Osaka Marathon: Elevation Profile, Course Map & Pace Calculator
Japan's second-largest marathon and the natural landing spot for Tokyo's lottery overflow, run point-to-point through central Osaka from the Prefectural Government Building to Osaka Castle Park. It is flat through 35 km before a modest climb into the castle grounds decides the finish — hold something back for it. Late-February conditions are reliably cool.
The Osaka Marathon is fast, with only modest elevation change — rated 2/5 on our difficulty scale. Over the official 42.195 km (26.2 mi) the course gains about 1250 ft (380 m) and loses 1290 ft (390 m), with roughly level start to finish. Grade-adjusted pace says the toughest stretch arrives at kilometre 8 (near mile 5), demanding about 11% more effort than the same distance on flat ground. The steepest pitch on course reaches 12.5%.
Course stats
| Distance | 26.2 mi (42.195 km) |
|---|---|
| Location | Osaka, Japan |
| Total ascent | 1250 ft (380 m) |
| Total descent | 1290 ft (390 m) |
| Net elevation | -36 ft (-11 m) |
| Steepest grade | 12.5% |
| Difficulty | 2/5 |
| Field size | ≈34,000 runners |
| Race day | Late February |
Kilometre-by-kilometre splits (grade-adjusted)
Grade-adjusted (GAP) splits for a 4:00:00 finish, computed from the course's elevation profile with the Minetti gradient-cost model: uphill kilometres get more time, downhills less, at even effort. Splits scale proportionally for any other goal time — the interactive pace calculator on this page computes them exactly.
| Kilometre | GAP pace /km | GAP pace /mi | Elev Δ | Elapsed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5:26 | 8:45 | -40 ft (-12 m) | 5:26 |
| 2 | 5:33 | 8:56 | -12 ft (-4 m) | 10:59 |
| 3 | 6:03 | 9:44 | +38 ft (+12 m) | 17:02 |
| 4 | 5:26 | 8:45 | -26 ft (-8 m) | 22:28 |
| 5 | 6:09 | 9:53 | +47 ft (+14 m) | 28:37 |
| 6 | 5:28 | 8:47 | -28 ft (-9 m) | 34:05 |
| 7 | 5:48 | 9:21 | +13 ft (+4 m) | 39:53 |
| 8 | 5:29 | 8:50 | -35 ft (-11 m) | 45:22 |
| 9 | 6:15 | 10:04 | +44 ft (+13 m) | 51:37 |
| 10 | 5:43 | 9:11 | +3 ft (+1 m) | 57:20 |
| 11 | 6:12 | 9:59 | +43 ft (+13 m) | 1:03:32 |
| 12 | 5:02 | 8:05 | -81 ft (-25 m) | 1:08:33 |
| 13 | 5:33 | 8:57 | -15 ft (-5 m) | 1:14:07 |
| 14 | 5:31 | 8:53 | -19 ft (-6 m) | 1:19:38 |
| 15 | 5:47 | 9:18 | +13 ft (+4 m) | 1:25:25 |
| 16 | 5:39 | 9:06 | 0 ft (0 m) | 1:31:04 |
| 17 | 5:38 | 9:04 | -4 ft (-1 m) | 1:36:42 |
| 18 | 5:43 | 9:13 | +7 ft (+2 m) | 1:42:26 |
| 19 | 5:40 | 9:07 | +2 ft (+1 m) | 1:48:06 |
| 20 | 5:27 | 8:47 | -21 ft (-6 m) | 1:53:33 |
| 21 | 6:01 | 9:41 | +34 ft (+10 m) | 1:59:34 |
| 22 | 5:32 | 8:54 | -17 ft (-5 m) | 2:05:06 |
| 23 | 5:38 | 9:04 | -3 ft (-1 m) | 2:10:44 |
| 24 | 5:40 | 9:08 | +2 ft (+1 m) | 2:16:24 |
| 25 | 5:41 | 9:09 | +3 ft (+1 m) | 2:22:05 |
| 26 | 5:37 | 9:03 | -4 ft (-1 m) | 2:27:42 |
| 27 | 5:41 | 9:09 | +3 ft (+1 m) | 2:33:24 |
| 28 | 5:55 | 9:32 | +25 ft (+8 m) | 2:39:19 |
| 29 | 5:49 | 9:22 | +11 ft (+3 m) | 2:45:08 |
| 30 | 5:29 | 8:50 | -24 ft (-7 m) | 2:50:37 |
| 31 | 5:42 | 9:10 | +3 ft (+1 m) | 2:56:19 |
| 32 | 6:10 | 9:56 | +48 ft (+15 m) | 3:02:29 |
| 33 | 5:46 | 9:17 | +2 ft (+1 m) | 3:08:15 |
| 34 | 5:24 | 8:41 | -34 ft (-10 m) | 3:13:39 |
| 35 | 5:25 | 8:43 | -27 ft (-8 m) | 3:19:04 |
| 36 | 5:41 | 9:09 | +4 ft (+1 m) | 3:24:46 |
| 37 | 5:40 | 9:07 | +1 ft (0 m) | 3:30:26 |
| 38 | 5:33 | 8:55 | -12 ft (-4 m) | 3:35:58 |
| 39 | 5:43 | 9:12 | +6 ft (+2 m) | 3:41:41 |
| 40 | 5:36 | 9:00 | -7 ft (-2 m) | 3:47:17 |
| 41 | 5:44 | 9:14 | +8 ft (+3 m) | 3:53:01 |
| 42 | 5:54 | 9:30 | +6 ft (+2 m) | 3:58:55 |
| 42.2 | 5:31 | 8:53 | -3 ft (-1 m) | 4:00:00 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Osaka Marathon flat or hilly?
The Osaka Marathon is fast, with only modest elevation change (2/5 difficulty). Total ascent is about 1250 ft (380 m) over 26.2 miles.
How much elevation gain does the Osaka Marathon have?
About 1250 ft (380 m) of total ascent and 1290 ft (390 m) of descent, for a net change of -36 ft (-11 m). Figures come from a digital elevation model, so very flat courses can read 20–30 ft high.
What is the hardest part of the Osaka Marathon course?
Kilometre 8 (near mile 5) is the toughest split on the course by grade-adjusted effort. Grade-adjusted pace puts it at roughly 11% more effort than flat running. The steepest grade on course is 12.5%.
When is the Osaka Marathon?
The Osaka Marathon is typically held in late February. The next edition is expected around February 25, 2027. Confirm the exact date on the official race website.
How many runners take part in the Osaka Marathon?
The field is roughly 34,000 runners.
What pace do I need to run the Osaka Marathon in my goal time?
At an even pace: 3:00:00 needs 6:52/mi (4:16/km); 3:30:00 needs 8:01/mi (4:59/km); 4:00:00 needs 9:09/mi (5:41/km); 4:30:00 needs 10:18/mi (6:24/km); 5:00:00 needs 11:27/mi (7:07/km); 5:30:00 needs 12:35/mi (7:49/km). On this course, grade-adjusted pacing shifts a few seconds per mile between uphill and downhill splits — the pace calculator on this page computes those splits for any goal time.
Plan your Osaka race
Marathons with a similar profile
- Athens Marathon — 1260 ft (380 m) ascent
- Rome Marathon — 1240 ft (380 m) ascent
- Mexico City Marathon — 1360 ft (410 m) ascent
- Austin Marathon — 1070 ft (330 m) ascent
Official race site: https://osaka-marathon.com/