Runners Guide to Tokyo
by Jen Santelices
With its high levels of safety, modern infrastructures, and good balance of nature, Tokyo is undeniably one of the best cities to be in as a runner. All over the city, you’ll find a diverse set of trails that suit any type of runner. Combined with yearly marathons, events, and local running communities, it comes as no surprise that Tokyo has formed a vibrant running culture.
Whether you’re new to the city or just looking to expand your running options, we’ve collected some of Tokyo’s most popular running spots. We’re also sharing information about each place’s highlights, nearby attractions, and any runner-friendly facilities available so you can get started already knowing what to expect!
Safe Places to Run Around Tokyo:
- Imperial Palace
- Komazawa Olympic Park
- Yoyogi Park
- Odaiba
- Tama River
Imperial Palace
Serving as the home of Japan’s Imperial Family for over a hundred years, the Imperial Palace is not just a popular tourist spot, it’s also one of Tokyo’s mainstay running routes.
For one lap of five kilometers, you can circle around the publicly accessible areas of the Imperial Palace. A popular start is at the Sakuradamon clock (桜田門時計台前広場) near the Tokyo Metro Sakuradamon station. You can also find other runners begin their lap at around Takebashi Bridge (竹橋).
Runners and joggers come here all year round, especially during the lead up to the Tokyo Marathon in early March. For this route and all the other routes in this list, we recommend avoiding midday heat during the summer months (May to August). When possible, do your runs early in the morning or after sunset since Tokyo summer heat can be brutal.
Access
To start at the Clock Tower, Sakuradamon station on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line is closest. Take the Imperial Palace District Gate exit and from there, the clock is a five-minute walk. You’ll recognize it from its uniquely shaped stone structure and a sign attached to it that says “Run”.
If you’d prefer to start at Takebashi Bridge, it is a two-minute walk from the similarly named Takebashi station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line.
Highlights
- Easily accessible (close to several central Tokyo stations)
- Beautiful views of central Tokyo
- No traffic lights
- Not completely flat
- Abundance of public toilets and coin lockers
- Heavy security presence – safe at night
Nearby Attractions
- Tokyo Station – Tokyo Station has one of the most iconic station buildings in the entire city. Its architecture is reminiscent of Western styles with its brick red walls, domed roof, and sculpted ceiling. The station also has its own art gallery with rotating exhibitions alongside a small variety of restaurants nearby.
- Hibiya Park – Hibiya Park is a well-maintained park with flower gardens and a picturesque pond. The park is a common venue for year-round events, such as the Tokyo Christmas Market every December.
Komazawa Olympic Park
If you want to satisfy the inner Olympian in you, why not go for a run at a historic Olympic site? The 1964 Tokyo Olympics set the record of being the first of many: it was both the first Olympic Games held in Japan and in Asia, and it was the first event to be telecast internationally via satellite. Half a century later, Komazawa Olympic Park still attracts visitors from all over with its variety of sports facilities.
The running route at Komazawa Olympic Park goes for a 2.1km loop. It’s lined with trees on either side that help cool the area. However, keep in mind that this path is shared with cyclists, who have their own blue bike lane. The route also involves a number of pedestrian crossings and slopes. There are several toilets, water fountains, and vending machines, along with a small corner shop and a restaurant around the park.
Access
Komazawa Olympic Park is a seven-minute walk from Komazawa-Daigaku station on the Den-en-Toshi Line. The park is fairly large and houses a number of baseball fields, a soccer field, and even a skate park. The running course is particularly lovely in autumn, when the zelkova trees transform into beautiful colors. Expect the park to be the most crowded during weekends and holidays.
Highlights
- Easily accessible (Quick walk from nearest station)
- Dedicated running course, with markers for every 100-meters
- Path shared with cyclists
- Lined with trees that provide shade throughout
- Not completely flat
- Abundance of public toilets, water fountains, and vending machines
- Nearby shops and restaurant
Nearby Attractions
- Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium – Located towards the center of the park, the stadium exterior is designed with striking brutalist architecture. It’s actively used for amateur and professional football games, and the track is open to the public most weekdays for a small fee.
Yoyogi Park
Located less than five minutes from major Tokyo stations like Shinjuku and Shibuya, Yoyogi Park is one of Tokyo’s most central parks, making it a popular place to visit for locals and visitors. The park is especially crowded during the cherry blossom season in the spring, when droves of people set up picnics on every square footage available.
The paved running path is about 1.6km long and is generously covered with trees. Public toilets, rest areas, and even coin lockers are available throughout the park. Its proximity to train stations mean visitors have plenty of options when it comes to convenience stores and accessibility.
Access
The park is accessible via either Harajuku station on the JR Yamanote Line or Meiji-jingumae station on the Fukutoshin and Chiyoda Lines.
The running path is towards the further end of the park, about a ten-minute walk from the Clock Tower entrance.
Highlights
- Easily accessible (close to several central Tokyo stations)
- Beautiful park views
- No traffic lights
- Abundance of public toilets
- Easy access to coin lockers and convenience stores
Nearby Attractions
- Meiji Jingu – Meiji Jingu is right next to Yoyogi Park and is one of Tokyo’s most popular tourist spots. Although the shrine was built fairly recently (1920), it is an excellent place to see some traditional Shinto architecture right in the middle of Tokyo.
