Race Abroad in Japan: Run the Tokyo Marathon - 12 Days

Highlights

• Run the 2026 Tokyo Marathon, taking in iconic city landmarks along the way
• See local life in full swing with a guided visit to the Tsukiji Outer Market
• Don a traditional kimono and take part in a tea ceremony in Kyoto
• Taste iconic Osaka street foods as you explore the neon-lit streets of Dotonbori
• Take a day trip to Nara to explore ancient temples and meet the famous deer

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Tokyo, Free Afternoon to Explore

Welcome to Japan! Your flight lands in Tokyo, where you'll meet your driver for your private transfer to your hotel. Take the rest of the day to recover from your flight, or stretch your legs and shake off the jet lag with a stroll along the Sumida River. Consider heading to the lively Shibuya Crossing to get your first taste of the city's infectious energy, or take a ride up the 1,092-foot (333 m) Tokyo Tower to get your bearings with a 365-degree view over the city. 

If you want to get to bed early, keep dinner simple with a steaming bowl of ramen from a nearby shop. If you're feeling up for something more active, aim for the neon-drenched alleys of the Shinjuku district, a hotspot for shopping, entertainment, and authentic Japanese cuisine. Duck into one of the tiny shopfronts to grab some yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), or choose an omakase restaurant and take a seat at the counter as you watch your chef prepare a custom sushi tasting meal.

Day 2: Easy Tokyo Sightseeing & Marathon Preparation

Today is designed to keep you moving while conserving energy before the big race. Start your day at Ueno Park, a 133-acre (54 ha) urban oasis where you can take a walk (or a warm-up run) along winding pathways, passing ponds, gardens, and temples. The park is also home to six museums, including the Tokyo National Museum, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, and the National Science Museum, as well as the Zoological Gardens. This is also one of the city's best spots for blossoms, so if the weather's been warm, you might glimpse the first plum and cherry trees erupting into color.

Later in the afternoon, head to the marathon expo at the Tokyo Big Sight South Exhibition Halls to pick up your bib and soak up the pre-race excitement. Then grab a casual meal near your hotel and get an early night so you're rested and ready for tomorrow's 9:10 am start time.

Day 3: Run the 2026 Tokyo Marathon

Race day is here! Join tens of thousands of runners at the start line of the 2026 Tokyo Marathon, one of the seven prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors. It's a fast, relatively flat urban route that begins in the shadow of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and passes some of the city's most iconic landmarks, including the Senso-ji temple, the Meiji Jingu shrine, and the colorful pedestrian thoroughfare of Akihabara (Electric Town).

A famously well-organized event team will keep things running smoothly along the course, and plentiful aid stations offer tasty local treats like pickled plums and custard buns alongside electrolyte drinks and water. You'll end with a dramatic finish along Gyoko-dori, a stately avenue that connects the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station, while crowds of local spectators cheer you on. Afterward, cool down and return to your hotel for a recovery meal and a rest. You've earned it!

Day 4: Sushi-Making Class, teamLab Borderless Art Museum & Tokyo Bay Cruise

Today's all about recovery, so ease into the day with your choice of activities. If you're feeling hungry, join a hands-on sushi-making class, where you'll learn to craft four popular types of sushi in a relaxed, home-like setting. Your expert chef guide will teach you the secrets of inari (sweet tofu pockets), gunkan (battleship-style sushi), maki (rolled sushi), and nigiri (hand-pressed sushi) as you learn about Japanese food culture and traditions. End with a delicious lunch that you helped create yourself.

Later, you could dive into the world of modern art at teamLab Borderless, a digital museum filled with interactive, ever-changing installations. Walk barefoot through four different spaces, following art as it moves along the walls and interacting with body-immersive exhibits. End the day in celebratory style with a scenic dinner cruise across Tokyo Bay, savoring a multicourse meal as you watch sunset over the city skyline.

Day 5: Tokyo Cultural Tour: Shrines, Markets & Palaces

Now that you've had time to rest and recover, it's time to jump into the sightseeing portion of your trip with a full-day exploration of Tokyo's highlights. Join your private guide and start at Meiji Jingu, built in 1920 to commemorate Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken. Step through the towering torii gate into the expansive grounds, and follow a gravel path to the main complex to see traditional Japanese architecture and solemn Shinto ceremonies. Participate in a ritual by praying and leaving an offering at the shrine before continuing to the Tsukiji Outer Market, a bustling hub for food enthusiasts.

Here you'll follow your guide through narrow lanes lined with stalls, stopping to taste delicacies like fresh sushi or grilled scallops made with the day's catch. Once you've had your fill, continue to the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, the only part of the complex open to the public. Another highlight is a stop at Senso-ji, the oldest temple in the city, built in 645 CE. Admire the main hall adorned with sacred artifacts and pick up an omikuji to read your fortune. End the tour at Nakamise-dori, a bustling shopping street lined with traditional souvenirs, snacks, and sweets.

Day 6: Bullet Train to Kyoto, Tea Ceremony Experience & Gion District

Hop aboard the famous Shinkansen bullet train and travel 2.5 hours west to Kyoto, Japan's ancient capital. After a transfer to your hotel to refresh, it's time for a traditional tea ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya. When you arrive, change into a kimono and learn about the ceremony, called sado or chanoyu. Sit down on a tatami, a type of straw mat, and join in the ritualistic preparation and consumption of matcha led by a knowledgeable tea master. 

