One of the world’s leading international marathons for the citizens of Tokyo
A merger of the former Tokyo International Marathon for elite runners and the former Tokyo City Road Race for citizen runners and physically challenged people, the Tokyo Marathon has become a large-scale city marathon. The inaugural race was held in 2007 and since then, a wide field of superb invited athletes and participants have made this a world-class marathon of note. In 2010, it earned a Gold Label according to the world road race ranking system of the International Association of Athletics Federations, and in 2013, it was added onto the World Marathon Majors alongside the New York Marathon, the London Marathon and the Boston Marathon as a large-scale marathon with citizen participation to become one of the world’s major marathon events.
An attractive course through the international metropolis of Tokyo
The biggest attraction of the Tokyo International Marathon is running through the refined international metropolis that is Tokyo. That course starts in front of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, passes by the Imperial Palace, the expensive shopping district of Ginza, the financial center of Nihonbashi, the neighborhood of traditional culture Asakusa, and Japan’s leading market of Tsukiji and finishes at Ariake Big Sight in the waterfront area. Extoling the virtues of a course that covers the past, present and future of Tokyo, the Tokyo Marathon is attractive for both runners and spectators alike.
Many kinds of participation only experienced at a large-scale international marathon
Participants can enter the full marathon for both men and women, the 10km road race for men and women, the wheelchair marathon, a 10km race for physically challenged people and a host of other categories. Of course, foreigners can also take part, so it would be great for them to actively join and enjoy the neighborhoods of Tokyo along with the city residents. It is undoubtedly a special experience of Tokyo that is different from sightseeing.