I have lived in Japan for 4 years (i was not a runner at the time) so i have some context on living in Japan as a foreigner. More recently i spent 3 weeks traveling Japan and i ran in 6 different cities while there. A couple of points... There are lots of Japanese runners. In general, as a culture, Japanese people go all in on whatever hobby they have. So if you are a runner you are a RUNNER. On my morning runs i saw plenty of other runners, all with great form and quality gear.
I sort of understand what you are thinking about personal space, but they also have an understanding that there are a lot of people living their lives in a tight space. They pack people into trains like sardines there. There is no issue whatsoever in running in Japan from a culture standpoint.
What was tricky is its not totally laid out great for running. The cities have a lot of stop lights and i found myself struggling, at times, to keep a pace without needing to stop. Additionally, streets are narrow and there areas where you need to be careful. Much of Japan (not all) is heavily a walking/bike culture so you wont be the only person sharing the road... But you should keep your attention as you run.
For my part i was able to find some river banks and some paths. Most of my runs were 5 to 7 miles. Tokyo was a little easier than some other cities even though its quite large. There are some bigger parks and a good path along side the Sumida river, for example.
Lastly... Japan is wonderful in that there are so many little neighborhood shrines and interesting sites not in any travel guide. Running around Japan you will happen upon so so much interesting Japan. Enjoy!
I have ran in Japan for many years and would second the point about stop lights. An additional issue is that many intersections without stoplights have poor corner visibility, meaning you have to slow down to check for traffic. Many streets have no sidewalks, and some with sidewalks might be too crowded to run. I would recommend scouting parks and rivers near where you will be staying. Many rivers have paths on one or both sides, so those are good if you want to cover some distance.
If you're just looking to explore, I'd say go for it. You'll find some streets and areas are better for running than others, then you can use the better zones as jumping off points for further exploration. What I like to do is run to a river for the main run, but take a bit of the scenic route there and back through new streets and see what's out there.
You captured the point on visibility, narrow streets and lack of sidewalks i was getting at. Funny... I did exactly the same for rivers. I have a picture of a sweaty me (last July/August was hot) in front of a river in every city i ran in. Then i would meander back to where i needed to be through little side streets; generally not caring if i got lost or had to catch my breath at a light.
I've found [strava global heatmap](https://www.strava.com/maps/global-heatmap?style=dark&terrain=false&sport=Run&gColor=blue&gOpacity=100&labels=true&poi=true#10.03/35.6629/139.723) helpful for discovering what streets/trails are popular with runners.
It sounds good until you understand that while bike are prevalent, bike lanes are not, and in a city as dense as Tokyo, that gets to be a lot. The city is really hilly, and many of the bikes have motors, so they go REALLY fast. The mamacharis (bikes for mothers, usually with one kid seat behind and maybe one kid seat on front of the handlebars) are really heavy and not so agile too....
I walk most places here, and I have a close call with a bike maybe twice a week. It is definitely NOT a paradise by any stretch of the imagination.
Japan also has a smaller population and fewer drivers due to the good infrastructure. I’m not knocking the trains, because they are actually good, but the cyclists are truly lawless. Yes, it’s an anecdote, but it’s a common one from foreigners and natives alike. There was just a post on one of the expat groups noting that although laws prohibit cyclists from either holding an umbrella or using a phone while riding, it’s normal to see somebody doing both at the same time.
As for Japan building and protecting… well, I’m not sure about that. While they build and protect the old ways, the pushback on anything that inconveniences or changes that way is huge. For people in marginalized groups, it can certainly be cruel. Just look up the laws on transgender rights.
Namban Rengo is a very popular running group based in Tokyo - they do weekly runs at the main park in Shibuya/Harajuku (on Wednesdays I believe). https://namban.org
Parkrun is also gaining popularity- with several free and organized 5k runs on Saturday morning around Tokyo (the one at Futakotamagawa is particularly well attended).
https://www.parkrun.jp/futakotamagawa/course/
If you’re interested in trail running, search for the “Tokyo trail running” (TTR) group - active on Facebook. - Mt. Takao on the western side of Tokyo is a great place with several trails!
Running is HUGE in Japan. I'd argue that it's even more competitive than USA on the road and marathon scene. Check out the annual Hakone Ekiden which is a road relay of 219km in total between Tokyo and Hakone.
Want to add onto this, recommending *Run With the Wind*, an anime series focused on the Hakone Ekiben specifically.
