Thank you for choosing Tokyo Free Walking Tour at the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace on February 28, 2026. We welcomed 18 guests from Germany, USA, UK and UAE. I hope all of you enjoyed and shared interesting conversations with us during the tour. As promised, group photos and snapshots are attached to remember the fun times we had.
Today the weather was very nice, so it was perfect for our walking tour. The Marunouchi Ekiden was being held. The next day is the Tokyo Marathon. There were many runners jogging around the Imperial Palace.
Ekiden is a long-distance relay race that originated in Japan. The first ekiden was held in 1917 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the transfer of Japan’s capital from Kyoto to Tokyo. The race followed the old Tokaido route between Kyoto and Tokyo.
In an ekiden, several runners form one team, and each runner completes one section of the total distance. After finishing their part, they pass a sash called a tasuki to the next runner. The tasuki is worn across the chest and symbolizes teamwork and responsibility.
Unlike track races held in a stadium, ekiden races usually take place on public roads and cover long distances. One famous example is the Hakone Ekiden, a university relay race held every New Year, which many Japanese people watch on television.
Ekiden is popular in Japan because it represents not only speed but also teamwork, endurance, and strong team spirit.
Tokyo Free Walking Tour is a volunteer group that is focused on small group tours with multiple guides. Our guides have a strong passion about our community, culture and history. Enjoy having a one-on-one conversation with them in a small group. We have six tours (East Gardens of the Imperial Palace, Asakusa, Meiji Shrine & Harajuku, Ueno Park, Around Japan in a half day and Yanaka & Nezu). Participating in multiple tours with us is common and popular among our guests.
We always strive to give high-quality tours. Your feedback is very important and useful to us. If you have a moment, please consider posting comments about the tour on our website, Facebook, or “Tokyo Free Walking Tour” on Tripadvisor. Your remarks will certainly help us improve and continue developing our tours. We’re excited to see you again if you come back next time.
(Posted by Yutaka)