55th Tatsuno City Plum and Tide Scent Marathon

The Plum and Tide Scent Marathon is held each January in Tatsuno City on the coast of the Seto Inland Sea in Hyogo Prefecture. For the day of the race the organisers close National Route 250 to all traffic for a 10 km stretch, the only full closure of its kind in the prefecture, and runners cover an out-and-back course on asphalt beside the water with the scent of plum blossom and salt in the air. The programme offers a half marathon, 10 km, 5 km, 3 km, a 2 km race for primary school children and a 1.7 km family jog, so the morning suits everyone from serious racers chasing a time to families out for a run together. There is no race-day registration: entry gifts, number cards and timing chips arrive by post beforehand, and after the finish participants are served drinks and tonjiru soup with a prize draw at the venue.