Horse in Wakayama Castle, Wakayama City 15km

🐎 New Year Run: Draw a Horse Around Historic Wakayama Castle 🗻

Welcome the New Year with a unique cultural experience on this 15km GPS art route that draws the shape of a horse around the iconic Wakayama Castle. As the seat of the Kishu Tokugawa clan, the castle has a rich connection to horses. Tokugawa Yoshimune—the clan’s leader who later became the eighth shogun—was renowned for his exceptional horsemanship. Illustrations depicting him on horseback, such as the well-known equestrian paintings, remain today, and related materials are sometimes displayed at the Wakayama City Museum. A statue of Yoshimune within the castle grounds further reinforces the area’s historical charm.

The course also passes by the Oimawashi Gate, whose name originates from the former horse-training grounds once located nearby. This evocative place name preserves the legacy of the equestrian culture that flourished around the castle. Additional traces of horse-related history can be found in districts such as Nakanoshima and Kanda, where roads were once known as “Umamichi”—literally “horse paths.”

Along the route, runners and walkers visit several cultural and scenic landmarks, including the Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama; Wakayama Castle Park Zoo; Momijidani Teien Garden; Oka Park; and historical shrines such as Sasutahiko Shrine and Taga Shrine. The birthplace of Tokugawa Yoshimune and the Wakayama Prefectural Cultural Hall also lie along the path, offering a rewarding blend of history, art, and local heritage.

The city’s refined castle-town layout, paired with abundant green spaces and cultural institutions, makes central Wakayama an inviting area for exploration. As you trace the horse-shaped GPS artwork, you’ll experience the city’s depth—its traditions, landscapes, and historical layers—while embracing the New Year with an activity full of vitality.

This 15km route is a perfect way to combine shrine visits, creative expression, and an energizing run or walk. Start your year with a symbolic “horse” brimming with strength and good fortune.