OSAKA - 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.
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.
Spending around half a day on the course encourages a different approach to racing. Many runners focus less on the clock than on enjoying aid stations and interacting with volunteers along the route.
"In a full marathon, you don't really have time to stop and eat at the aid stations," said Nara resident Risako Morisaka, 48. "But this time, I was able to try and compare different types of persimmon leaf-wrapped sushi. You can't finish an ultramarathon without eating, so I found myself running while thinking about where and what I would eat next."
Because ultramarathons are often held in spring and summer rather than winter, managing the heat is another challenge.
Organizers of the Nara race stocked every aid station along the course with sports drinks and salt tablets, while also providing water for runners to pour over themselves to cool down. Participants were also encouraged to carry their own water bottles so they could hydrate whenever needed.
Takehiko Gyoba, editor-in-chief of Runners magazine and the men's silver medalist at the 2018 ultramarathon world championships in Croatia, said many runners were drawn by the experience as much as the physical challenge.
"Many runners approach these races like a journey, enjoying the scenery and the chance to interact with local people. Because simply finishing is such a challenge, the feeling of accomplishment when they reach the finish line is enormous," he said.
Tomoko Kato, 49, a resident of Toki, Gifu Prefecture, said that was exactly what kept her coming back.
"The appeal is that it's not all about speed. When I saw the finish line, I was moved to tears. I want to run it again," she said.
