🐎 Horse Course in Nagaoka’s historic Shrine 🗻
Discover a 10km GPS art route in Nagaoka that draws a dynamic horse shape as you walk through the cultural landscape surrounding Kinpu Shrine. The shrine is renowned for its annual Yabusame ritual held on July 15—a rare tradition preserved today only here and on Sado Island, making it a significant cultural treasure of Niigata.
The course centers around the Shinmachi 1-chome intersection and stretches between Route 8, Route 351, and Prefectural Road 498. To the north lies an industrial district, while Kinpu Shrine stands calmly just to the northwest, creating a striking contrast between modern industry and longstanding faith.
Nagaoka is celebrated as one of Japan’s great rice-producing regions, shaped by the fertile plains of the Shinano River and a climate with dramatic seasonal shifts. These natural features are deeply connected to the endurance of traditions like Yabusame.
Tracing this 10km route will reveal the silhouette of a spirited horse—an ideal activity to pair with your first shrine visit of the year. Enjoy both cultural heritage and creative exploration on this auspicious New Year’s walk.
DETAIL (EXTERNAL LINK)
A PIONEER IN GPS ART.
1st work was authorized by Guinness World Records as “the Largest GPS Drawing”.
He is the only Japanese person to be featured in a Google documentary as an innovator. He is fascinated by the idea of drawing with GPS and has published more than 2,500 works.
