Okutama Ekiden

With a 66-year heritage and a beautiful six-leg course extending along a mountain rail line, the Okutama Ekiden is the quintessential open Japanese ekiden. Held on the first Sunday of December, usually under the clear blue skies and comfortably cool air that marks late autumn in the Kanto area, it’s a highly competitive race, opposing about 120 open division men’s teams, as well as high school and college squads. The out-and-back course gains altitude over the first three legs before dropping back down. The legs range in distance from 6.5 to 8.5 kilometers. A 4-person women’s ekiden is held on a short course with each leg averaging around 3 kilometers.

The Okutama Ekiden is a key event for Namban Rengo. If you want to enter this race, contact us by the beginning of October.