Osaka Marathon
Osaka, Japan · February · World Athletics Label
Why people love it
- Ultra-flat city course with a modest rise only near km 33 (mile 20.5)
- Maido Aid near km 32 (mile 20) serves takoyaki and cream puffs
- Start 7 minutes' walk from Tenmabashi Station; finish in Osaka Castle Park
- Waves by finish time and a real-time runner tracking app
Watch out for
- Entry is by lottery; one guide puts demand at 10 to 1 or worse
- Expect 3 to 5 km (2 to 3 mi) of congestion early, with about 34,000 runners
- February is cold, roughly 3 to 10 °C (37 to 50 °F), and a 2019 race ran in rain
- Fee is 145 USD (16,000 yen) plus 11% admin and two donations
- Few English-language athletes have written about the race
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Moderate
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.9
An elite and overseas runners praise organisation, atmosphere and aid. A 2019 rainy-day runner scored it 2.7 of 5. English reviews are few. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.1
A top elite called it flawless and overseas runners found English expo counters. A 2019 runner reported a 45 minute wet wait and disorganised corrals. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyFriendly3.7
Flat, 7 hour cutoff and big aid and crowds. Congestion for 3 to 5 km (2 to 3 mi) at the start is a drawback. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialFast4.4
Gold Label, ultra-flat, with a 2:05:20 course record in 2026. Cold air suits it; early congestion costs time. · Medium confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course sceneryBeautiful3.8
Osaka Castle finish, Dotonbori and Nakanoshima. One guide calls the middle stretch flat and monotonous. · Low confidence
- Room to runRoomy3.5
Congestion for 3 to 5 km (2 to 3 mi) as about 34,000 runners funnel out, plus bridges and sharp turns. Boulevards are wide. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood4.4
Wide city asphalt. No reports of rough surfaces. · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly closed4.3
Central roads are closed for the field of about 30,000. Little explicit evidence from runners. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessPancake flat4.6
Ultra-flat with one modest rise near km 33 (mile 20.5). No official gain figure, likely well under 100 m (330 ft). · Medium confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Point-to-point but essentially flat. Boston acceptance was not confirmed. · Medium confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSmooth3.6
Waves by finish time from 09:15 were described as orderly, with bag drop at the start. A 2019 runner reported a long wet wait. · Low confidence
- Pacers and timingGood3.5
Waves by PB and a supporter app with real-time position. Pace group details were not found. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportStrong4.2
Lively roadside crowds, cheer squads and costumed runners. A 2019 runner found cheering thinner later. · Medium confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.4
Official Maido Aid near km 32 (mile 20) with takoyaki and cream puffs, plus resident stations with sweets and mikan. An elite praised fluid stations. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind3.3
One guide flags a steady headwind from Osaka Bay on Sennichimae-dori. Otherwise little wind data. · Low confidence
- Air temperaturePleasant3.8
February is cool to cold, about 3 to 10 °C (37 to 50 °F). Fine once moving, cold in the start pens. · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.6
Winter is generally dry and stable, though the 2019 race, then a December edition, ran in rain. · Low confidence
- Spectator friendlyEasy3.9
A dense metro system and a runner-tracking app help, though few runners describe viewing. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Near sea level, about 10 m (33 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.8
Large city with plenty of hotels across Namba, Umeda and Honmachi, but race-weekend demand rises. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.4
Usually good value for a major city, though prices rise on race weekend. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.2
The start is about 7 minutes' walk from Tenmabashi Station. The finish in Osaka Castle Park is on the subway network. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeEasy4.0
Kansai International is a major hub 50 km (31 mi) away; Itami is closer at 15 km (9 mi). · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.8
A mandatory expo at INTEX Osaka on two days, with English counters. It is crowded at about 50,000 visitors. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGreat4.8
Osaka is a top food city, and the race itself includes Maido Aid street food. · Medium confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inHard2.1
General entry is by lottery; one unverified source puts odds at 10 to 1 or worse. Charity places are first-come. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyFair3.3
The fee of 145 USD (16,000 yen) plus 11% admin is high, but aid, expo and organisation are strong. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Osaka, Kansai, Japan
- Typical month
- February
- Latest or next date
- 22 February 2026
- Organiser
- World Athletics Label
- Field size
- About 30,000 athletes
- First held
- 2011
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Start time
- 09:15
- Cutoff
- 7 hours
- Surface
- City asphalt
- How to get in
- mixed
- Sells out
- Yes
- Entry fee
- About $165
- Air temperature
- 3–10 °C (37–50 °F)
- Humidity
- Dry winter air typical; rain on the 2019 December edition
- Altitude
- 10 m (33 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Osaka Itami (ITM) or Kansai International (KIX), 15 km (9 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Honmachi, Namba, Umeda
- Booking
- Itami is about 15 km (9 mi) away, Kansai International about 50 km (31 mi). Stay near Tenmabashi, Honmachi or Namba. The start is about 7 minutes' walk from Tenmabashi Station.
What racers and reviewers say
- FUN! JAPAN: Osaka Marathon 2026 overseas runner experienceRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Overseas entry went smoothly with English counters at the expo; wave start was orderly; Maido Aid at about km 32 (mile 20) and resident-run stations gave street food and sweets; lively crowds.
- marathons.com: Osaka Marathon 2026 reportRaced 2026 · article · Positive
Ultra-flat course with long straights; a French elite praised the flawless organisation, atmosphere and fluid aid stations; loud spectators.
“flawless organization, atmosphere, and fluid aid stations”
- MarathonGuide Osaka 2019 reviewRaced 2019 · aggregator · Negative
Rainy day: waited about 45 minutes in mud, corrals disorganised, long walk to the start, cheering strong early and thinner later; bib pickup smooth.
- Marathon Index: Osaka Marathon tipsRaced 2026 · article · neutral
Guide: flat and fast, 7 h cutoff, lottery with demand claimed at 10 to 1 or more, fee about 65 euros in older data.
- Run Dream Achieve: Osaka Marathon elevationRaced 2026 · blog · neutral
Calls it flat or gently rolling urban with bridges, ramps and sharp turns; crowded lanes matter after about 30 km (19 mi). No gain figure given.
Show 2 more
- BibRave and travel guides (2015 review, other guides)Raced 2015 · aggregator · Positive
A 2015 runner recommended it as fast and flat with only a slight hill at mile 23 (37 km) and cheering throughout; guides add that the middle is monotonous and a headwind appears on Sennichimae-dori. Content seen only via search snippet.
- US Embassy Z Notes blog: first Osaka Marathon (2011)Raced 2011 · blog · Positive
Described the inaugural race as well organised from start to finish. Very old; seen only via search snippet.
Raced Osaka Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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