Ekiden: Japan's Beloved Long-Distance Relay

Learn how ekiden road relays began, how the tasuki sash works, and why the New Year Hakone Ekiden holds so much of Japan in front of the television.

Published October 17, 2026 at 10:25 PM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: An ekiden is a long-distance road relay in which runners pass a sash called a tasuki to teammates. The Hakone Ekiden, held on January 2 and 3, sends university teams on a round trip between Tokyo and Lake Ashi in ten stages.

Running as a Team Sport

Few sporting events capture the Japanese spirit of teamwork quite like the ekiden, a long-distance road relay in which each runner carries a sash across a stage and passes it to the next teammate. Instead of chasing a personal finish line, every athlete runs for the people waiting at the next relay point, and the whole team rises or falls together. The most famous ekiden of all is the Hakone Ekiden, held every New Year, but the format appears throughout the year at schools, companies, universities and local communities. This guide explains where the word comes from, how a race works, what makes Hakone so beloved, and how visitors can enjoy ekiden culture when they travel in Japan.

For many families, watching an ekiden is as much a seasonal ritual as eating New Year dishes. Television broadcasts follow the runners from start to finish, and viewers learn the names of university teams and star runners like fans of any major league. Even people who rarely follow sports often find themselves cheering as a runner pushes toward a handover point.

From Post Stations to Sport

The word ekiden is written with characters that point to the old courier system of Japan, in which messages traveled along a route by being handed from one station to the next. Fresh horses or runners replaced tired ones at each post town, which allowed information to cover long distances quickly. The sporting version borrows that station-to-station idea and turns it into a competition, with each runner covering one stage before handing over a sash called a tasuki.

The first ekiden held as a sporting event took place in 1917. It was organized by the newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Tokyo becoming the capital, and it ran from Kyoto to Tokyo over three days and 23 stages, a distance of roughly 507 kilometers. That grand relay between the old and new capitals inspired a younger generation of athletes. The idea of a university version soon followed, and it grew into the event now known as the Hakone Ekiden.

Today ekiden races exist at many levels. Some are short and designed for elementary school children or local clubs, while others, such as the major collegiate races, draw national attention. The Hakone Ekiden is regarded as more prestigious than the All Japan University Ekiden, which began in 1970, and the Izumo Ekiden, which began in 1989, even though Hakone is officially a regional event for universities in the Kanto area around Tokyo.

How the Hakone Ekiden Works

The Hakone Ekiden began in 1920, after a proposal by the marathon pioneer Shizo Kanakuri, who took inspiration from that earlier Yomiuri relay. Four teams from Waseda, Keio, Meiji and Tokyo Higher Normal School took part in the first race. Today the formal name is the Tokyo to Hakone Round Trip College Ekiden, and it is held on January 2 and 3, with runners setting off in the morning.

The route is a round trip between Otemachi in central Tokyo, in front of the Yomiuri Shimbun Building, and the shore of Lake Ashi in Hakone. In total it covers a little over 200 kilometers, divided into ten stages with five on each day. Each team has ten runners, and each person covers one stage, which means every runner tackles a distance roughly comparable to a half marathon. On the way out, runners pass landmarks such as the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Tower before following the coast and heading into the hills of Hakone.

Twenty university teams from the Kanto region compete. Ten are seeded from the previous year, which means they earned their place by finishing in the top ten, and the other ten qualify through a 20 kilometer qualifying race held in October. Because spots are limited, even a strong university cannot take its place for granted, and the qualifier is itself a popular event for fans who follow the sport closely.

The Tasuki and the Famous Mountain Stage

The tasuki is the heart of the event. Traditionally a tasuki is a cord used to tie back kimono sleeves, and in the ekiden it has become a sash that each runner wears across the body and passes to the next teammate. The handover must be done in person at each relay station. Because the sash passes physically from one person to the next, it has become a symbol of the effort and trust shared by an entire team.

Rules add drama. If a runner does not reach the relay station within a time limit after the leader has passed, the next runner starts without waiting, and the times of the two runners are combined. This is called an early start, and fans know that certain relay points, including Tsurumi on the return leg, are where it most often happens. The system keeps the race moving and gives television viewers plenty of tension to follow.

Two stages in the Hakone hills have become legends of their own. Stage 5 on the first day, known as the mountain climb, ascends to about 874 meters on the way to Lake Ashi, while stage 6 on the second day reverses the course on a rapid descent. Runners who shine on these hilly stages are widely admired by fans, since the changing slopes and mountain weather make them a special test. On the final stage, runners return through central Tokyo, where spectators gather in growing numbers.

Watching the Hakone Ekiden as a Visitor

The race is broadcast nationally on television, and the coverage follows teams across both days. Crowds of a million or more line the route over the two days, which makes roadside viewing a lively experience. People often wave small flags, bring warm drinks and cheer for every runner regardless of their university. Because the event takes place right after New Year, travelers who are in Japan at the start of January have a chance to combine it with a visit to a shrine or temple.

If you plan to watch in person, think about where on the route you will stand. Central Tokyo and Yokohama offer easy access by train, while the Hakone area adds mountain scenery, though winter weather there can be cold. Dress in warm layers, bring gloves, and expect crowds near the start and finish. The runners pass quickly, so be ready with your camera, but remember to be considerate and avoid stepping into the road. Allow extra time when moving between viewing spots, since the crowds can slow you down.

Not everyone wants to stand outdoors in January, and watching from a cafe, a hotel lobby or a living room is an equally Japanese way to enjoy it. Many travelers who stay in an inn at New Year find that the television is already tuned to the race. It is a gentle introduction to the sport, and the commentary is easy to follow even if you do not speak Japanese, because the drama is visible in every sprint to the sash.

Quick Takeaways

The ekiden is a team relay inspired by Japan's old post-station courier system, and the sash handover is its central symbol. The first sporting ekiden was held in 1917 between Kyoto and Tokyo, and the Hakone Ekiden followed in 1920 as a university event. Today twenty teams from the Kanto region run ten stages over two days in early January, covering a round trip between Otemachi in Tokyo and Lake Ashi. The mountain stages and the early-start rule add drama, and the broadcast and roadside crowds make the race one of the great New Year traditions.

If you love running, teamwork or simply a good story, the ekiden offers all three. Whether you find a spot along the road or cheer from a warm room, you will be taking part in a tradition that Japan has refined over more than a century. Check official event information before you travel, since race details, viewing areas and road closures are announced each year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does ekiden mean?

The word refers to the old Japanese courier system in which messages were passed along from station to station. The sport borrows that idea, with each runner covering one stage before handing a sash to the next teammate.

How long is the Hakone Ekiden?

It is a two-day round trip between Otemachi in Tokyo and Lake Ashi in Hakone, a little over 200 kilometers in total. Each team has ten runners, and each runner covers one of the ten stages, five on each day.

When did the Hakone Ekiden start?

It began in 1920, after the first sporting ekiden of 1917 between Kyoto and Tokyo inspired the idea. Four university teams ran in the first race, and today twenty teams from the Kanto region take part.

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