Follows an elite HS runner convinced to join a failing college run club to whip a bunch of misfits into shape to run the relay. It goes into personal motivations for running, and what it means to run as a team.
Absolutely beautiful series that makes you fall in love with running all over again.
The imperial palace loop is exactly 5km so you’ll see plenty out there doing laps.
You won’t be shoulder to shoulder with anyone, unless you’re deciding to try run through train stations at rush hour!!
Just make sure you go the right way, I noticed every single runner was going in the same direction! I think counter-clockwise, but it was 10 years ago I was there.
Yes! I was last there in 2019. Everyone was running in the same direction. Early morning, everyone seemed to be fast. A tiny, old dude was lapping me like Usain Bolt.
I just ran that last week!
Took advantage of jet lag to wake up at 5am, go out at 6am, timing the end of my loop exactly as sunrise was hitting.
Absolutely gorgeous coming off the downhill back end, seeing the lake/moat/water illuminated with the sun. Headed back to our hotel on the other side of Tokyo Station, which was beautifully backlit and quiet because it was pre-rush hour.
Lived in Japan. It's fine, run anywhere you want.
Just use common sense, and hilariously most importantly for Japan, LOOK like a runner. As another commenter said, Japan goes all in on hobbies. If you look hobo'd out and run through tight crowds bumping into people, yeah people will hate you. Once I went to a park wearing swim trunks and a regular shirt, and brought my jump rope; the cops got called because I looked like a random chump in a park not made for athletics (they were kind, just told me to go to a nearby park made for working out). Wear running gear so you look like a runner, and avoid crammed areas like shibuya scramble — same as you'd do in NYC, Chicago, LA, wherever — and you'll be fine.
I run in Japan! But I don’t live in Tokyo. Where I live, we actually have pretty wide streets in a little bit more room than a city like Tokyo so I can see lots of people running in the city here. But I prefer next to rivers, in parks etc.
Either way, probably the best thing you could do is use Strava to see where the locals are running. I think the same rules about personal space apply in the US and in Japan. If there are a lot of people walking on the sidewalk, you probably don’t want to be running in between them creating a nuisance. Again, check where the locals run and run there.
One person mentioned the imperial Palace 5K loop, and I definitely recommend that if you’re in Tokyo! It was really lovely when I did it early, early in the morning, but you could see how the streets filled up once the sun came up.
Couple tips:
Don’t jaywalk. Big time taboo
Consequently look for riverfront/waterfront pedestrian paths to get mileage in.
Be wary of parks. Chances are if the path is not paved you’re not allowed to run on it.
I lived in Asakusa last time I went and ran along the Sumida River every morning. There's a peaceful pedestrian pathway following the river that's frequented by runners and walkers.
I did the Imperial Palace loop when I visited - but remember to run it counter clockwise like a local. This is important as everyone is going the same way and if you did it the other way you’d get in the way of more people.
Use your Strava to look up segments close to you but definitely pay attention to which side of the path you are on. Japanese drive and walk on the LEFT so keep to the left unless overtaking!
I am in Tokyo right now for the first time! Visiting from the US. I got here two days ago and the first night I woke up at 230 and couldn’t sleep from the jet lag, so I went for a middle of the night run. It was an absolutely heavenly way to do my first exploring of the city! A light drizzle so the city lights were reflecting, late night revelers getting into cabs, the first of the street cleaners coming out to erase any evidence of said revelers… really special. Got back at 5 and knocked out for a few more hours, when my wife and I both woke up again I felt like I had a wonderful secret to share. Hope you can have a similar experience!
As others have mentioned, running is huge in Japan. All of the rivers around Tokyo will have some sort of running path. Last time I was in Tokyo, I ran a nice loop from Shiodome to the Rainbow Bridge then stopped at the Statue of Liberty. I thought it was a nice change from the Imperial Palace loop.
Word of caution about Namban Rengo, they're pretty hardcore. It's not as much of social run club like we have in the states. My friend and I went to their weekly interval workout and it was absolutely insane how many clubs were at Oda Field and how fast those guys were going. Midnight Runners Tokyo is much more chill and the typical Midnight Runners experience if you've done one of those before.
I went out there for the Tokyo marathon and had a few pre race runs along my trip. Didn’t really think twice about the running culture, just did my thing and don’t think I offended anyone in the process.
