Tokyo Marathon 2027 Ballot: How to Enter (and What to Do While You Wait)
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
A World Major marathon sits high on the bucket hat list of many a runner, and it's easy to see why. The vibrancy of a city marathon, the support from the crowds, the energy of thousands of runners around you... it's irresistible. I've thrown my name in the London ballot a few times, with a predictable outcome: the "sorry, not this time" email. Although you will actually see me running London in 2027 thanks to a charity place, and I'll be very visible, running in a testicle costume to raise awareness of testicular cancer. But that's a story for another article.
Here's the secret about the Majors, though: the hardest part isn't the 26.2 miles. It's getting a bib. Now, Tokyo isn't the toughest door of the seven. London's ballot odds are famously brutal, as my inbox can confirm, and Boston demands a qualifying time most of us can only dream of. But make no mistake, Tokyo is still a serious challenge to get into. Around 300,000 runners apply every year for roughly 38,000 places, which puts your odds at about one in ten.
The Tokyo Marathon 2027 ballot opens on Friday 14 August 2026, and this one is special: it's the 20th anniversary edition. So grab a cuppa, set a reminder on your phone, and let's get you entered. Then, more importantly, let's talk about what to do with the six months between clicking submit and (fingers crossed) standing in Shinjuku on race morning.
In This Article
Tokyo Marathon 2027: The Key Facts
The Tokyo Marathon takes place on Sunday 7 March 2027. It's the only Abbott World Marathon Major in Asia, the opening race of the Majors calendar each year, and famous for two things: impeccable Japanese organisation and crowd support that carries you through all 42.195km. Early March in Tokyo typically serves up cool, calm conditions of around 5–12°C, pretty much perfect marathon weather, whatever conditions your winter training throws at you back home.
There's a 7-hour cutoff, strictly enforced, so this is a genuinely achievable race for first-timers as well as those chasing a time.
Ballot Dates and How to Enter
Here's everything you need in one place:
General Entry ballot opens: Friday 14 August 2026
General Entry ballot closes: Friday 28 August 2026 (5pm Japan time, so check what that is in your timezone and don't leave it until the last day!)
Results announced: 18 September 2026
Entry fee if successful: approximately $230 USD for international runners (you pay nothing to enter the ballot itself)
You enter via the official Tokyo Marathon website by creating a free account and completing the application during the window. It takes ten minutes. There's no qualifying time needed for the general ballot; anyone aged 19 or over who can finish inside 7 hours can apply.
One thing to know: entries are non-transferable and non-deferrable. If you get a place, it's yours for 2027 or not at all.
Your Real Odds (and How to Nudge Them)
Straight talk: the general ballot sits at roughly 10%. Not great, not hopeless. But there are a couple of ways to improve your chances.
The main one is ONE TOKYO GLOBAL membership, the official (paid) membership programme. Members get access to an earlier entry window and effectively an additional lottery entry, doubling your chances for the price of a couple of pairs of running socks. If Tokyo is genuinely on your bucket list, it's worth it.
The charity route, which is how so many runners find their way into the Majors, has sadly already closed for 2027. That window shut in early July. If you miss out this year, put late June 2027 in your diary for the 2028 charity window. Official international tour operators, companies like Sports Tours International and Marathon Tours & Travel, also offer guaranteed entry packages with flights and accommodation, though you'll pay a premium for the certainty.
And the honest advice every Tokyo veteran gives: apply every single year. Persistence is a strategy.
The Course: What You're Signing Up For
The course runs point-to-point from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku to a finish by Tokyo Station, taking you from skyscrapers to the historic Marunouchi district, with the Imperial Palace grounds nearby.
Here's the bit that matters for your training: the first 5–6km are downhill, dropping you out of Shinjuku, and after that the course is famously flat with almost no sustained climbing. Sounds easy, right? Careful. That early descent is where thousands of runners bank time they pay back with interest at mile 20. The middle miles feature long out-and-back sections through Asakusa (wave at the Senso-ji temple gate), Ginza and Nihonbashi, which are brilliant for spotting other runners but mentally demand a bit of patience.
