How to watch the 2019 Tokyo Marathon: live stream the race from anywhere

The Tokyo Marathon is one of the largest marathons in the world and since 2013, the iconic race through the heart of downtown Tokyo, has been included as one of the six World Marathon Majors. If that's tickled your endurance-racing fancy and want to watch the race, then you're in the right place to discover how to get a 2019 Tokyo Marathon live stream regardless of where in the world you are.

The Tokyo Marathon is also one of the hardest marathons to enter as it is generally oversubscribed by a ratio in excess of 10-1 with 331,211 applicants trying to earn a spot in 2019.

Athletes from Kenya have dominated eight of the 12 editions of the modern Tokyo Marathon with their main rivals, Ethiopia, winning three races. Dickson Chumba from Kenya is the only man to have won the title twice and he also became the first man to run the race in under two hours and six minutes - a record since surpassed two years ago by fellow countryman Wilson Kipsang. However, this year national record holder Suguru Osako will be running in the Tokyo Marathon. The Japanese national, who is based in the US, will certainly be one to watch in this year's race.

On the women's side, Ethiopia has had the best of the last dozen years and reigning champion Birhane Dibaba has won it twice of the nation's five wins, but Ruti Aga - who has had three consecutive runner-up finishes - will be desperate to make the title hers.

The 2019 race isn't being widely televised around the world and that's why we're here to help you - we’ll show you how to watch a Tokyo Marathon live stream from anywhere in the world.

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How to watch the 2019 Tokyo Marathon: Japan live stream

If you live in Japan and would prefer to catch the Tokyo Marathon from the comfort of your couch as opposed to outside in the cold Tokyo streets, the Nippon Television Network Corporation will show the race in its entirety from 9.10am JST.

How to live stream the Tokyo Marathon from outside your country

We'll tell you about your US and UK options below (there's good news and bad news), but you'll likely hit a bump in the road if you find yourself abroad this weekend and trying to watch a Tokyo Marathon live stream. Broadcasters geo-block coverage.

But by using a VPN and changing your IP address back to your home country, you'll discover that it's possible to instrument that hurdle - assuming of course you're not breaching the service's Ts&Cs.

How to watch a 2019 Tokyo Marathon live stream in the US

If you’re in the US and want to watch this year’s Tokyo Marathon, then you’re in luck as you have several ways to watch the event.

The Olympic Channel will show the race on television at 7.10pm ET / 4.10pm today.

If you’d prefer to stream the Tokyo Marathon on your computer, streaming devices or on mobile, NBC Sports Gold will also be streaming the event. However, with both of these options you will need a cable subscription to watch the race as the Olympic Channel is only on cable and NBC Sports Gold requires that you login using your cable providers’ details.

If you happen to be a big athletics fan and plan on tuning into the Diamond League as well as the rest of the IAAF Championships, NBC Sports Gold also offers a Track and Field Pass for $74.99 a year. The service lets you stream all of the top marathons and other athletic events without commercial interruptions and if you happen to miss an event, you can always watch it later on-demand.

DIRECTV NOW $50 per month - DIRECTV NOW gives users all the channels needed to watch the athletics and loads of other sporting events. Use DIRECTV NOW’s 7-day trial will let you test out the platform.
Sling TV $40 per month - Sling TV is an inexpensive way to watch sport. Sling TV is compatible with Apple TV, Roku, Xbox One, Chromecast as well as lots of other devices and its easy to get started with a 7-day free trial.
fuboTV $19.99 for the first month - fuboTV has a low introductory price though after that the price goes up to $44.99 a month and includes 70 channels. There's a 7-day trial available so you can test out its functionality for yourself.

Tokyo Marathon coverage in the UK live stream

Unfortunately for athletics fans trying to watch the Tokyo Marathon in the UK this weekend, the race will not be shown live on television. Sorry folks - you'll have to wait until the London Marathon in April to get your long-distance running kicks.