When And How To Watch The Tokyo Marathon
Follow our live coverage here of the Tokyo Marathon on race day, starting at 6:30 p.m. ET Saturday night (30 minutes before race start time in Tokyo on Sunday morning).
Start Date
The 2024 Tokyo Marathon is slated for Sunday, March 3, 2024.
Start Time
The men’s and women’s races will start at 9:10 a.m. local time. For international viewers, the Tokyo Marathon will start at 12:10 a.m. GMT on March 3 or 7:10 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 2.
How To Watch The Tokyo Marathon
The Tokyo Marathon will be broadcast in 160 countries worldwide.
Nippon TV in Japan will showcase the elite races nationwide, with live streaming available on Hulu and TVer, NITTERE TADA.
Eurosport has secured broadcasting rights in 63 countries, while Canal+ will cover the event in 47 territories.
Marathon enthusiasts in the United States and Canada can catch the excitement on FloTrack.
Here’s a link to Flotrack’s live stream, which will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET.
Great Sports Media holds the rights for the People’s Republic of China, excluding Macau, China, Chinese Taipei, and Hong Kong, China.
ESPN International is set to air the race across 47 countries and territories in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Brazil.
Course Map
The Tokyo Marathon is renowned for its flat and flat course. Starting at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku, the course takes runners through various districts and iconic landmarks.
As runners progress from Shinjuku, they pass through Suidobashi, home to the Tokyo Dome and Tokyo Dome City, before heading towards Sudacho. This section features an initial out-and-back segment, with the turnaround point near Ueno Park, known for its cultural attractions.
Continuing on, participants go through districts like Kanda, famous for its traditional atmosphere and historic bookstores, and Nihombashi, marked by its iconic bridge and modern commercial developments. The course includes multiple out-and-back segments, allowing runners to experience different facets of Tokyo’s landscape.
The highlight is at Tokyo Station or Gyoko-Dori Ave, after taking runners through landmarks like Asakusa, Ryogoku, and Ginza. This challenging yet rewarding marathon showcases Tokyo’s vibrant culture and dynamic urban scenery, leaving a lasting impression on participants.
Weather
The current weather forecast is a high of 11 C (52 F) with a low of 3 C (37 F) at the start, which is chilly.
The other current concern with the weather is the persistent dry conditions, which may cause some trouble to runners.
TOKYO WEATHERIs There Prize Money?
Although official prize money hasn’t been released by the organization, it is estimated that there will be over $150,000 USD in prize money, split equally among the men and women. Bonus prize money will be available should any course records be broken.
Men’s And Women’s Start List
Total number of elite athletes (men): 117
Total number of elite athletes (women): 51
Women’s Elite Field
| Runner Name | Nationality | Finish Time | Race Location | Year |
| Sifan Hassan | Netherlands | 2:13:44 | Chicago | 2023 |
| Amane Beriso Shankule | Ethiopia | 2:14:58 | Valencia | 2022 |
| Rosemary Wanjiru | Kenya | 2:16:28 | Tokyo | 2023 |
| Tigist Abayechew | Ethiopia | 2:18:03 | Berlin | 2022 |
| Sutume Asefa Kebede | Ethiopia | 2:18:12 | Seoul | 2022 |
| Magdalena Shauri | Tanzania | 2:18:41 | Berlin | 2023 |
| Lonah Chemtai Salpeter | Israel | 2:18:45 | Nagoya | 2022 |
| Hitomi Niiya | Japan | 2:19:24 | Houston | 2023 |
| Buzunesh Getachew | Ethiopia | 2:19:27 | Frankfurt | 2023 |
| Meseret Abebayahau | Ethiopia | 2:19:50 | Amsterdam | 2023 |
| Betsy Saina | U.S.A. | 2:21:40 | Tokyo | 2023 |
| Yumi Yoshikawa | Japan | 2:25:20 | Osaka Women’s | 2023 |
