🐎 Horse-Shaped GPS Art Walk Through Isawa Onsen Town 🗻
This GPS art course is perfect for travelers who want to combine New Year shrine visits, hot springs, and an active walking experience. Set in Isawa Onsen Town in Fuefuki City, Yamanashi Prefecture, the approximately 21-kilometer course creates a dynamic horse shape—the zodiac animal—on your GPS map.
The starting point, WINS Isawa, is an off-track betting facility operated by the Japan Racing Association (JRA). It is uniquely known as the only WINS in Japan to feature a free-flowing natural hot spring footbath, “Hirameki no Yu.” With large viewing halls, premium seating areas, and on-site dining, WINS Isawa serves not only racing fans but also visitors exploring the famous Isawa hot spring resort.
The course passes local highlights such as Saiseki no Kura, a workshop showcasing Koshu’s traditional gemstone craftsmanship, Isawa Hot Spring public baths, Fuefuki City Hall, and the scenic Fuefukishi Seiryu Park along a clear stream. The gentle atmosphere of the onsen town blends with orchards and open landscapes, creating a relaxing yet engaging long-distance walk.
Fuefuki City lies in the eastern part of the Kofu Basin and has long prospered as a transportation and cultural crossroads. Archaeological remains from ancient times and historical sites reflect its deep-rooted past, while today the area is famous nationwide for its peaches and grapes. Walking through this region allows visitors to experience both its natural richness and historical depth.
As your footsteps trace the outline of a horse across the town, the completed GPS art symbolizes strength, vitality, and good fortune. Finishing the walk with a soak in a hot spring makes this course an ideal way to begin the New Year refreshed, energized, and inspired.
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.
