Horse around JRA Wins Yokohama, Yokohama, Kanagawa pref. 11km

🐎 Horse-Shaped GPS Art Walk Through Historic Yokohama 🗻

This GPS art course is ideal for those who want to combine New Year shrine visits with a walk through Yokohama’s historic cityscape. Starting from WINS Yokohama, the approximately 11-kilometer course draws the zodiac animal “Horse” across the Naka Ward area, revealing a dynamic shape when completed on your GPS map.

WINS Yokohama is an off-track betting facility operated by the Japan Racing Association (JRA). Conveniently located within walking distance of Sakuragicho and Kannai stations, it allows visitors to purchase and redeem betting tickets without going to a racetrack. Its central location makes it a practical starting point for exploring the surrounding cultural district.

The course passes Yokohama Nigiwai-za, a hub for traditional performing arts, Yokohama City Hall, and Kannai Hall, reflecting the city’s rich cultural life. Walkers also encounter historic landmarks such as the First Gas Lamps in Japan and the Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Cultural History, which illustrate Yokohama’s role as a gateway for Western influence during Japan’s modernization. The course continues past Yokohama Stadium, Yokohama Budokan, and Odori Park, offering a pleasant balance of urban scenery and green public spaces.

Yokohama’s Kannai area developed rapidly after the port opened in 1859, becoming a center of trade, culture, and innovation. The grid-like streets and remnants of old waterways create a distinctive urban layout that works beautifully for GPS art. The resulting horse shape appears strong yet elegant, symbolizing vitality and forward movement.

Completing this walk not only provides a sense of achievement but also leaves you with a unique digital artwork—a horse formed by your own footsteps. It is a memorable way to celebrate the New Year while discovering the layers of history and culture that define Yokohama.