- Takeshita Street – Known as the center of Tokyo’s “kawaii” or cute culture, this pedestrian-only street is filled with all sorts of quirky places, including cafes that let you hang out with owls and hedgehogs.
- Omotesando – This upscale shopping district has dozens of Japanese and international store brands. Omotesando’s tree-lined streets become a spectacle during autumn when their leaves change color and during winter, when they’re decorated with hundreds of lights.
Odaiba
The man-made island of Odaiba is one of Tokyo’s most vibrant entertainment districts. If you decide to go running here, you’ll be getting some stunning views of Tokyo Bay that’ll make the run that much more enjoyable.
Marked courses at Odaiba Seaside Park let you run right by the coast. There are markings for a quick 300 meter sprint, as well as a 5km and 7km run. Around Odaiba, you’ll find 24-hour public toilets (they’re clean and safe), water fountains, vending machines, and shops. Some hotels also welcome runners who need lockers and/or a shower, such as the Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba Hotel and Hotel Grand Pacific Le Daiba.
You can also run across Odaiba’s famous Rainbow Bridge. It spans about 3.5km and if you run at night, you’ll get excellent views of Odaiba – you’ll just have to be mindful of pedestrians along the way. In the winter, the Odaiba Rainbow Bridge Fireworks Festival is held every Saturday in December, which can make running on the sidewalks challenging.
Access
Odaiba Seaside Park and the Rainbow Bridge are a short distance from each other, so you can easily check out both places on the same day. There are two stations that can take you there: the closest one is Odaiba-kaihinkōen Station, which is a 3-minute walk away, while the other is Tokyo Teleport Station on the Rinkai Line, roughly a 10-minute walk away.
You can get a good view of the Rainbow Bridge from Odaiba Seaside Park, so you can simply follow the bridge to get there. You’ll be starting on the side of Odaiba Rainbow Park and have access to public toilets and foot wash areas nearby.
Highlights
- Easily accessible (close to several stations)
- Beautiful views of Tokyo Bay
- Marked 300meter, 5km, and 7km courses (Odaiba Seaside Park)
- Path shared with pedestrians (Rainbow Bridge)
- Abundance of public toilets, water fountains, and vending machines
- Nearby hotels and facilities that allow showers and access to lockers
Nearby Attractions
- Odaiba Statue of Liberty – Although not nearly as tall as the real thing in New York, the bayside views surrounding the statue makes up for it. You can tell that a lot of work went into this replica with how detailed Lady Liberty’s face and garb is, making for a great photo opportunity day or night.
- Decks Tokyo Beach – Decks is a massive shopping center right by Odaiba Seaside Park. Perfect for some food after your run – or make it a whole day visit with the unique attractions inside, including Joypolis (an indoor amusement park) and a Takoyaki Museum dedicated to Japan’s fried octopus soul food.
Tamagawa / Tama River
Tama River, or Tamagawa, is one of Tokyo’s major rivers and divides the prefecture from its southern neighbor, Kanagawa. The river is a popular picnic spot (especially during cherry-blossom season in spring) and is also beloved by kayakers, as well as various sports teams, families, and those simply walking for fresh air.
Its paved riverside path follows some of the river’s most scenic spots in Tokyo. It’s open to runners, cyclists, and pedestrians so you’ll have to be careful not to run into others as it can get narrow in some spots. However, Tama River has one of the only non-vehicular paths in Tokyo where you can go for long-distance runs without crosswalks ot traffic lights.
There are no marked starting or finishing spots in this trail; you simply choose what’s most accessible to you. We especially recommend starting near Futako-Tamagawa Station on the Tokyo side of the river. This area is quite picturesque and also has a few places to rest nearby. It’s also home to Japan’s first parkrun.
Following the river will get you to the next closest station, Tamagawa Station, around 5km away. You can loop back to complete a 10km run or continue along for approximately 12km before it stops near Tokyo Bay.
Access
There are a handful of stations located near the river, but if you start at Futako-Tamagawa Station, the Den-en-Toshi Line or the Oimachi Lines are most convenient. Head towards the West exit and walk for about 4-minutes to get to the running path.
Highlights
- Accessible at various points
- No traffic lights
- Good for uninterrupted runs
- Not completely flat
- Great riverside views
- Several vending machines along the way
Nearby Attractions
- Hyogojima Park – Located right by Futako-Tamagawa Station, this park is popular amongst families. It provides ample space for picnics, has a small river where kids can play or fish, and occasionally has food trucks popping up during the weekends.
- Futakotamagawa Rise – A trendy mall with plenty of upscale and outdoor restaurants, making it a great spot to visit during the summer. During the winter, you can look forward to an outdoor ice-skating rink that lights up with a nighttime illumination display.
About the Author
Originally from the Philippines, Jen has lived a quarter of her life in Japan, with half of that working as a professional writer.
During lockdown, she learned how to find ways to stay healthy and active indoors, so now Jen’s a yoga-practicing, semi-vegan home cook who can do the splits! Her next goals involve being able to do a handstand and keeping her chili plants alive.