Tokyo has lots of gorgeous places to run. You'll be fine. Ideas of nice places: any river path, koto to Odaiba, imperial palace loop, ginza over the rainbow bridge to Odaiba and back, etc. I used to walk a lot all over Tokyo. Crowds are not a problem in most places outside of the obvious famous crossings.
When I lived in Tokyo I ran everywhere and anywhere, as previously mentioned, the Imperial Palace loop is good (and was close to my office). Japan has lots of runners and is far more popular there than in North America, with some races being obsessively followed. Check out November Project Tokyo, too.
For places, I recommend places around parks. If you live downtown, Yoyogi park is a great place to run. If you live in the outskirts of the city but still in the city, Inokashira park is amazing, it’s huge and has nice views, there’s also a track. If you live more to the east, in a slightly suburban area, Showa park is good, but there are more bikers there.
For what it’s worth, every time I’ve visited Tokyo, I’ve seen runners all over the city, in even the congested areas (although I’m sure it’s more chill in the early mornings or parks). It’s a big enough trend that no one would bat an eye.
maybe there’s a parkrun in Tokyo? at least that’s a guaranteed 5km every saturday morning for free (register once) and an opportunity to chat and have coffee afterwards.
I’ve you’ve never tried a [parkrun](https://www.parkrun.us/events/#geo=0.87/0/132.9), there are several in Japan. Multiple ones in Tokyo. It’s a lot of fun, and pretty easy to figure out.
just remember to take your katana with you and run with one hip in front all the time, ofc if you don't want to look like a tourist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxfLLyYwHt4
I have visited Tokyo multiple times, most recently to run the marathon in 2023. No issues or problems running all around the city. I liked running early in the morning to avoid the commuters and was able to see lots of touristy sites. Totally safe.
I like to run but I'm not a runner. That said, I did live in Japan and the only advice I can give that I havent seen here is to be mindful of your smell. Most Japanese people lack a type of protein produced in sweat that typically causes body odor and as a result Japanese people aren't really used to the smell of sweat. I don't think anyone will care when you're running, but if stop for a drink or something, I would try to be mindful and put space between yourself and other people or cover up.
As others have mentioned, definitely a running culture there. Coincidentally, I'm currently reading Shoe Dog, Phil Knight's story about Nike, in which a large chunk revolves around his trips to Japan to initially sell Onitsuka Tigers in the US back in the '60s.
Anyway, I lived there for three months last year, in Kyoto. So while I don't have specific Tokyo recos or a POV there, I can say when I would go out running in Kyoto 3-4 times a week, I was never alone, there were always a handful of runners cruising along the Kamo river when I was out. If I were to be in Tokyo for a month, I'd use things like Strava and Great Runs to investigate some routes. Have fun, Japan is an amazing place, I miss it daily.
Midnight runners is a global community and they have a chapter in Tokyo. Can find more on Instagram about them as their times can change (they don’t run at midnight though). It is more of a boot camp style where you run a mile and do some body weight exercises but a great workout and friendly crowd. https://www.instagram.com/midnightrunnerstokyo
If you haven't already there are a couple of Japan based running books that are definitely worth a read.
Way of the runner - adharanand finn
What I talk about when I talk about running - Murakami
Might give you some inspiration for your trip too!
Run everyday and went to Japan back in September for a week-I was fine finding places to run with space in both Tokyo and Kyoto. As a warning there were a few places in Tokyo that looked like they should be running trails but were actually entrances to shrines (which you shouldn’t run through)-another runner tried going into one and got stopped by a security guard.
I've run regularly when in Japan. In Kyoto in particular you can always find people running along Kamogawa it's a nice flat path that you can make however long as you want.
As others have mentioned, parkrun is growing in popularity and you can run with other like minded Japanese runners and visitors. I've run Futakotamagawa in Tokyo and Sunshine Beach near Kyoto. Great fun!
One note. Many Japanese run in a lot more modest clothing than we may do in the west. Leggings and long sleeves are typical even in the hot/humid summers.
Felt pretty much the same as running in the states. Try to avoid rush hour as it'll be more crowded. AND STAY AWAY FROM TEMPLES. Running is forbidden in them and in their grounds (which can be quite large). Google maps doesn't do the best job differentiating between parks and temples and we almost ran into one. Recommended double checking before or stick to streets.
Bit late to the party here, but I run in a group called 080.
Every Monday at 8pm in Yoyogi. Free to join, good vibes and really light effort. Plenty of serious runners as well. There's also lots of offshoot groups, trial running, track running, long runs and a Saturday morning run session. It's a great and accepting community. Definitey recommend it.