| Khishigsaikhan Galbadrakh | Mongolia | 2:28:33 | Taipei | 2023 |
| Shiho Kaneshige | Japan | 2:29:26 | Tokyo | 2022 |
| Misato Horie | Japan | 2:32:10 | Osaka | 2022 |
| Ai Ikemoto | Japan | 2:34:17 | Hofu | 2022 |
| Andrea Seccafien | Canada | debut (1:11:33 half) | NYC Half | 2022 |
Men’s Elite Field
| Runner Name | Nationality | Finish Time | Race Location | Year | Notes |
| Eliud Kipchoge | Kenya | 2:01:09 | Berlin | 2022 | |
| Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich | Kenya | 2:03:13 | Berlin | 2023 | |
| Timothy Kiplagat | Kenya | 2:03:50 | Rotterdam | 2023 | |
| Benson Kipruto | Kenya | 2:04:02 | Chicago | 2023 | |
| Bethwel Kibet | Kenya | 2:04:37 | Amsterdam | 2023 | |
| Hailemaryam Kiros | Ethiopia | 2:04:41 | Paris | 2021 | |
| Andualem Belay | Ethiopia | 2:04:44 | Berlin | 2023 | |
| Tsegaye Getachew | Ethiopia | 2:04:49 | Amsterdam | 2022 | |
| Chalu Deso | Ethiopia | 2:04:56 | Valencia | 2022 | |
| Kengo Suzuki | Japan | 2:04:56 | Lake Biwa | 2021 | |
| Bazezew Asmare | Ethiopia | 2:04:57 | Amsterdam | 2022 | |
| Victor Kiplangat | Uganda | 2:05:09 | Hamburg | 2022 | |
| Ichitaka Yamashita | Japan | 2:05:51 | Tokyo | 2023 | |
| Kenya Sonota | Japan | 2:05:59 | Tokyo | 2023 | Scratch 16 Feb |
| Haimro Alame | Israel | 2:06:04 | Valencia | 2023 | |
| Bedan Karoki | Kenya | 2:06:15 | Tokyo | 2020 | |
| Kyohei Hosoya | Japan | 2:06:35 | Lake Biwa | 2021 | |
| Kazuya Nishiyama | Japan | 2:06:45 | Osaka | 2023 | |
| Yusuke Ogura | Japan | 2:06:51 | Lake Biwa | 2021 | |
| Yohei Ikeda | Japan | 2:06:53 | Kao | 2023 | Scratch 16 Feb |
| Michael Githae | Kenya | 2:07:08 | Fukuoka Int’l | 2023 | |
| Shuho Dairokuno | Japan | 2:07:12 | Lake Biwa | 2021 | |
| Simon Kariuki | Kenya | 2:07:18 | Lake Biwa | 2021 | |
| Masato Kikuchi | Japan | 2:07:20 | Lake Biwa | 2021 | |
| Toshiki Sadakata | Japan | 2:07:24 | Osaka | 2023 | |
| Masaki Sakuda | Japan | 2:07:42 | Lake Biwa | 2021 | |
| Yusuke Nishiyama | Japan | 2:07:47 | Beppu-Oita | 2022 | |
| Shungo Yokota | Japan | 2:07:47 | Beppu-Oita | 2023 | |
| Yuhei Urano | Japan | 2:07:52 | Osaka | 2022 | |
| Shin Kimura | Japan | 2:07:55 | Beppu-Oita | 2023 | |
| Yugo Kashiwa | Japan | 2:08:11 | Osaka | 2023 | |
| Kenta Uchida | Japan | 2:08:12 | Lake Biwa | 2021 | |
| Shunya Kikuchi | Japan | 2:08:20 | Osaka | 2023 | |
| Keisuke Hayashi | Japan | 2:08:21 | Tokyo | 2022 | |
| Kensuke Horio | Japan | 2:08:25 | Tokyo | 2022 | |
| Yuki Nakamura | Japan | 2:08:29 | Hofu | 2022 | |
| Kiyoshi Koga | Japan | 2:08:30 | Beppu-Oita | 2022 | |
| Kenji Yamamoto | Japan | 2:08:38 | Osaka | 2022 | |
| Naoki Aiba | Japan | 2:08:44 | Beppu-Oita | 2022 | |
| Kazuma Kubo | Japan | 2:08:48 | Tokyo | 2022 | |
| Takashi Ichida | Japan | 2:08:57 | Chicago | 2023 | |
| Naoya Sakuda | Japan | 2:09:06 | Beppu-Oita | 2023 | |
| Minato Oishi | Japan | 2:09:08 | Fukuoka Int’l | 2022 | |
| Kohei Futaoka | Japan | 2:09:14 | Fukuoka Int’l | 2021 | |
| Masaya Taguchi | Japan | 2:09:27 | Tokyo | 2022 | |
| Kyoya Tsujino | Japan | 2:09:39 | Osaka | 2023 | |
| Takamitsu Hashimoto | Japan | 2:09:43 | Lake Biwa | 2021 | |
| Koki Takada | Japan | 2:09:45 | Fukuoka Int’l | 2022 | |
| Yuma Hattori | Japan | 2:09:47 | Osaka | 2023 | |
| Benard Kimeli | Kenya | 2:10:50 | Berlin | 2021 | |
| Workneh Derese | Ethiopia | 2:12:43 | Saga Sakura | 2023 | |
| Benjamin Ngandu | Kenya | 2:14:56 | Kasumigaura | 2023 | |
| Daniel Muiva Kitonyi | Kenya | 2:15:19 | Tokyo | 2022 | |
| Patrick Mosin | Kenya | debut (59:31 half) | Lille Half | 2023 | |
| Yusuke Tamura | Japan | debut (1:00:38 half) | Nat’l Corp. Half | 2022 |
Key Storylines
Eliud Kipchoge
Eliud Kipchoge, one of the most accomplished marathoners in history, has set his sights on winning every Abbott World Marathon Major (WMM). Among the six major marathons, he has triumphed in Tokyo, London, Berlin, and Chicago.
