Horse in Zenkōji Temple, Nagano City 14km

🐎 Horse-Shaped GPS Art Around Historic Zenkoji Temple 🗻

This 14-kilometer GPS art walking course around Zenkoji Temple in Nagano City offers a unique New Year experience by drawing the shape of a horse—the zodiac animal—through your walking course. As you stroll through the historic temple town, your GPS trail gradually forms a symbolic horse on the map, blending tradition, storytelling, and modern digital art.

Zenkoji Temple is one of Japan’s most important pilgrimage sites, often described by the saying, “Everyone should visit Zenkoji at least once in their lifetime.” Among its lesser-known highlights is the legend of Komagaeri (the “turning-back horse”). According to tradition, when Minamoto no Yoritomo visited Zenkoji, his horse’s hoof became stuck in a hole near Komagaeri Bridge, forcing him to turn back. The small indentation, said to be the horse’s hoofprint, still remains on the temple grounds today. Without guidance, many visitors pass it by—making it a hidden gem that perfectly complements this horse-themed GPS art walk.

The course begins at Zenkoji Temple, passing through the impressive Sammon Gate and the spiritual center of Daihongan. It then leads to Saihoji Temple and Yubuku Shrine, before expanding into the scenic Joyama area. Along the way, walkers pass the Nagano Prefectural Art Museum, Joyama Zoo, and the Nagano City Library—spots where culture, learning, and nature coexist harmoniously.

Nagano City lies in the Zenkoji Plain, surrounded by mountains that have shaped its history as a key stop along the old Hokurikudo and Hokkoku highways. For centuries, travelers, pilgrims, and merchants passed through this area, often accompanied by horses that played an essential role in transportation and daily life.

Walking this gentle yet meaningful 14-kilometer course during the New Year season offers a chance to reflect, explore, and connect with history. Completing the course leaves behind a horse-shaped GPS artwork—an enduring symbol of strength, good fortune, and a fresh start, rooted in the timeless spirit of Zenkoji.