Ise Marathon

The Ise Marathon (伊勢マラソン) is a unique road race that blends competitive running with one of Japan’s most culturally significant destinations. Held annually in the historic city of Ise in Mie Prefecture, the event gives runners the rare opportunity to race through streets surrounding the revered Ise Grand Shrine (Ise Jingū), Japan’s most sacred Shinto shrine. Rather than focusing solely on athletic performance, the marathon celebrates the region’s rich spiritual heritage, history, and hospitality, making it one of the country’s most memorable destination races.

The centerpiece of the event is the officially certified half marathon, accompanied by a certified 5 km race. The half marathon course passes many of Ise’s best-known landmarks, including the approach to the Inner Shrine (Naikū), the bustling traditional streets of Oharai-machi, and the famous Mizuki Noguchi Gold Medal Road, named after the local Olympic marathon champion. Throughout the course, runners experience a blend of modern city streets, historic districts, and areas steeped in Japanese tradition, offering a race unlike any other in Japan.