🐦 Through Feudal Castle Ruins and Modern Art: An 11km Ptarmigan Loop 🐦
Oita City in Oita Prefecture, set along Beppu Bay and framed by the Oita River, flourished as a vibrant historical hub in the Bungo region. During the Sengoku period, under the Christian daimyo Otomo Sorin, the area embraced Western medicine, music, and Nanban trade, laying a foundation of progressive culture alongside its Edo-period castle town heritage. This 11km GPS art course invites you to sketch a Ptarmigan across a dynamic landscape bounded by National Route 10, the river, and the bay.
The route immerses you in a rich variety of atmospheres, starting near the serene water-filled moats and stone walls of the historic Oita Funai Castle Ruins and the Oita Prefectural Government Office. Heading into the bustling city center, you will encounter the lively avenues surrounding Oita Station, the greenery of Wakakusa Park, and the community hub of Compal Hall. Modern culture shines at the Oita Prefectural Art Museum (OPAM), renowned for its striking architecture inspired by traditional bamboo craft. The trail also winds past the tranquil, sacred grounds of Kasuga Shrine and the lively shopping area around Don Quijote D Plaza Oita.
This completely flat 11km trail offers a delightful blend of samurai heritage and contemporary arts. As the digital silhouette completes on your map, you will feel deeply connected to Oita’s vibrant story.
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.
