Kyoto Marathon
Kyoto, JapanChoose the distanceTap a distance: the course, fees, times and rules below update for that race.
At a glance
Kyoto Marathon 2027 takes place on 21 February 2027 in Kyoto, Japan. Distances: 42.195 km. Start at 09:00 from TAKEBISHI Stadium Kyoto (Nishikyogoku Athletic Park).
- Date
- Sunday, 21 February 2027
- Location
- Kyoto, Japan
- Start
- TAKEBISHI Stadium Kyoto (Nishikyogoku Athletic Park)
- Finish
- Davanti al santuario Heian-jingu
- Distances
- Marathon · 42.195 km · Competitive
- Pair-Ekiden · 42.195 km · Competitive
- Start times
- 09:00
- Entry fees
- JP¥18,500
- Registration
- Registration open · Register now ↗
- Official website
- kyoto-marathon.com ↗
- Series
- Boston qualifier
Last updated: 19 October 2026
The race
The Kyoto Marathon takes place on Sunday 21 February 2027, starting at 9:00 from TAKEBISHI Stadium Kyoto (Nishikyogoku Athletic Park) and finishing in front of Heian-jingu Shrine. The time limit is 6 hours.
The course passes seven UNESCO World Heritage sites: Tenryu-ji, Ninna-ji, Ryoan-ji, Kinkaku-ji, Kamigamo-jinja, Shimogamo-jinja and Ginkaku-ji. From the road you can also see the five mountains of the Gozan no Okuribi bonfires, the city's summer festival.
The race is organised by Kyoto City and the Kyoto Athletic Association, on a course certified by the Japanese federation, World Athletics and AIMS. Besides the marathon there is the Pair-Ekiden, a two-person relay with the changeover at the Botanical Gardens. Places for residents of Japan are allocated by lottery, while overseas runners enter first come, first served at JPY 35,000.
Videos
Course
The race starts at TAKEBISHI Stadium Kyoto, as the national ekiden championships do, and follows the Katsura River with a view of Togetsukyo Bridge in Arashiyama, then passes through Sagano and Hirosawa-no-ike Pond.
It continues along Kinukake-no-michi, a road famous for over a thousand years, through the Kyoto Botanical Gardens, along the Kamo River and through Kyoto Gyoen, the Imperial Palace park. Along the way are Tenryu-ji, Ninna-ji, Ryoan-ji, Kinkaku-ji, Kamigamo-jinja, Shimogamo-jinja and Ginkaku-ji, as well as modern buildings such as ROHM Theatre Kyoto and City Hall, before the finish in front of Heian-jingu.
Entry fees
What's included
- Finisher medal
- Chip timing
Rules and requirements
Who can enter
- born before 1 April 2008
- able to finish within 6 hours (wheelchairs are not allowed in the marathon)
Marathon fees
- Kyoto City residents: JPY 18,500
- other residents of Japan: JPY 19,500
- overseas: JPY 35,000
Entry
Online. For residents of Japan, a lottery is held if there are too many applications; overseas runners are accepted first come, first served. Those entering via the English or Chinese site cannot take part in the Pair-Ekiden or wheelchair race.
Race weekend
- check-in on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 February 2027
- time limit 6 hours (gun time), with cut-off points along the course
