🐦 Through the Historic Castle Town and Garden Groves: A 9km Ptarmigan in Matsumoto 🐦
Matsumoto City in Nagano Prefecture, cradled by the majestic Northern Alps in the center of the Matsumoto Basin, is a historic destination that flourished as a proud castle town around national treasure Matsumoto Castle. Celebrated as the city of the “Three Gaku” (Mountains, Music, and Learning), it blends pristine nature with a refined academic legacy. This 9km GPS art course invites you to sketch a Ptarmigan, starting from Matsumoto Castle Park and looping across historic quarters and urban centers.
The journey heads east past Matsumoto City Hall and the vibrant Aeon Mall Matsumoto, leading to the beautiful Himalayan cedar avenues of Agatanomori Park. Within this green oasis, you can admire Taisho-era school architecture and visit the Old System High School Memorial Hall, which preserves the city’s rich student heritage. Turning west, the route guides you through the bustling streets surrounding Matsumoto Station before heading north along historic grids. Finally, you will return to view the stunning, multi-roofed keep of Matsumoto Castle.
This flat 9km loop perfectly condenses Matsumoto’s artistic streets and samurai past. When the digital silhouette appears on your map, you will have navigated the very heart of this alpine cultural capital.
RESTAURANTS
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.
