Tokyo Half Marathon

Established in 2010, the Tokyo Half Marathon is now 16 years old. From its first edition in Tokyo, it has evolved into a race that reflects the character of its host region in Japan.

The fastest time ever recorded at the Tokyo Half Marathon is 01:00:35, set by Kibiwott Kandie in 2020. Every year, new contenders line up hoping to challenge that mark on the streets of Tokyo.

Runners come to the Tokyo Half Marathon for one reason: personal bests. The flat, fast course through Tokyo has a reputation as a PB factory, with the roads seemingly designed to keep your pace honest and your splits consistent from start to finish.

Getting into the Tokyo Half Marathon is a race before the race. The entry lottery draws far more applicants than available spots, and the notification email — accepted or rejected — has become an annual ritual that defines the running calendars of thousands.

With 30,000 finishers and spectators lining the course deep, the Tokyo Half Marathon generates an atmosphere that carries runners through the hard miles. The crowd support in Tokyo is not polite applause — it's visceral, personal, and often the difference between hitting the wall and breaking through it.