Tokyo - The crazy experience.

/March 1st 2026 - 4h11/

/Elevation 110m - Temperature 19℃

/Access via the ballot in August, qualification with Run As One, ONE Tokyo Club, tour operator or charity bib.

/Sponsor: Asics

/37268 finishers

"I registered to One Tokyo Global club, did all the challenges, paid the fees. I finally got in via the general ballot."

The ONE TOKYO GLOBAL club is for overseas runners. Members had an earlier draw for 3,000 places, from 31 July–13 August. Membership improves the number of opportunities you have to get a place, but doesn't guarantee entry. They organize as well nice events for the members, like shake-out runs and dinners. https://www.marathon.tokyo/

THE EXPO

The 2026 Expo was held at Tokyo Big Sight, in South Exhibition Halls 1–4. It's a big expo—the Tokyo Marathon Foundation describes it as one of Japan's largest running trade shows—and it's much more of an event than simply collecting your bib. They have lots of beautiful limited edition items you would kill for!

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One downside is location: Tokyo Big Sight is out in Ariake, so if you're staying around Ginza/Shinjuku/Shibuya, bib collection becomes a dedicated excursion rather than something you casually walk to.

⭐ TOKYO TIP

Go to Seiko flagshit store in Ginza, and search for your name printed on the window!

THE COURSE

Tokyo is generally considered a fast course, although it's not quite as effortlessly flat as Chicago or Berlin. You started outside the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku. The opening kilometres descend noticeably toward central Tokyo — which makes it very easy to run too fast early.

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The route then went through Iidabashi → Akihabara → Ueno → Nihombashi → Asakusa, with the famous view toward Tokyo Skytree, before crossing toward Ryogoku and continuing through the eastern part of the city.

Later came Ginza, one of the most memorable sections, followed eventually by the approach toward the Imperial Palace/Tokyo Station area and the spectacular finish on Gyoko-dori Avenue in front of Tokyo Station.

The difficult thing about Tokyo isn't really climbing. It's the multiple out-and-back sections and turns.

You can sometimes see runners coming toward you on the opposite side of the road, which psychologically makes sections feel longer than they appear on the map.

⭐ TOKYO TIP

At aid stations, they distribute Pocari Sweat electrolytes among a lot of different things, sweet and salty. The list will be registered in your running guide, sent a few weeks before the race. I suggest you to get used to it before the race, you can buy it everywhere in Tokyo or even on Amazon.

THE WEATHER

2026 was warmer than a typical Tokyo Marathon. The organizers actually issued a race-morning warning that temperatures would be higher than usual and told runners to pay particular attention to hydration. At the 9:10 start, official race data recorded 16.6°C, 33% humidity and sunshine. Conditions continued warming during the race, with the official guide reporting 22.4°C at 16:10.

THE ATMOSPHERE

Tokyo is quite different from NYC, Boston or London.

It's a huge event—the organizers estimated approximately 1.034 million spectators along the course in 2026—but Japanese crowd culture tends to be more orderly. So you get enormous numbers of people, organized cheering groups, volunteers everywhere and sections with lots of noise, particularly around Asakusa, Ginza and the central areas, but it doesn't necessarily have the continuous wall of screaming spectators you get in New York.

And the organisation is extremely Japanese: controlled start areas, very precise logistics, lots of volunteers and extremely orderly aid stations.

WHERE TO STAY

I actually found the perfect hotel for the race! As we stayed about 10 days, we started the stay in a more quiet area - Ginza. We moved to the Washington hotel in Shinjuku, literally at the start line, the day before the race. Extremely convenient: very big hotel, perfect location, a 7/11 in the lobby for carbs load and airport shuttles. The non-runners can event see the start from breakfast!

WANT TO SEE MORE?

Check at my Instagram video for a live experience!