Tokushima Marathon

In mid-March, Tokushima’s mild early-spring air invites a shake-out run along the Yoshino River before the marathon, with the city’s iconic Awa Odori Kaikan offering a taste of the dance that defines this place. After crossing the finish, warm up with a bowl of tokushima ramen, topped with raw egg and pork, and stroll the lantern-lit streets of the old castle ruins—a quiet, local way to recover and savor the season.