At the foot of sacred Mount Ontake, this ultra features “Japan’s greatest elevation difference.” More than half the course sits above 1,000 meters, in what the organizers term an “extreme high-altitude zone.” This is not a casual mountain jog with a view.
Expect sustained effort at high elevation, significant climbing, and legs that must continue cooperating after easier options are exhausted. Ultra runners are the intended participants: individuals who recognize the importance of rest stops, particularly when they offer “local specialty food supplies,” and that finishing may lead to a soak in the local hot springs.