Spend the remainder of the evening exploring the lantern-lit streets of Gion, a historic district full of traditional wooden machiya houses and strolling geishas wearing traditional costumes. Pass quaint teahouses, traditional high-end ryotei restaurants, and the torii gate marking the entrance to Yasaka Shrine (a Shinto sanctuary dating back to 656 CE), then choose a spot to enjoy a multicourse, beautifully presented kaiseki dinner.

Day 7: Kyoto Cultural Tour: Kinkaku-ji, Nijo Castle & Fushimi Inari

Kyoto is considered the cultural capital of Japan, and you'll discover some of its most revered historic sites today with the help of a private guide. Start at Kinkaku-ji, a Zen Buddhist temple with a large golden pavilion. Walk the peaceful grounds and visit the temple's two top floors, which are completely covered in gold leaf. Continue to the UNESCO-listed Nijo Castle, built in 1603 as the residence of an Edo-era shogun. Take in the ornate interiors and walk across the "nightingale floors," which chirp underfoot to warn of intruders.

Next up is the Kyoto Imperial Palace, the residence of Japan's imperial family until 1868, where you'll stroll its serene gardens and grand halls as your guide shares stories of its dramatic past. Your final stop is at Fushimi Inari-taisha, featured in the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha" and famous for its 10,000 red torii gates. Take a light hike along its torii-lined route up the mountain for sweeping views of the surrounding countryside, then part ways with your guide at the bottom and choose a cozy Kyoto izakaya (pub) for a dinner of local favorites like yudofu (tofu hotpot).

Day 8: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & Scenic Train Ride

Discover Kyoto's Arashiyama district today, a peaceful area home to lush greenery, ancient temples, and a towering bamboo forest. Meet your guide in the morning and drive to the outskirts of the city. Start with a visit to Jojakko-ji, one of Kyoto's renowned Zen temples dating from the medieval Edo period. Then, take a walk in the area's famous 3,800-acre (1,537 ha) bamboo forest, with paths and trails that take you through the towering stalks.

Later on, you'll board a traditional pleasure boat and cruise down the Hozugawa River for views of Togetsukyo Bridge as your guide regales you with stories of Japanese mythology and explains the cultural significance of the nearby shrines and gardens. The tour concludes with a ride on the Sagano Scenic Railway, nicknamed the "Romantic Train." The 25-minute journey takes you through mountains and along the Hozugawa River, lined with cherry blossoms in spring

Day 9: Transfer to Osaka, Dotonbori Street Food Exploration

Your next destination is Osaka, Japan's third-largest city and a major commercial center known as "Japan's Kitchen" for its incredible gastronomy and street food. Check out of your hotel this morning and head to the train station, where you'll hop on board for the quick one-hour ride. Get settled at your hotel, then set off into the Shinsaibashi shopping district, a consumer mecca considered one of the most famous shopping areas in the city. With a history spanning 380 years, you can find just about anything here, from traditional kimonos to footwear to jewelry, as well as plenty of restaurants.

For tonight's dinner, make your way to Dotonbori, a high-powered sensory overload of neon, modern buildings, and throngs of people. Nicknamed "Osaka's Times Square," you'll find endless food stalls, restaurants, and diners stacked alongside game arcades, miles-high advertisements, and shopping. Try some conveyor belt sushi, or dishes such as grilled crabs, takoyaki (balls filled with vegetables and seafood), and desserts like taiyaki (fish-shaped pastries).

Day 10: Osaka Highlights Tour, Evening River Cruise

Meet your private guide this morning for a full-day tour of Osaka's most famous sights, beginning with Osaka Castle and its blossom-filled grounds. Learn about this impressive reproduction of the original 1583 fortress, and step inside to explore its eight floors of museum-like exhibits and artifacts. Next, follow your guide to the bustling Kuromon Market, where you can taste everything from fresh oysters and unagi (barbecued eel) to delectable tako tamago (octopus with quail egg). Chat with friendly vendors about local food culture as your guide explains the market's significance in Osaka's culinary scene. 

In the afternoon, take the elevator up to the Kuchu Teien Observatory on the rooftop of the Umeda Sky Building, a landmark duo of 40-story towers linked by an atrium-like walkway. After taking in the view, head to the Shinsaibashi shopping district, a long arcade filled with shops selling everything from kimonos to jewelry. End the day in Dotonbori, where you'll step aboard a riverboat for a 20-minute cruise along the Dotonbori River's neon-lined banks.

Day 11: Day Trip to Nara: Temples, Forests & Deer Park

It's the final full day of your Japan adventure, and you'll spend it on a privately guided day trip to Nara, renowned for its picturesque parks, ancient temples, and free-roaming deer. Take a short, 30-minute train ride east of Osaka to reach the town, and start your exploration at Kofuku-ji, a Buddhist temple built in 669 CE. Admire the five-storied pagoda, and explore the sprawling temple complex encompassing multiple halls and structures.

Continue to Nara Park to discover another Buddhist temple, Todai-ji. Constructed in 752 CE, this is one of Japan's most historically significant temples, known for the giant bronze Buddha statue sitting in the main hall. Visit the UNESCO-listed Kasuga-taisha next, an intricately detailed Shinto shrine surrounded by the Kasugayama Primeval Forest. As you walk through the grounds, look out for the resident deer who bow in exchange for food, then continue to the Isui-en Gardens, where you can stop at teahouses and an on-site museum before catching the train back to Osaka for the evening.

Day 12: Depart Osaka

Your 12-day journey through Japan ends today. Depending on your flight time, you may have the chance for one last morning stroll or souvenir run. When you're ready, a private transfer will take you to Kansai International Airport for your departure. Sayonara and safe travels!

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