A flat, fast, cool-weather course rewards one thing above all: disciplined, even pacing. Which brings me neatly to the next bit.
What to Do While You Wait: Your Tokyo Marathon Training Plan
You've entered. Results land on 18 September. Here's the mistake I see runners make every year: they treat the waiting period as dead time, then try to build a marathon engine from scratch when the confirmation email arrives. So let's look at what to do while you wait for the ballot result to land.
Do it the other way round. A 16-week Tokyo Marathon training plan starts in mid-November, which means September and October are your base-building window, and the runners who arrive at week one with easy aerobic miles already in their legs are the ones who thrive in the block rather than survive it.
This is exactly why I use Runna. Regular readers of the blog will know I'm a huge fan; it's the app that helped me rebuild after cancer, and again earlier this year after another major, unplanned operation. The sheer array of programmes is impressive, including ones designed to keep the legs turning in the off season, which is exactly what this waiting window calls for.
Even better, the World Marathon Majors programmes are built directly into the app, course profiles included. Runna knows about that fast downhill start out of Shinjuku and the long flat miles that follow, and builds that into your training programme, so every session you run this winter, wherever in the world you're running it, is preparing you for the race you'll actually run in March.
And here's the part that impresses me most. The app is watching every run, working out whether you're on, ahead of or behind your plan targets, and making recommended adjustments along the way. No ChatGPT printout could possibly match that. Runna meets you where you are, whether that's your first marathon or your fifteenth, and builds you up ready for race day in a measured, sustainable and personalised way. Start with a base-building or 5K–10K plan now, and if that email on 18 September brings good news, you roll straight into a dedicated Tokyo Marathon training plan already fit, healthy and ahead of the game.
And if the ballot doesn't go your way? You've lost nothing. You're simply a stronger runner with a head start on whichever race comes next.
Start your free Runna trial here and make the waiting time count.
Tokyo Marathon Ballot FAQ
When does the Tokyo Marathon 2027 ballot open and close?
The general entry ballot opens on Friday 14 August 2026 and closes on Friday 28 August 2026 at 5pm Japan time. Results are announced on 18 September 2026.
How much does it cost to enter the Tokyo Marathon ballot?
Entering the ballot is free. If you're successful, international runners pay an entry fee of around $230 USD.
What are the odds of getting into the Tokyo Marathon?
Roughly 10%. Around 300,000 runners apply for approximately 38,000 places. That's tough, though notably better odds than the London Marathon ballot.
Is the Tokyo Marathon course flat?
Mostly, yes. The first 5–6km are downhill out of Shinjuku, and the rest is flat with long out-and-back sections. It's regarded as one of the fastest World Marathon Major courses, provided you pace that early descent sensibly.
Do I need a qualifying time for the Tokyo Marathon?
No. The general ballot is open to anyone aged 19 or over who can finish within the 7-hour cutoff. Qualifying times only apply to the semi-elite entry route.
When should I start training for the Tokyo Marathon 2027?
A 16-week Tokyo Marathon training plan should begin in mid-November 2026 for the 7 March race. Use September and October for base building, so you start the plan with aerobic fitness already in your legs.
About the Author
Andy Hood is an ultra and endurance runner, testicular cancer survivor and proud Runna ambassador. After cancer knocked him off his feet in 2021, Andy laced his shoes back up and rebuilt his running with Runna's structured, personalised training plans, going on to complete multiple ultra marathons. He now designs bold running challenges to raise awareness of testicular cancer and has raised over £27,000 for cancer and mental health charities. He is the founder of Check Ya Balls gear, menswear that saves lives.
As a Runna ambassador, Andy can offer new users an exclusive two-week free trial. Claim your free trial here or download the app and use promo code ANDY2.
Article includes affiliate codes/links, I may receive a commission from any products or services purchased, at no cost to you. This goes towards running this blog, bringing you interesting articles and supporting my charity fundraising with over £27,000 raised to date.
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