Tokyo Marathon
Sunday, March 7, 2027 · Tokyo, Japan
Updated May 2026
Technical flatness — no major climbs but constant micro-undulations and sharp urban turns prevent settling into monotonous cadence. Lottery acceptance rate ~2.5%, among the hardest WMMs to enter.
The score breakdown
The Kenyan Running Difficulty Index combines four weighted factors. The heaviest weight (35%) is on Tactical Brutality. That is what a Kenyan coach watches first: where the field actually blows up.
- Low humidity (30-49%) is unusual for major marathons and benefits Atmospheric Stress score.
Score confidence: preliminary. Computed from public course, weather, and prize data; calibration against 5K split data and coach review is in progress.
Course profile
- Elevation gain
- 60m / 200ft
- Elevation loss
- 98m / 321ft
- Surface
- paved smooth
- Late-stage climbs (after mile 18)
- None statistically significant; course is riddled with micro-ascents throughout.
- Profile notes
- Aggressively front-loaded downhill start, then flat mid-race stretches.
Race day
- Date
- Sunday, March 7, 2027
- Field size
- 37,500
- Entry
- Lottery system with ~2.5% acceptance rate.
Weather (historical)
- Median temp
- 10°C
- Temp range
- 9°C to 16°C
- Humidity
- 30-49%
- Wind
- ~6 mph north
Prize money
- Total purse
- $750,000+
- Winner
- $80K
- 2nd / 3rd
- $30K / $15K
- World record bonus
- $200K
- Time bonuses
- Unique split-time bonuses at the 10km mark to incentivize leading pacers.
Course records
Recent winners
Top East African winners (Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Uganda) across the last 10 verified editions: 10 men, 9 women.
| Year | Men's winner | Time | Women's winner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tadese Takele (ETH) | 2:03:37 | Brigid Kosgei (KEN) | 2:14:29 |
| 2025 | Tadese Takele (ETH) | 2:03:23 | Sutume Kebede (ETH) | 2:16:31 |
| 2024 | Benson Kipruto (KEN) | 2:02:16 | Sutume Kebede (ETH) | 2:15:55 |
| 2023 | Deso Gelmisa (ETH) | 2:05:22 | Rosemary Wanjiru (KEN) | 2:16:28 |
| 2022 | Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) | 2:02:40 | Brigid Kosgei (KEN) | 2:16:02 |
| 2020 | Birhanu Legese (ETH) | 2:04:15 | Lonah Chemtai Salpeter (ISR) | 2:17:45 |
| 2019 | Birhanu Legese (ETH) | 2:04:48 | Ruti Aga (ETH) | 2:20:40 |
| 2018 | Dickson Chumba (KEN) | 2:05:30 | Birhane Dibaba (ETH) | 2:19:51 |
| 2017 | Wilson Kipsang (KEN) | 2:03:58 | Sarah Chepchirchir (KEN) | 2:19:47 |
| 2016 | Feyisa Lilesa (ETH) | 2:06:56 | Helah Kiprop (KEN) | 2:21:27 |
Training for Tokyo Marathon?
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