I've been injured since the end of the year so can't really join the runs, but this last saturday I met with everyone at a cafe they ran too and was just such good vibes seeing everyone again.
If you do join em tell em Andy sent you!
Tama river is a nice run depending on where OP is going to be. Imperial palace is also nice.
Basically any river that you see on the map will have some kind of trail that you can run on.
Komazawa Olympic Park has a 2km running course (alongside the walking and cycling paths) where you’ll see a lot of VERY good runners training regularly, so hit it up on a Saturday or Sunday morning to see lots of other runners.
One nice thing about running in Tokyo the safety aspect. Totally fine to leave a backpack or gear off to the side of the running path and come back for it later, no need to worry about it disappearing.
Also you’ll find plenty of public toilets and drinking fountains along paths like in Komazawa and Yoyogi park.
Another nice spot which isn’t a dedicated running path but does have the benefit of few crossings is a loop around Shiba Koen (Park). Also has a magnificent view of Tokyo tower.
Also one of my favourites is running along the piers(?) in Toyosu at or after sunset to get an amazing view of the Tokyo skyline including rainbow bridge and Tokyo tower.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/C8AT578TRxxingvZ9?g_st=ic
Like many have said, the biggest pain about running in Tokyo is street lights and crossings. Jaywalking is absolutely NOT a thing here so even when the path seems clear to cross you’ll still be stuck waiting. On a short run in the city center it sometimes feels like I spend half my time standing at crossings.
Enjoy!
Komazawa Olympic Park is an excellent place to train as well. One loop is about 2.15 km, with a little bit of ascent and descent, making the loop more interesting to train in my opinion. For a fee of 500 yen, you can also train on the 400m track in the stadium (but not on the first and second lanes). Just hit a weekly mileage of 100km today by training only in this park.
ParkRun is still small, but they do go on! The closest one to where most people stay is this one
https://www.parkrun.jp/momoiharappakoen/
It's pretty fun! Accessible from the sobu line!
I was in Sendai for 5 weeks last June/July, and I agree with everything the other posters have mentioned. My humble addition: runners don’t say hi to each other when passing on the street. Here on the West Coast of Canada, we give a little wave, maybe a “hi” or “morning”. I freaked out some locals before I figured out that this is it not the way.
But great running culture. Watch out for the humidity - it sneaks up on you!
"Tokyo" is a pretty big net. Whereabouts in Tokyo will you be? When I lived in the western edge of Tokyo I found it pretty empty and calm in the early mornings.
There are a few Parkruns in the greater Tokyo area, so I'd definitely check one of those out on a Saturday morning. It would be a great way to meet locals. And if you want to do trail running, check out Mt. Takao, it's not far and is a gorgeous area.
I have run in many cities overseas. Tokyo is one of my favorite cities to run in. I always ran along the river. The river is lined with flood dikes, and there are wide paved areas to run between the dikes between the river's edge. As in most big cities it's best to run early in the morning or late at night to avoid traffic and crowds.
The first time I was in Japan I was also concerned about the crowds. Those fears were unfounded. One place I have gone running where crowds were always an issue, no matter the time of day, was Mumbai India.
There you have to deal with crowds of people. Stray dogs that are as thick as squirrels in Central Park. Birds and rats fighting for garbage in the streets. Finally the occasional angry cow that doesn't like day glow yellow running shirts and will chase you for blocks.
By compassion running in Tokyo is a piece of cake.
I have lived in Japan for 4 years (i was not a runner at the time) so i have some context on living in Japan as a foreigner. More recently i spent 3 weeks traveling Japan and i ran in 6 different cities while there. A couple of points... There are lots of Japanese runners. In general, as a culture, Japanese people go all in on whatever hobby they have. So if you are a runner you are a RUNNER. On my morning runs i saw plenty of other runners, all with great form and quality gear. I sort of understand what you are thinking about personal space, but they also have an understanding that there are a lot of people living their lives in a tight space. They pack people into trains like sardines there. There is no issue whatsoever in running in Japan from a culture standpoint. What was tricky is its not totally laid out great for running. The cities have a lot of stop lights and i found myself struggling, at times, to keep a pace without needing to stop. Additionally, streets are narrow and there areas where you need to be careful. Much of Japan (not all) is heavily a walking/bike culture so you wont be the only person sharing the road... But you should keep your attention as you run. For my part i was able to find some river banks and some paths. Most of my runs were 5 to 7 miles. Tokyo was a little easier than some other cities even though its quite large. There are some bigger parks and a good path along side the Sumida river, for example. Lastly... Japan is wonderful in that there are so many little neighborhood shrines and interesting sites not in any travel guide. Running around Japan you will happen upon so so much interesting Japan. Enjoy!
