New Year’s morning on the Gunma plain
Japan’s first big race of the year is run on ordinary roads. On January 1, 2027, corporate teams line up in Maebashi for the New Year Ekiden, formally the All Japan Corporate Men’s Ekiden Championship. Seven runners per team carry a sash, the tasuki, across 7 legs totalling 100.0km.
The race opens a three-day stretch of ekiden on Japanese New Year television. The university Hakone Ekiden follows on January 2 and 3. Corporate teams field Olympians, marathon specialists and fast international runners, so the pace on these roads is quick.
Where the race runs
The start and finish are in central Maebashi, the prefectural capital. From there the course heads out across the flat Kanto plain of southern Gunma and loops back. The towns it passes through have included Takasaki, Isesaki, Ota and Kiryu, and Gunma’s mountains stand behind them most of the way.
On a clear day, Mount Akagi rises to the north of Maebashi. The Gunma Prefectural Government building, the tallest tower in the city, is the easiest landmark to use when you’re finding your way to the finish area.
Tickets and getting a view
There is nothing to buy. Like almost every ekiden in Japan, the race is free to watch from public pavements, and anyone can stand at the kerb. The organiser publishes the course map, leg distances and team list on its official site, and the race goes out live on national television.
Where you stand shapes what you see:
- Start and finish in Maebashi: the biggest crowds, team support groups and the final sprint for the line.
- Relay exchange zones: you see the tasuki handed from one runner to the next, which is the most dramatic moment of each leg.
- Mid-leg straights: thinner crowds and a longer look as the runners come towards you.
The runners pass any one point in a few minutes. Spectators usually stay put for a single leg, then follow the rest on phones or on screens in nearby shops and cafés.
Reaching Maebashi on January 1
JR Maebashi Station, on the Ryomo Line, is the main rail gateway. From Tokyo, travellers usually take the Joetsu or Hokuriku Shinkansen to Takasaki and change there for a short local train. The Jomo Electric Railway’s Chuo-Maebashi Station is closer to the city centre.
Roads along the route close to traffic while the race passes, so driving to the course is slow going. Rail plus a walk is the simpler option. Many visitors stay overnight in Takasaki, which has a far bigger choice of hotels on the Shinkansen line, and ride the train in on race morning.
Roadside manners at a Japanese ekiden
Most of the crowd comes for one company. Supporters of each corporate team gather in groups behind banners and in matching jackets. They cheer for their own runner and clap politely for everyone else. Joining in that applause is welcome, and nobody minds a neutral spectator cheering a rival.
Some things locals consistently do:
- Stay behind the kerb or barrier. Course marshals keep the road clear, and stepping out for a photo is the quickest way to get shouted at.
- Shout “Ganbare!” (“Keep going!”). It’s the standard cheer, and runners hear it at every corner.
- Keep your umbrella or flag low so the people behind you can see, especially near relay zones.
- Take your rubbish home. Public bins are rare in Japan, and the pavements are usually spotless after the runners have gone.
If you want food or a drink on the road, convenience stores near the route are the practical option. Many restaurants close or shorten their hours on New Year’s Day.
Cold, wind and the rest of the day
Gunma in early January is dry and bright, and it can be bitterly cold. The prefecture is known for its karakkaze, the dry winter wind that blows down off the mountains. Standing still at a kerbside for an hour feels much colder than walking does. Regulars come in layers, gloves and a hat, and many carry disposable hand warmers (kairo) from any convenience store.
New Year’s Day is also hatsumōde, the first shrine visit of the year. Once the race has passed, many spectators head to a local shrine to join the queues for the year’s first prayers and fortunes. The rail trip back towards Takasaki and Tokyo is also part of the day, with much of the country watching the replay highlights on the same evening.
Frequently asked questions
When is the New Year Ekiden in 2027?
It takes place on January 1, 2027, New Year's Day, in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture. The race has 7 legs covering 100.0km in total.
Do I need tickets to watch the New Year Ekiden?
No. Spectators watch for free from public roadsides along the course, as at almost every ekiden in Japan. The race is also broadcast live on national television.
How do I get to Maebashi from Tokyo?
Most people take the Joetsu or Hokuriku Shinkansen to Takasaki and change there for a local train to JR Maebashi Station. Roads on the course close while the race passes, so rail is the easier way to arrive.
Where is the best place to watch?
The start and finish area in central Maebashi has the biggest crowds and the most atmosphere. The relay exchange zones let you see the tasuki sash change hands. Mid-leg straights are quieter and give you a longer view of the runners.
What should I wear?
Wear warm layers, gloves and a hat. Gunma in January is cold and often windy because of the dry karakkaze wind. Disposable hand warmers from convenience stores are a common sight at the roadside.
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