🌸 Memories of the World’s Best Blossoms: A 22km Kajigawa Sakura Trail 🌸
Shibata City, Niigata Prefecture, is home to the historic Kajigawa Embankment. Once acclaimed as the world’s most spectacular cherry blossom avenue with 6,000 trees, the area overcame devastating floods in the 1960s. Today, it stands as a symbol of resilience with 2,000 blossoms. This 22km GPS art course allows you to celebrate this legacy by sketching a grand Sakura across the vast Echigo Plain.
The journey highlights Kajikawachisui Memorial Park, where old sluice gates tell the story of the river’s management and the community’s restoration efforts. As you navigate the loop, you will explore the natural beauty of Kiyogata Park and pass the Horticultural Research Center, a hub for Niigata’s famous flora. The route also takes you through the Shiunji area, blending agricultural landscapes with local cultural heritage.
Geographically, the terrain is remarkably flat, typical of Niigata’s rice-producing heartland. This makes the long-distance trek ideal for a steady half-marathon run or an endurance walk. The refreshing breeze from the Sea of Japan often reaches these plains, providing a cool companion as you trace the intricate petals of your digital artwork. By the time the giant Sakura blooms on your smartphone screen, you will have experienced the profound connection between the local people and the river that defines their spring. Lace up your shoes and honor the “world’s best” blossoms with your own footsteps!
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.