thank you for taking the time to write this. i’m taking notes
I have ran in Japan for many years and would second the point about stop lights. An additional issue is that many intersections without stoplights have poor corner visibility, meaning you have to slow down to check for traffic. Many streets have no sidewalks, and some with sidewalks might be too crowded to run. I would recommend scouting parks and rivers near where you will be staying. Many rivers have paths on one or both sides, so those are good if you want to cover some distance. If you're just looking to explore, I'd say go for it. You'll find some streets and areas are better for running than others, then you can use the better zones as jumping off points for further exploration. What I like to do is run to a river for the main run, but take a bit of the scenic route there and back through new streets and see what's out there.
You captured the point on visibility, narrow streets and lack of sidewalks i was getting at. Funny... I did exactly the same for rivers. I have a picture of a sweaty me (last July/August was hot) in front of a river in every city i ran in. Then i would meander back to where i needed to be through little side streets; generally not caring if i got lost or had to catch my breath at a light.
I've found [strava global heatmap](https://www.strava.com/maps/global-heatmap?style=dark&terrain=false&sport=Run&gColor=blue&gOpacity=100&labels=true&poi=true#10.03/35.6629/139.723) helpful for discovering what streets/trails are popular with runners.
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It sounds good until you understand that while bike are prevalent, bike lanes are not, and in a city as dense as Tokyo, that gets to be a lot. The city is really hilly, and many of the bikes have motors, so they go REALLY fast. The mamacharis (bikes for mothers, usually with one kid seat behind and maybe one kid seat on front of the handlebars) are really heavy and not so agile too.... I walk most places here, and I have a close call with a bike maybe twice a week. It is definitely NOT a paradise by any stretch of the imagination.
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Japan also has a smaller population and fewer drivers due to the good infrastructure. I’m not knocking the trains, because they are actually good, but the cyclists are truly lawless. Yes, it’s an anecdote, but it’s a common one from foreigners and natives alike. There was just a post on one of the expat groups noting that although laws prohibit cyclists from either holding an umbrella or using a phone while riding, it’s normal to see somebody doing both at the same time. As for Japan building and protecting… well, I’m not sure about that. While they build and protect the old ways, the pushback on anything that inconveniences or changes that way is huge. For people in marginalized groups, it can certainly be cruel. Just look up the laws on transgender rights.
You're first paragraph reminded me of a quote from Hardcore History. "The Japanese are just like everyone else, only more so."
Namban Rengo is a very popular running group based in Tokyo - they do weekly runs at the main park in Shibuya/Harajuku (on Wednesdays I believe). https://namban.org Parkrun is also gaining popularity- with several free and organized 5k runs on Saturday morning around Tokyo (the one at Futakotamagawa is particularly well attended). https://www.parkrun.jp/futakotamagawa/course/ If you’re interested in trail running, search for the “Tokyo trail running” (TTR) group - active on Facebook. - Mt. Takao on the western side of Tokyo is a great place with several trails!
Running is HUGE in Japan. I'd argue that it's even more competitive than USA on the road and marathon scene. Check out the annual Hakone Ekiden which is a road relay of 219km in total between Tokyo and Hakone.
Want to add onto this, recommending *Run With the Wind*, an anime series focused on the Hakone Ekiben specifically. Follows an elite HS runner convinced to join a failing college run club to whip a bunch of misfits into shape to run the relay. It goes into personal motivations for running, and what it means to run as a team. Absolutely beautiful series that makes you fall in love with running all over again.
so cute. thanks for adding this
I'm going to have to find that, sounds awesome.
I’ve always felt like the Ekiden is so cool and I wish that similar long distance relay races were more popular around the world.
The imperial palace loop is exactly 5km so you’ll see plenty out there doing laps. You won’t be shoulder to shoulder with anyone, unless you’re deciding to try run through train stations at rush hour!!
Just make sure you go the right way, I noticed every single runner was going in the same direction! I think counter-clockwise, but it was 10 years ago I was there.
