Japan’s ultramarathons gain popularity
Runners crossed the finish line with arms outstretched after running for half a day through forests, rivers and historic sites, their bodies drenched in sweat but their faces beaming with satisfaction.
Many had set off before dawn at 4:30 a.m. for the inaugural Nara Ultramarathon in May. For them, the reward was not a fast finishing time but the chance to spend hours taking in the scenery, sampling local food and chatting with volunteers along the course.
As ultramarathons grow in popularity in Japan, many runners say the appeal lies less in chasing records than in treating races longer than the standard 42.195-kilometer marathon as a journey.
The Nara Ultramarathon, held in areas including Kashihara, proved so popular that its 3,000-entry capacity was filled the day after registration opened.
According to Tokyo-based R-bies Co., publisher of the running magazine Runners, the number of domestic ultramarathon events increased from 27 in 2021 to 44 in 2025, while the number of race entries more than doubled from about 14,000 to around 32,000.
Taking in sights
Unlike full marathons, ultramarathons are often held along coastlines or through mountainous areas because the lengthy traffic restrictions required make courses through cities difficult to organize.
The Nara race starts at the Fujiwara Palace Site in Kashihara before taking runners through the steep hills of the Asuka region, up the 500 steps of the World Heritage-listed Kinpusenji Temple and along the Yoshino River.
“The best part is being able to run surrounded by rivers and forests,” said Osaka resident Yusuke Kono, 39.
