027). Demand far exceeds supply — roughly 300,000 applicants for a field of about 38,000, so general-lottery odds are near 1 in 10. International runners can apply directly during the registration window through the English-language portal; because the odds are low, many pair their lottery entry with an official charity place or a guaranteed-entry travel package. With Sydney joining as the seventh Major in 2025 and Cape Town and Shanghai in candidacy, Tokyo is the obvious Asian leg of a Six Star journey.
The season peaks from January through March, when cool, dry winter air — often single digits to low teens Celsius — produces fast, comfortable conditions ideal for personal bests. A second cluster runs in autumn (October-December) in mild weather, while outliers vary widely: Naha in Okinawa stays warm and tropical even in December, and the summer Hokkaido Marathon in Sapporo can be hot and humid. Plan pacing and hydration to the specific race.
Most major Japanese marathons run on JAAF-certified (公認) courses, so qualifying times can count toward Boston. The flattest, fastest options here are Osaka (about 21 m of total climb) and Fukuoka (about 35 m), with Yokohama and Tokyo close behind. Beppu-Oita is a fast, elite-leaning course that actually requires a qualifying time to enter. Confirm your target with the Boston Qualifying calculator and the BQ race guide.
For a forgiving first marathon, look at the flat big-city races with strong organization and crowd support — Osaka and Kobe are well-run and scenic, and regional races such as Okayama and Kanazawa are easier to enter directly than the lottery-only giants. Japan's famously well-stocked aid stations and orderly courses suit nervous debutants. See the beginner guide for how to choose.
Many of Japan's biggest marathons, including Tokyo, fill their fields by lottery (抽選) because demand far outstrips capacity. International runners usually apply directly during the registration window, often via an English-language portal or an international slot. Because Tokyo's odds are low, many overseas runners hedge with official charity or travel-package entries. Smaller regional races like Toyama and Okayama are frequently first-come or directly bookable, making good backup options.
Many nationalities can enter Japan visa-free for short tourist stays, which covers a typical marathon trip, but it depends on your passport — confirm your own nationality's rules before booking. Note that Japan has no ESTA or eTA travel-authorization system, so do not look for one; you either qualify for visa-free entry or apply for a short-stay visa in advance. Always verify current entry rules with an official Japanese government source.
The Nagoya Women's Marathon (March 14, 2027), held each March, is the Guinness-recognized world's largest women-only marathon, drawing around 20,000 runners to a flat, fast, World Athletics Platinum Label course — famous for giving finishers a luxury keepsake instead of a medal (recently a Baccarat crystal tumbler). It is one of the standout PR-friendly events on Japan's spring calendar.