Tokyo Marathon 2023 Photos
Tokyo Marathon 2023 was a great event. If you didn’t know, it is one of the six World Major Marathons. It is a prestigious sporting event. Photographers flock to it. I finally got a chance to attend it. My camera got a workout that day!
What photo gear did I use for these shots?
- Camera: Fujifilm X-T3
- Lens: Fujifilm 100-400 mm
How was my Tokyo Marathon 2023 day?
First, the marathon course began at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Participants ran their way past some of the city’s most iconic landmarks. They visited The Imperial Palace, Tokyo Tower, and Ginza district. Their goal was Gyoko-Dori near Tokyo Station. 37000 people ran it.
The marathon course started at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Participants ran their way past some of the city’s most iconic landmarks. They visited Imperial Palace, Tokyo Tower, and Ginza district. Their goal was Gyoko-Dori near Tokyo Station. 37000 people ran it.
The race had a seven-hour time limit. That meant participants had to maintain a pace of at least 14 minutes and 10 seconds per mile. Elite athletes didn’t have a problem with that. But many amateurs surely struggled.
This was my first time photographing the Tokyo Marathon. I planned to shoot the start in Shinjuku and near Iidabashi Station. Two spots would be enough for some photos.
When I arrived in Nishi-Shinjuku, the area was already packed. The police presence was huge. Marathon staff were everywhere. Runners were looking for their gates. News helicopters hovered above. It was organized chaos.
My first plan was to situate myself in front of the Washington Hotel to see the start line. But there were too many people. My next stop was the second corner. I found stairs at the KDDI building to get some elevation. They put me above the ground level. I could shoot the first line of runners while being able to see to the back.
The first athletes to start were the wheelchairs. They were so fast! They came around the corner and were at second in lightning speed. I only had time to snap off a few shots. Then they were gone.
Five minutes later, the runners came. It was a sea of athletes. There were thousands and thousands of people. They had come from all over the world to run. I stood in my spot for ten minutes, and they had no end.
I decided to move to my next spot, Iidabashi Station. That was about 5 kilometers away. By the time I got there, the leaders had already passed it. But the sea of people continued to flow. It was incredible.
Iidabashi was a letdown in one regard. You weren’t allowed to photograph from the pedestrian bridges over the road. That destroyed my plans! It would have been perfect for photos. Anyway, shooting from the roadside was good. And with that, I called it a day.
I thought about going to the finish line. But it would have taken time to get there. The leaders would have been long finished by the time I arrived.
If I go in 2024, I might skip the start. The finish line is probably the more exciting option. I have a year to decide anyway! What would you do?
A final note. The number of people wearing costumes or funny hats surprised me. There were people in Minions suits. Spiderman and Captain America ran. There were plenty of people with bunny ears. Even a bride ran the event! Or maybe she was just lost and looking for her groom? Anyway, it was a lot of fun. Everyone enjoyed themselves.
Tokyo Marathon 2023 Top 5 men’s finishers
- Deso Gelmisa – Ethiopia – 2:05:22
- Esa Mohamed – Ethiopia – 2:05:22
- Getachew Kebede Tsegaye – Ethiopia – 2:05:25
- Titus Kipruto – Kenya – 2:05:32
- Cameron Levins – Canada – 2:05:36
Tokyo Marathon 2023 Top 5 women’s finishers
- Rosemary Wanjiru – Kenya – 2:16:28
- Gemechu Tsehay – Ethiopia – 2:16:56
- Ashete Bekere – Ethiopia – 2:19:11
- Edesa Worknesh – Ethiopia – 2:20:13
- Betsy Saina – USA – 2:21:40
Please leave your questions and comments below. And if you photographed Tokyo Marathon 2023, tell us about your experience. I’d love to hear from you.
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and okonomiyaki. His camera will capture the entire city one day.
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External website with images of Tokyo Marathon 2023