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[ Wire ] · Dispatch · Jul 29

Tokyo Marathon Charity Entry: 5,000 Places, One Window

The Tokyo Marathon reserves 5,000 charity runner places across 40 charity programs through its RUN with HEART scheme. For the 2027 race, applications ran from 11:00 a.m. JST on June 24 to 5:00 p.m. JST on July 9, 2026, and that window is now closed. Donation-only contributions from JPY 1,000 remain open through 5:00 p.m. JST on August 31, 2026.

How much does a Tokyo Marathon charity place cost?

Each charity sets its own minimum, and the spread is wide. Special Olympics Nippon, the Japanese Para Sports Association and WaterAid Japan sit at the JPY 100,000 floor. Peace Winds Japan and Action against Child Exploitation ask JPY 200,000. The Nippon Foundation, one of the official charities, requires JPY 350,000 per person and caps its own intake at 30 entrants. Every published minimum is listed partner by partner on the Tokyo charity page.

Is a charity place guaranteed if you donate?

No. The Foundation states that charity runner applications are not first come, first served. Each partner organization runs its own selection, and several openly prioritize prior supporters and higher donation amounts. A JPY 100,000 pledge to a popular cause is not a stronger application than a JPY 200,000 pledge to a smaller one.

When does Tokyo charity entry open again?

Late June, immediately after the previous cycle's results, closing in early July. The 2027 window ran June 24 to July 9, 2026, and the same rhythm has held in recent years. That timing matters because it lands almost two months before the general lottery closes, so a runner who waits for the ballot result in September has already missed the charity door for that edition.

Is charity the best route into Tokyo?

It is the most expensive and the most reliable. Against a general lottery running at roughly 10% acceptance, a five-figure yen donation to a partner with spare capacity is the closest thing Tokyo offers to a purchasable place. The charity place cost calculator compares that outlay across Majors, and the Tokyo Marathon page tracks every route in the 2027 cycle.

What are the options now that 2027 charity is closed?

The General Entry lottery opens August 14 and closes August 28, 2026, with results on September 18. It remains the main door for anyone without a semi-elite qualifying time or a ONE TOKYO GLOBAL membership. Details of each route are in how to enter the Tokyo Marathon.

Free alerts cover the Tokyo charity window as well as the ballot, which is the only practical way to catch a June opening that closes in two weeks.

Sources: Tokyo Marathon Foundation: Charity, The Nippon Foundation: Tokyo Marathon 2027 Charity

Sources Tokyo Marathon Foundation Charity runner field size (5,000), program count (40), application window and selection method from marathon.tokyo/en/charity. Nippon Foundation minimum of JPY 350,000 and 30 entrant cap from en.nippon-foundation.or.jp (June 24, 2026). Per-partner minimums of JPY 100,000 to JPY 200,000 from this site's Tokyo charity page, sourced from runwithheart.jp.