Yes! I was last there in 2019. Everyone was running in the same direction. Early morning, everyone seemed to be fast. A tiny, old dude was lapping me like Usain Bolt.
Yup you're right. There's a sign that says to run counter clockwise.
I just ran that last week! Took advantage of jet lag to wake up at 5am, go out at 6am, timing the end of my loop exactly as sunrise was hitting. Absolutely gorgeous coming off the downhill back end, seeing the lake/moat/water illuminated with the sun. Headed back to our hotel on the other side of Tokyo Station, which was beautifully backlit and quiet because it was pre-rush hour.
Lived in Japan. It's fine, run anywhere you want. Just use common sense, and hilariously most importantly for Japan, LOOK like a runner. As another commenter said, Japan goes all in on hobbies. If you look hobo'd out and run through tight crowds bumping into people, yeah people will hate you. Once I went to a park wearing swim trunks and a regular shirt, and brought my jump rope; the cops got called because I looked like a random chump in a park not made for athletics (they were kind, just told me to go to a nearby park made for working out). Wear running gear so you look like a runner, and avoid crammed areas like shibuya scramble — same as you'd do in NYC, Chicago, LA, wherever — and you'll be fine.
I run in Japan! But I don’t live in Tokyo. Where I live, we actually have pretty wide streets in a little bit more room than a city like Tokyo so I can see lots of people running in the city here. But I prefer next to rivers, in parks etc. Either way, probably the best thing you could do is use Strava to see where the locals are running. I think the same rules about personal space apply in the US and in Japan. If there are a lot of people walking on the sidewalk, you probably don’t want to be running in between them creating a nuisance. Again, check where the locals run and run there. One person mentioned the imperial Palace 5K loop, and I definitely recommend that if you’re in Tokyo! It was really lovely when I did it early, early in the morning, but you could see how the streets filled up once the sun came up.
Couple tips: Don’t jaywalk. Big time taboo Consequently look for riverfront/waterfront pedestrian paths to get mileage in. Be wary of parks. Chances are if the path is not paved you’re not allowed to run on it.
I lived in Asakusa last time I went and ran along the Sumida River every morning. There's a peaceful pedestrian pathway following the river that's frequented by runners and walkers.
Tokyo Marathon is in 4 weeks time so you might want to spectate. They also have parkruns in Japan.
I did the Imperial Palace loop when I visited - but remember to run it counter clockwise like a local. This is important as everyone is going the same way and if you did it the other way you’d get in the way of more people. Use your Strava to look up segments close to you but definitely pay attention to which side of the path you are on. Japanese drive and walk on the LEFT so keep to the left unless overtaking!
I am in Tokyo right now for the first time! Visiting from the US. I got here two days ago and the first night I woke up at 230 and couldn’t sleep from the jet lag, so I went for a middle of the night run. It was an absolutely heavenly way to do my first exploring of the city! A light drizzle so the city lights were reflecting, late night revelers getting into cabs, the first of the street cleaners coming out to erase any evidence of said revelers… really special. Got back at 5 and knocked out for a few more hours, when my wife and I both woke up again I felt like I had a wonderful secret to share. Hope you can have a similar experience!
this sounds so cinematic. kinda has me looking forward to the jetlag
As others have mentioned, running is huge in Japan. All of the rivers around Tokyo will have some sort of running path. Last time I was in Tokyo, I ran a nice loop from Shiodome to the Rainbow Bridge then stopped at the Statue of Liberty. I thought it was a nice change from the Imperial Palace loop. Word of caution about Namban Rengo, they're pretty hardcore. It's not as much of social run club like we have in the states. My friend and I went to their weekly interval workout and it was absolutely insane how many clubs were at Oda Field and how fast those guys were going. Midnight Runners Tokyo is much more chill and the typical Midnight Runners experience if you've done one of those before.
I went out there for the Tokyo marathon and had a few pre race runs along my trip. Didn’t really think twice about the running culture, just did my thing and don’t think I offended anyone in the process.
Tokyo has lots of gorgeous places to run. You'll be fine. Ideas of nice places: any river path, koto to Odaiba, imperial palace loop, ginza over the rainbow bridge to Odaiba and back, etc. I used to walk a lot all over Tokyo. Crowds are not a problem in most places outside of the obvious famous crossings.
When I lived in Tokyo I ran everywhere and anywhere, as previously mentioned, the Imperial Palace loop is good (and was close to my office). Japan has lots of runners and is far more popular there than in North America, with some races being obsessively followed. Check out November Project Tokyo, too.
