The 15th running of Osaka’s marathon closes Midosuji to traffic and ends with the castle keep in view.
Overview
The Osaka Marathon is one of Japan’s largest city marathons, with a field of over 30,000 and around 410,000 runners in its history. The 2027 edition is the fifteenth, and it carries elite status: it is part of the MGC Series 2026-27 and serves as a Japanese selection race for the 2027 World Championships in Beijing and, for men, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The course runs from the prefectural office area down Midosuji, through Namba and Nakanoshima, and finishes at Osaka Castle Park.
When and where
Race day is Sunday 28 February 2027. The organisers announced the date in spring 2026 and published race details around July; general entry ran in the second half of 2026.
Start: near the Osaka Prefectural Government Office. Finish: Osaka Castle Park.
Getting there
Everything is on the subway. Tanimachi 4-chome and Temmabashi serve the start area, Osakajokoen on the JR loop line serves the finish. Osaka is 2.5 hours from Tokyo on the Tokaido Shinkansen, and Kansai Airport is about 50 minutes from the centre by rapid train.
Road closures cover much of central Osaka on race morning, so leave taxis out of your plans.
What to expect
A flat, urban, heavily supported course.
- Field of more than 30,000 runners
- MGC Series race and a national selection event for Beijing 2027 and LA 2028
- A start on a slight downhill, the highest point of the course
- Roughly a million spectators along the route
- Finish beside Osaka Castle Park, with the keep in view
Tickets and admission
Paid entry for runners, by ballot in most years – demand has run at several times the number of places. Spectating is free. Check the official site for the 2027 entry outcome and race-day logistics.
Tips for visitors
If you are watching, Midosuji around Shinsaibashi gives the best combination of crowd and access. Runners should expect 15 to 20 minutes to cross the start line from the back blocks; timing is net, so it does not affect your result. Late February in Osaka is cool and often clear, close to ideal marathon weather.
Access and map
| Dates | 28 February 2027 (15th edition) |
|---|---|
| Venue | Central Osaka; finish at Osaka Castle Park |
| Access | Subway to Tanimachi 4-chome or Temmabashi; JR Osakajokoen for the finish |
| Admission | Paid entry for runners; free to spectate |
| Official site | Osaka City |
Source: Osaka City official site
Image: Photo: 663highland / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5
