Choosing between Chengdu Marathon and Osaka Marathon? This page puts the essentials side by side — next race date, elevation, typical weather, field size, and entry difficulty — with a short overview of each course below.
The headline differences between both races. Follow each marathon link for the full route map, elevation chart, and entry details.
| Detail | Chengdu Marathon | Osaka Marathon |
|---|---|---|
| Next race | Sunday, 25 October 2026 at 7:30 am | Sunday, 28 February 2027 at 9:15 am |
| Elevation | Very flat - approx. 499m above sea level. ↑ 50 m · ↓ 50 m · net 0 m | Mostly flat with gentle undulations - approx. 4m above sea level. ↑ 21 m · ↓ 21 m · net 0 m |
| Typical weather | Mild and humid autumn | Cool and humid winter |
| Typical participants | Approximately 35k finishers | Approximately 32k finishers |
| Entry difficulty | Competitive | Competitive |
The Chengdu Marathon draws approximately 35k runners each autumn through Sichuan's relaxed capital, famous for pandas, hot pot, and teahouse culture. The course passes Tianfu Square, the Jinjiang River, and the Anshun Bridge with views toward the Qionglai mountains on clear days. October race weather in the Sichuan Basin is mild and overcast — ideal for a flat, fast urban loop.
The Osaka Marathon is one of the world's largest marathons, drawing approximately 32k finishers on an urban road in Osaka, Japan. The course starts and finishes at Osaka Castle Park. The route passes Osaka Castle, Nakanoshima, Umeda, and Namba through central Osaka. Mostly flat with gentle undulations on bridge approaches over the city's rivers.
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