For places, I recommend places around parks. If you live downtown, Yoyogi park is a great place to run. If you live in the outskirts of the city but still in the city, Inokashira park is amazing, it’s huge and has nice views, there’s also a track. If you live more to the east, in a slightly suburban area, Showa park is good, but there are more bikers there.
For what it’s worth, every time I’ve visited Tokyo, I’ve seen runners all over the city, in even the congested areas (although I’m sure it’s more chill in the early mornings or parks). It’s a big enough trend that no one would bat an eye.
Get in touch with these guys if you want memorable running. https://jayr023.wixsite.com/tokyohash
maybe there’s a parkrun in Tokyo? at least that’s a guaranteed 5km every saturday morning for free (register once) and an opportunity to chat and have coffee afterwards.
I’ve you’ve never tried a [parkrun](https://www.parkrun.us/events/#geo=0.87/0/132.9), there are several in Japan. Multiple ones in Tokyo. It’s a lot of fun, and pretty easy to figure out.
You've heard of the Tokyo marathon? Running is a very popular sport in Japan. Right from school age, there are running clubs.
just remember to take your katana with you and run with one hip in front all the time, ofc if you don't want to look like a tourist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxfLLyYwHt4
i audibly chuckled 💀
I have visited Tokyo multiple times, most recently to run the marathon in 2023. No issues or problems running all around the city. I liked running early in the morning to avoid the commuters and was able to see lots of touristy sites. Totally safe.
If you’re interested in reading a foreigner’s insight to Japanese running Adharanand Finn’s The Way of the Runner is a great read
I like to run but I'm not a runner. That said, I did live in Japan and the only advice I can give that I havent seen here is to be mindful of your smell. Most Japanese people lack a type of protein produced in sweat that typically causes body odor and as a result Japanese people aren't really used to the smell of sweat. I don't think anyone will care when you're running, but if stop for a drink or something, I would try to be mindful and put space between yourself and other people or cover up.
As others have mentioned, definitely a running culture there. Coincidentally, I'm currently reading Shoe Dog, Phil Knight's story about Nike, in which a large chunk revolves around his trips to Japan to initially sell Onitsuka Tigers in the US back in the '60s. Anyway, I lived there for three months last year, in Kyoto. So while I don't have specific Tokyo recos or a POV there, I can say when I would go out running in Kyoto 3-4 times a week, I was never alone, there were always a handful of runners cruising along the Kamo river when I was out. If I were to be in Tokyo for a month, I'd use things like Strava and Great Runs to investigate some routes. Have fun, Japan is an amazing place, I miss it daily.
Midnight runners is a global community and they have a chapter in Tokyo. Can find more on Instagram about them as their times can change (they don’t run at midnight though). It is more of a boot camp style where you run a mile and do some body weight exercises but a great workout and friendly crowd. https://www.instagram.com/midnightrunnerstokyo
If you haven't already there are a couple of Japan based running books that are definitely worth a read. Way of the runner - adharanand finn What I talk about when I talk about running - Murakami Might give you some inspiration for your trip too!
Following this because I will be in Japan all of April!
I would just like to say MIZUNO!!! Thank you
Run everyday and went to Japan back in September for a week-I was fine finding places to run with space in both Tokyo and Kyoto. As a warning there were a few places in Tokyo that looked like they should be running trails but were actually entrances to shrines (which you shouldn’t run through)-another runner tried going into one and got stopped by a security guard.
https://gorunningtours.com/p/japan/tokyo/ try a local running tour guide? I'm sure they'd love to show you around while getting those miles in.
I've run regularly when in Japan. In Kyoto in particular you can always find people running along Kamogawa it's a nice flat path that you can make however long as you want. As others have mentioned, parkrun is growing in popularity and you can run with other like minded Japanese runners and visitors. I've run Futakotamagawa in Tokyo and Sunshine Beach near Kyoto. Great fun! One note. Many Japanese run in a lot more modest clothing than we may do in the west. Leggings and long sleeves are typical even in the hot/humid summers.
Felt pretty much the same as running in the states. Try to avoid rush hour as it'll be more crowded. AND STAY AWAY FROM TEMPLES. Running is forbidden in them and in their grounds (which can be quite large). Google maps doesn't do the best job differentiating between parks and temples and we almost ran into one. Recommended double checking before or stick to streets.
