🐦 Through the Star Fort and Modern Streets: A 9km Ptarmigan in Hakodate 🐦
Hakodate City in Hokkaido, nestled on a peninsula facing the Tsugaru Strait, is a romantic port town that flourished with Western influences after Japan’s opening to the world. Its crown jewel is Goryokaku, Japan’s first Western-style star-shaped fort and the final battlefield of the Boshin War.
This 9km GPS art course invites you to sketch a Ptarmigan, starting directly beneath the towering Goryōkaku Tower and heading north straight through the historic grounds of Goryokaku Park. The cultural route then leads you south through the vibrant city streets to Chiyogadai Park, a lush sports hub, and the nearby Chiyogadai Station where classic streetcars rumble past. Turning back north, the trail guides you through the family-friendly Yanagawakotsu Park and right by the Hakodate Museum of Art, Hokkaido, which showcases brilliant regional masterpieces. Tracing the silhouette of the alpine Ptarmigan across this flat, historic urban grid provides a delightful artistic challenge.
This 9km loop is completely flat and highly accessible for runners and walkers alike. By the time the digital bird takes flight on your screen, you will have experienced the rich samurai history and modern charm of Hakodate with every single step.
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.
