When is the Osaka Marathon 2027?

Sunday 28 February 2027. The marathon's first wave starts at 09:15, with second and third waves following, and the course closes at 16:15 — a seven-hour limit. It starts outside the Osaka Prefectural Government building and finishes inside Osaka Castle Park.

Is entry still open, and when does it close?

Still open. General runners (individual and group) and runners with disabilities can enter from 10:00 on 28 July 2026 until 17:00 on 28 August 2026. If entries exceed the cap the places are decided by lottery, and results are emailed on 28 September 2026. Your place is confirmed once you pay by the deadline given in the winning notification. For the 720 Naniwa Marathon, the running category closes at the same time and the wheelchair category on 14 September at 17:00.

How much does it cost — and what will I actually pay?

The entry fee is ¥16,000 domestic / US$145 overseas for an individual general entry, and ¥16,500 / US$150 per person for a group of 2–7. That is not the whole bill: the race guidelines require an administration charge on top (6.0% of the settled amount for domestic entries, 11% for overseas) plus a compulsory charity donation of at least two units per runner (¥500 each domestically, US$5 each from overseas). So a domestic individual entry works out at roughly ¥18,000 all in. The 720 Naniwa Marathon is ¥5,000 for the running category and ¥1,000 for the wheelchair category; the "10K & Fun RUN" bundled entry is ¥20,000.

How many places are there?

34,000 in total — 31,970 for the marathon and 2,030 for the 720 Naniwa Marathon. Of those, 28,420 are general entries, 50 for runners with disabilities, 1,500 Citizen Athlete places (first-come), 800 Osaka Sports Supporter places (first-come), 1,000 charity places (first-come) and 200 "10K & Fun RUN" bundled places. The organisers do not publish the number of applicants, so the odds cannot be calculated.

Who can enter? Is there an age limit?

For the marathon you must have been born on or before 1 April 2008 and be able to finish within the 16:15 cut-off; JAAF registration is not required. For the 720 Naniwa Marathon, the running category is for those born on or before 1 April 2011, and the wheelchair category for those born on or before 1 April 2014 who hold a physical disability certificate.

Is there any way in without the lottery?

Yes, several first-come routes. Osaka Sports Supporter runners get a place by donating ¥100,000 or more through the furusato-nozei scheme to either the Osaka Prefecture or Osaka City sports fund (the entry fee is still payable separately; 400 places each, 800 total, donations accepted until 17:00 on 5 October). Charity runners take 1,000 first-come places until 17:00 on 19 October; domestic charity runners raise at least ¥70,000 in donations on top of the entry fee, while overseas charity runners pay US$145 entry plus US$475+ in donations and two US$5 units. The Citizen Athlete route (1,500 places, qualifying times required) closed on 28 July.

When and where do I collect my race number?

At runner reception during the Osaka Marathon EXPO 2027: Friday 26 February 2027, 11:00–19:00, and Saturday 27 February, 10:00–18:00, at INTEX Osaka Hall 6. There is no reception on race day itself, nobody can collect on your behalf, and you must bring photo ID. (The only exception is the 720 Naniwa wheelchair category, which registers on race morning, 09:00–10:00.)

Osaka Marathon 2027: Sun Feb 28 — Entry, Lottery & Race-Day Guide

Highlights

42.195 km from the Osaka Prefectural Government building to a finish inside Osaka Castle Park (JAAF / WA / AIMS certified)
Field of 34,000, with 28,420 general-entry places decided by lottery if oversubscribed
Part of the MGC Series 2026–27 (men's G1 / women's G2)

Background & story

First run in 2011, the Osaka Marathon is the city's premier mass-participation road race and has finished at Osaka Castle Park since 2019.

The Osaka Marathon 2027 runs Sunday, 28 February 2027, and the Organizing Committee confirmed the full entry schedule on 21-22 July 2026: the general field opens 28 July 2026 and the race is capped at 28,420 runners, same as 2026. This page covers exactly when and how to enter, now that the official schedule is out.

What is confirmed for 2027

Race day: Sunday, 28 February 2027 (official announcement, 27 Apr 2026).
Entry schedule (Organizing Committee release, 21-22 July 2026): general field (individual + group, lottery, cap 28,420) and a 50-place Para-athlete category open 28 July 2026, 10:00 and close 28 August 2026, 17:00. Citizen Athletes (cap 1,500, first-come) get an earlier window, 27 July 10:00 – 28 July 17:00.
Fees confirmed for 2027, unchanged from 2026: ¥16,000 domestic / US$145 overseas per individual (¥16,500 / US$150 group).
Lottery results date has not been published yet — check osaka-marathon.com or this page for the update.
The 2027 race is part of the JAAF MGC Series 2026–27 (men's G1 / women's G2).

How to enter (confirmed for 2027)

Osaka is a lottery (抽選) race, not first-come — demand runs several times the number of places, so applying early does not improve your odds, but missing the window means missing the race.

Apply online through the official site during the entry period.
Confirmed for 2027: the general field opened 28 July 2026 and closes 28 August 2026, 17:00. Lottery results have not been announced yet.
Confirmed for 2027: the full-marathon entry fee is ¥16,000 domestic / US$145 overseas for individuals; there is also a shorter "Naniwa Run" (720 Naniwa Marathon) and a "10K & Fun Run" (cap 200, first-come, race day 25 October 2026).
Overseas runners can enter through official travel partners such as JTB Sports Station or an overseas travel agency, which bundle a guaranteed place with accommodation.

