Tokyo Marathon charity places: 14 partners, minimums from ¥100,000
14 official Tokyo Marathon Foundation Run with Heart charity partners for the 2027 race, with donation minimums from JPY 100,000 to JPY 200,000.
How charity places work
The Tokyo Marathon Foundation's Run with Heart programme is the legitimate domestic charity path into the race, sitting alongside the public lottery and the Abbott Guaranteed Entry route that most foreign runners use. The 2027 edition lists 41 official charity programmes from 37 vetted partner organisations, a much smaller and more curated roster than London's 1,000+ partner network. The standard floor is JPY 100,000, about USD 625 at current rates, with individual partners setting their own higher thresholds up to JPY 200,000 for groups like Peace Winds Japan and ACE. Applications open once a year in a tight window around late June, immediately after the public lottery results, and close in early July for the following March race. Selection is not first-come, with most charities prioritising higher donation amounts and prior supporters.
14 partners listed
Questions about charity places
When does the Tokyo Marathon charity application window open?
For the 2027 race on 7 March 2027, applications open 2026-06-24 and close 2026-07-09 at 5pm Japan time. Donation-only entries accepted through 2026-08-29.
What is the cheapest Tokyo Marathon charity place?
JPY 100,000 (about USD 625) is the programme-wide floor, set by partners including Special Olympics Nippon, Japanese Para Sports Association, WaterAid Japan, Solaputi Kids Camp, Pride House Tokyo, SHAPLA NEER, Chance for Children, Japan Environmental Education Forum, and Vaccines for the World's Children.
Are Tokyo Marathon charity places open to foreign runners?
Most are. A handful of partners restrict applications to Japan residents only, including Tokyo Development Foundation for Agriculture, Tokyo Disaster Prevention Association, and Children's Cancer Association of Japan. The rest accept international applicants who can complete the donation process.
Is the charity runner selection first come, first served?
No. The Tokyo Marathon Foundation explicitly states selection is not first come, first served. Most partner charities rank applicants by donation amount, with tiebreakers including prior support history and application timing.
How does Tokyo charity entry compare to the public lottery?
The charity programme caps at 5,000 spots versus around 27,000 lottery places. Lottery acceptance rates have run below 10% in recent years, making charity a higher-cost but more predictable guaranteed-entry route alongside the Abbott Guaranteed and One Tokyo Global programmes.