±á²¹³Ù²õ³Ü³¾¨»å±ð (first shrine visit of the year), osechi (celebratory feast) and Hakone Ekiden (what some people call the greatest race on earth): These are three of the Japanese New Year¡¯s traditions that have stood the test of time.
For many Japanese people, Hakone Ekiden ¡ª the long-distance road relay from central Tokyo to the foothills of Mount Fuji and back ¡ª has become an essential part of ´Ç²õ³ó¨²µ²¹³Ù²õ³Ü (New Year¡¯s) and tens of millions of people tune in yearly to watch young men on university teams run, often in freezing temperatures.
Every year on Jan. 2 and 3, Hakone Ekiden brings millions of fans across Japan to a standstill. Even people who normally don¡¯t care about running care about Hakone Ekiden.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.