How to Enter the Osaka Marathon 2027: Lottery, Fees & Overseas Registration
<strong>Entry to the Osaka Marathon 2027 is by lottery (ballot) on the official site, osaka-marathon.com — the race is on Sunday, February 28, 2027, over the full 42.195 km, from near the Osaka Prefectural Government Office to a finish inside Osaka Castle Park.</strong> There is no first-come guaranteed slot in the general field: you apply during the window, wait for the draw, and pay only if you win. Domestic runners apply through RUNNET, while overseas runners use the JTB Sports Station platform — the route that makes this one of Japan's most inbound-friendly big-city marathons.
Key facts at a glance
- Race day: Sunday, February 28, 2027
- Distance: 42.195 km (full marathon)
- Entry method: Lottery / ballot — oversubscribed most years
- Start: Near the Osaka Prefectural Government Office (Osaka Castle area)
- Finish: Osaka Castle Park (not Intex Osaka — that was the pre-2019 finish)
- Field size: Around 30,000 runners (the 2026 edition capped the marathon at 28,420)
- Official site: osaka-marathon.com
For the event overview, start date and course map, see our Osaka Marathon 2027 event page and keep it bookmarked for schedule updates.
Domestic vs overseas entry
The single most important thing to get right is which portal you use, because they are different:
- Domestic applicants apply via the official site through RUNNET, Japan's standard race-entry system.
- Overseas applicants register through the JTB Sports Station online platform — not RUNNET — or via travel agencies that bundle your race entry with hotel and flights. This overseas route is the key inbound angle: if you are travelling from abroad, JTB Sports Station (or an official tour package) is your path in.
If you live outside Japan, do not try to force your way through the domestic RUNNET flow. Use JTB Sports Station or a bundled agency package instead.
Fees
Fees below are for the 2026 edition; 2027 fees are TBC and will be confirmed on the official site.
| Category | Individual | Group |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic | ¥16,000 | ¥16,500 |
| Overseas | US$145 | US$150 |
On top of the base entry there is an administrative charge — 6% domestic, 11% overseas — plus a mandatory charity donation (all as of the 2026 edition). Budget for these extras when you plan.
Charity and guaranteed entry
The Osaka Marathon runs a separate "Charity Runners" category. If the general lottery is the gamble, the charity category asks you to commit to a charity donation as part of your entry. If supporting a cause appeals to you, look at the charity category on osaka-marathon.com when applications open.
The 2027 timeline (provisional)
The official 2027 application windows have not yet been published as of July 2026. Based on the 2026 cycle — which opened at 10:00 on July 30, 2025, closed August 29, 2025, announced results around September 26, 2025, and took payment by about October 20, 2025 — you should expect the 2027 application window to open around late July 2026 and close around late August 2026, with results around late September 2026 — pending the official announcement on osaka-marathon.com.
Treat these as provisional. Check osaka-marathon.com in mid-to-late July 2026 for the confirmed dates, and see our Osaka Marathon 2027 page, which we update as the official windows are announced.
The course
The current course starts near the Osaka Prefectural Government Office in the Osaka Castle area and finishes inside Osaka Castle Park — a scenic, spectator-friendly loop through central Osaka. Note for returning runners: the finish is no longer at Intex Osaka; that was the old pre-2019 course.
FAQ
How do you enter the Osaka Marathon 2027? By lottery on the official site, osaka-marathon.com. Domestic runners apply via RUNNET; overseas runners register through JTB Sports Station or a travel-agency package.
When is the Osaka Marathon 2027? Sunday, February 28, 2027, over the full 42.195 km.
Is it first-come or a lottery? The general field is by lottery (ballot) and is oversubscribed most years. A separate Charity Runners category offers another route to a place.
How much does it cost? As of the 2026 edition, ¥16,000 domestic / US$145 overseas for individuals, plus an admin charge (6% domestic, 11% overseas) and a mandatory charity donation. 2027 fees are still to be confirmed.
How do overseas runners register? Through the JTB Sports Station online platform, or via travel agencies that bundle entry with hotel and flights — not through the domestic RUNNET flow.
When does entry open for 2027? Provisionally, expect the window to open around late July 2026 and close around late August 2026, with results around late September 2026 — pending the official announcement on osaka-marathon.com.
Where does the race start and finish? It starts near the Osaka Prefectural Government Office (Osaka Castle area) and finishes in Osaka Castle Park.
