Walk “HOT” in Kiryu! A 3km GPS Art Course at Japan’s Record-Breaking 41.2℃ Stage✨
Kiryu City, located in the heart of Gunma Prefecture, made headlines on August 5, 2025, when it tied Japan’s highest-ever recorded temperature of 41.2℃. Now, you can relive that “HOT” moment by walking through the central district and around the meteorological observatory to create a GPS art piece spelling out “HOT.”
This special 3km route offers not only a playful GPS artwork but also a walk through Kiryu’s unique blend of history, culture, and climate. Starting within walking distance of Kiryu Station, the course takes you through the old castle-town shopping streets and toward the observatory, gradually sketching out the bold letters “H-O-T” on your map.
Kiryu has thrived as a textile city, renowned for its silk industry, and remnants of this heritage can still be seen in retro streetscapes and preserved industrial sites such as silk twisting machines. Geographically, the city sits in a basin surrounded by mountains—one reason why summers here are notoriously scorching, making it a truly “HOT” location.
Thanks to its compact design, the course is easy to enjoy even under the blazing summer sun. When you finish, your GPS screen will display a striking “HOT,” like a short poem written by your own footsteps. Why not leave your passionate trace in Kiryu—the city of heat, history, and creativity?
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 2,000 courses.