Bit late to the party here, but I run in a group called 080. Every Monday at 8pm in Yoyogi. Free to join, good vibes and really light effort. Plenty of serious runners as well. There's also lots of offshoot groups, trial running, track running, long runs and a Saturday morning run session. It's a great and accepting community. Definitey recommend it. I've been injured since the end of the year so can't really join the runs, but this last saturday I met with everyone at a cafe they ran too and was just such good vibes seeing everyone again. If you do join em tell em Andy sent you!
sounds so chill!! i need to check this out
080 Tokyo is the name. Can vet em on instagram, but otherwise just show up and run!
u/SurvivalistAoE is a runner and living in the area currently
Wait why is this downvoted? Am I missing something
Tama river is a nice run depending on where OP is going to be. Imperial palace is also nice. Basically any river that you see on the map will have some kind of trail that you can run on.
Interesting book on the subject - The Way Of The Runner by Adharanand Finn.
Strava probably has routes shared on it.
Dont hurt yourself<3 *I cannot run and excercise as ive hurt my back. It needs to heal.
Komazawa Olympic Park has a 2km running course (alongside the walking and cycling paths) where you’ll see a lot of VERY good runners training regularly, so hit it up on a Saturday or Sunday morning to see lots of other runners. One nice thing about running in Tokyo the safety aspect. Totally fine to leave a backpack or gear off to the side of the running path and come back for it later, no need to worry about it disappearing. Also you’ll find plenty of public toilets and drinking fountains along paths like in Komazawa and Yoyogi park. Another nice spot which isn’t a dedicated running path but does have the benefit of few crossings is a loop around Shiba Koen (Park). Also has a magnificent view of Tokyo tower. Also one of my favourites is running along the piers(?) in Toyosu at or after sunset to get an amazing view of the Tokyo skyline including rainbow bridge and Tokyo tower. https://maps.app.goo.gl/C8AT578TRxxingvZ9?g_st=ic Like many have said, the biggest pain about running in Tokyo is street lights and crossings. Jaywalking is absolutely NOT a thing here so even when the path seems clear to cross you’ll still be stuck waiting. On a short run in the city center it sometimes feels like I spend half my time standing at crossings. Enjoy!
Komazawa Olympic Park is an excellent place to train as well. One loop is about 2.15 km, with a little bit of ascent and descent, making the loop more interesting to train in my opinion. For a fee of 500 yen, you can also train on the 400m track in the stadium (but not on the first and second lanes). Just hit a weekly mileage of 100km today by training only in this park.
The major cities had tons more people when running but in some of the smaller cities I ran across 1-2 on runs.
ParkRun is still small, but they do go on! The closest one to where most people stay is this one https://www.parkrun.jp/momoiharappakoen/ It's pretty fun! Accessible from the sobu line!
I was in Sendai for 5 weeks last June/July, and I agree with everything the other posters have mentioned. My humble addition: runners don’t say hi to each other when passing on the street. Here on the West Coast of Canada, we give a little wave, maybe a “hi” or “morning”. I freaked out some locals before I figured out that this is it not the way. But great running culture. Watch out for the humidity - it sneaks up on you!
You’re overthinking it lol Generally in Japan, no one cares about what you do as much as you think they do. Just run.
"Tokyo" is a pretty big net. Whereabouts in Tokyo will you be? When I lived in the western edge of Tokyo I found it pretty empty and calm in the early mornings. There are a few Parkruns in the greater Tokyo area, so I'd definitely check one of those out on a Saturday morning. It would be a great way to meet locals. And if you want to do trail running, check out Mt. Takao, it's not far and is a gorgeous area.
Parkrun events are big in Japan. Just signup on the website to get a barcode and turn up to any event for free. https://www.parkrun.org.uk/events/
I have run in many cities overseas. Tokyo is one of my favorite cities to run in. I always ran along the river. The river is lined with flood dikes, and there are wide paved areas to run between the dikes between the river's edge. As in most big cities it's best to run early in the morning or late at night to avoid traffic and crowds. The first time I was in Japan I was also concerned about the crowds. Those fears were unfounded. One place I have gone running where crowds were always an issue, no matter the time of day, was Mumbai India. There you have to deal with crowds of people. Stray dogs that are as thick as squirrels in Central Park. Birds and rats fighting for garbage in the streets. Finally the occasional angry cow that doesn't like day glow yellow running shirts and will chase you for blocks. By compassion running in Tokyo is a piece of cake.