The course & finish

The 42.195 km course threads past Osaka's landmarks and, since 2019, finishes inside Osaka Castle Park — one of the most dramatic finish straights in Japanese marathoning. The start is in the Osaka Prefectural Government area near Temmabashi; the finish is near JR Osakajo-koen / Morinomiya.

If you're not running — come to cheer

Spectating is free. The Osaka Castle Park finish area has the biggest atmosphere; for the early kilometres, the streets around Temmabashi and the city centre are easy to reach and lively. Make a weekend of it — the Osaka Castle Park grounds and nearby food streets are a short walk away.

How to lock in your place

Apply now — the general field's entry window is 28 July – 28 August 2026, 17:00; Citizen Athletes (cap 1,500) close earlier, on 28 July.
Watch for the lottery result — the date hasn't been published yet, so check osaka-marathon.com or this page for the update.
If you miss out, official-partner travel packages (e.g. JTB Sports Station for overseas runners) usually still have guaranteed slots.

Entry windows above are confirmed by the Organizing Committee's 21-22 July 2026 release. The lottery results date is not yet published — we'll update this page once it is.

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Racing in Japan? All eight 2026–2027 marathons, entry windows and how overseas runners get a guaranteed bib: Japan Marathons guide.

Good to know for visitors

Getting there: Start near Temmabashi Station; finish near JR Osakajo-koen / Morinomiya Station.　Open directions in Google Maps ↗
Booking & entry: Check tickets and details on the official page (button above).
Paying: An individual general entry costs ¥16,000 in Japan / US$145 from overseas. On top of the entry fee you must also pay an administration charge (6.0% of the settled amount for domestic entries) and a compulsory charity donation of at least two units (¥500 each in Japan), so a domestic individual entry actually comes to roughly ¥18,000. Watching from the roadside is free. (Race guidelines, as of 16 August 2026.). Smaller venues in Japan are often cash-first — carry some yen (cards/IC not guaranteed).
Language: Mostly in Japanese — a translation app on your phone helps.
Good for: groups of friends, culture seekers

Good to know

General entry closes 17:00 on Friday 28 August 2026; if it is oversubscribed the lottery result is emailed on Monday 28 September. If you are not running, the Osaka Castle Park finish is the best place to cheer.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Osaka Marathon 2027?: Sunday 28 February 2027. The marathon's first wave starts at 09:15, with second and third waves following, and the course closes at 16:15 — a seven-hour limit. It starts outside the Osaka Prefectural Government building and finishes inside Osaka Castle Park.
Is entry still open, and when does it close?: Still open. General runners (individual and group) and runners with disabilities can enter from 10:00 on 28 July 2026 until 17:00 on 28 August 2026. If entries exceed the cap the places are decided by lottery, and results are emailed on 28 September 2026. Your place is confirmed once you pay by the deadline given in the winning notification. For the 720 Naniwa Marathon, the running category closes at the same time and the wheelchair category on 14 September at 17:00.
How much does it cost — and what will I actually pay?: The entry fee is ¥16,000 domestic / US$145 overseas for an individual general entry, and ¥16,500 / US$150 per person for a group of 2–7. That is not the whole bill: the race guidelines require an administration charge on top (6.0% of the settled amount for domestic entries, 11% for overseas) plus a compulsory charity donation of at least two units per runner (¥500 each domestically, US$5 each from overseas). So a domestic individual entry works out at roughly ¥18,000 all in. The 720 Naniwa Marathon is ¥5,000 for the running category and ¥1,000 for the wheelchair category; the "10K & Fun RUN" bundled entry is ¥20,000.
How many places are there?: 34,000 in total — 31,970 for the marathon and 2,030 for the 720 Naniwa Marathon. Of those, 28,420 are general entries, 50 for runners with disabilities, 1,500 Citizen Athlete places (first-come), 800 Osaka Sports Supporter places (first-come), 1,000 charity places (first-come) and 200 "10K & Fun RUN" bundled places. The organisers do not publish the number of applicants, so the odds cannot be calculated.
Who can enter? Is there an age limit?: For the marathon you must have been born on or before 1 April 2008 and be able to finish within the 16:15 cut-off; JAAF registration is not required. For the 720 Naniwa Marathon, the running category is for those born on or before 1 April 2011, and the wheelchair category for those born on or before 1 April 2014 who hold a physical disability certificate.
Is there any way in without the lottery?: Yes, several first-come routes. Osaka Sports Supporter runners get a place by donating ¥100,000 or more through the furusato-nozei scheme to either the Osaka Prefecture or Osaka City sports fund (the entry fee is still payable separately; 400 places each, 800 total, donations accepted until 17:00 on 5 October). Charity runners take 1,000 first-come places until 17:00 on 19 October; domestic charity runners raise at least ¥70,000 in donations on top of the entry fee, while overseas charity runners pay US$145 entry plus US$475+ in donations and two US$5 units. The Citizen Athlete route (1,500 places, qualifying times required) closed on 28 July.
When and where do I collect my race number?: At runner reception during the Osaka Marathon EXPO 2027: Friday 26 February 2027, 11:00–19:00, and Saturday 27 February, 10:00–18:00, at INTEX Osaka Hall 6. There is no reception on race day itself, nobody can collect on your behalf, and you must bring photo ID. (The only exception is the 720 Naniwa wheelchair category, which registers on race morning, 09:00–10:00.)

Getting there

Start: Osaka Prefectural Government Office; Finish: Osaka Castle Park — 2 Otemae, Chuo-ku, Osaka (start)

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Japan-Event Editorial

Japan-based editorial team
Primary sources, cited
Variable facts dated

The Japan-Event editorial desk. We work from primary sources and date every claim that can change.