Tokyo is the flat, fast Major nobody warns you is brutal to get into: the general lottery runs near a 1-in-10 chance, so plan on striking out for years. The $230 overseas fee plus flights from anywhere stings, and signage and aid stations skew heavily Japanese if you read none. Early March sits around 4 to 12 degrees, cold at the start, ideal once you move. About 38,000 finish.
Better info coming — we're still verifying 4 fields on this race.
Major race decision brief
Know the catch before you book the flight.
Four facts shape this weekend: entry, course load, the start-to-finish problem, and whether your crew gets a good trip too.
01 · Secure the bib
Ballot open
$230 listed entry. Treat travel as refundable until your place and any qualification requirement are confirmed.
02 · Read the load
60 m climbing
Flat and fast, with a net-downhill first half from Shinjuku and the only real bumps coming on the bridges near the bay. The finish sits by Tokyo Station, and the crowds are deep the whole way.
03 · Solve the base
Point-to-point logistics
Start and finish sit roughly 7 km apart as the crow flies. Choose a base around the official transport plan or finish—not from a map pin that only looks close to the start.
04 · Pack the range
4–12°C typical
Historical rain signal: 25%. Use it for packing, then switch to the live forecast inside race week.
Crew fit is 5/5. Use the spectator guide to decide whether this is a shared city weekend or a runner-first operation.
Why we'd pick it
- The 60 m climbing estimate is useful for planning, not a verified pacing number.
- The ballot is open; apply before the published deadline and keep a backup race.
- A non-racing partner gets a real weekend here — 5/5.
- Race day usually sits 4–12°C, about 25% chance of rain.
The course
Flat and fast, with a net-downhill first half from Shinjuku and the only real bumps coming on the bridges near the bay. The finish sits by Tokyo Station, and the crowds are deep the whole way.