However, he has yet to conquer the challenging courses of Boston and New York, both known for significant hills and the absence of pacers. Despite a sixth-place finish in Boston last year, Kipchoge opted to skip New York and secure a record fifth win in Berlin.
Kipchoge’s strategic decisions are primarily geared towards his ultimate goal of clinching a historic third consecutive Olympic marathon gold in Paris next year. His meticulous planning revolves around maximizing preparation time for this pinnacle event.
By choosing Tokyo over Boston in 2024, Kipchoge ensures an extra six weeks of training leading up to the Olympics, given Tokyo’s 23-week gap compared to Boston’s 17.
While Kipchoge has demonstrated the ability to perform well with tight turnarounds in the past, his recent choice reflects a preference for familiar terrain and optimal timing.
Tokyo’s course, where he has previously tasted success, offers a gentler challenge compared to the punishing hills of Boston. Moreover, the extended preparation period aligns better with Kipchoge’s training regimen and recovery needs.
Despite speculation about Kipchoge’s potential to run multiple marathons in a calendar year, his focus remains on strategic planning and peak performance for the Olympic Games.
The decision to prioritize Tokyo over London, despite the latter’s higher appearance fee, highlights Kipchoge’s long-term objectives.
At 39 years old, he aims to maintain peak fitness for the Olympic Games while leaving open the possibility of future endeavors, such as completing his WMM collection or pursuing new records.
Sifan Hassan
Tokyo seems like the logical choice for Sifan Hassan, offering her a fresh challenge and ample time to recover before the Olympics. There’s speculation whether she could even set a new world record.
In 2023, Hassan showcased her remarkable ability to compete in quick succession, winning the London Marathon in April, achieving success at the World Championships on the track in August, and securing victory at the Chicago Marathon in October with the second-fastest time ever.
Despite her impressive performances, the competition in women’s running is fierce, with athletes like Faith Kipyegon and Gudaf Tsegay dominating in Budapest.
To enhance her chances of success in Paris, Hassan needs to maximize her preparation time, making Tokyo a strategic choice as it provides an additional seven weeks of track training compared to London (six weeks more than Boston).
While Hassan’s Olympic event lineup remains undisclosed, her track record suggests she’s likely to pursue at least one track event alongside the marathon in Paris.
Her penchant for challenges could see her attempt to medal in both disciplines, a feat unprecedented in women’s athletics.
Hassan’s approach to Tokyo will be intriguing, especially considering her previous marathon victories were achieved while balancing track commitments. With a focused buildup solely for the marathon, she could be poised to push the limits and potentially challenge the current world record of 2:11:53.
In essence, Tokyo offers Hassan a strategic opportunity to prepare for the Olympics while also presenting the possibility of a record-breaking performance, reflecting her relentless pursuit of excellence in both track and marathon events.
We’ll be bringing you live updates of the 2024 Tokyo Marathon beginning at 8:30 a.m. local time (6:30 p.m. ET) on Sunday, March 3. For viewers from the other side of the Pacific, the Tokyo Marathon will begin at 7:10 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 2, 2024.
