Why go
An ekiden is a road relay in which runners pass a team sash from one leg to the next. In this race, teams travel from Tokyo to Hakone and back over two days. The climb from Odawara to Lake Ashi, followed by the descent on the return, explains why Hakone is more than a finish line in the event's story. It also gives the lakeside race area a different meaning outside race time.
The full story
The Hakone Ekiden links central Tokyo with Hakone in a two-day university road relay. Each runner takes one section and passes a sash to the next teammate, so the race is both an individual endurance effort and a continuous team journey. The route's Hakone section is especially distinctive. Runners approach from Odawara and climb sharply toward Lake Ashi, gaining substantial height after the flatter coastal sections. On the return journey, another runner tackles the steep descent. That change in terrain gives the mountain leg its reputation and makes the lakeside turning point central to the event. The race is associated with the New Year holiday, when spectators follow the teams on the road and on television. For a visitor outside race days, the route is still a way to understand Hakone's physical relationship with the coast: the journey up from Odawara is a real ascent, not simply a transfer to a resort.
Useful to know
- If visiting around New Year, check the current race route and transport arrangements before choosing a lakeside journey.