🐦 Through Retro Hot Spring Bathhouses and Scenic Coastal Parks 🐦
Beppu City in Oita Prefecture, nestled between the volcanic slopes of Mount Tsurumi and the tranquil waters of Beppu Bay, is celebrated worldwide as Japan’s ultimate hot spring metropolis. Boasting the nation’s highest number of thermal springs and discharge volume, the city developed during the Meiji and Showa eras into a historic spa resort. Characterized by traditional wooden bathhouses, nostalgic shopping arcades, and scenic coastal parks, Beppu blends therapeutic heritage with seaside charm.
This 7km GPS art course invites you to experience a storied cityscape, weaving through retro bathhouse alleys and waterfront promenades to sketch a Ptarmigan on your digital map.
The journey immerses you in authentic hot spring culture, starting near Beppu Station and the nostalgic stalls of Beppu Station Market. Exploring neighborhood streets, you will pass treasured local baths including Kasuga Onsen, Furosen, and Kaimonji Onsen. The route guides you past iconic landmarks such as the grand, timber-framed Takegawara Onsen, alongside Matsubara Onsen, Kamiya Onsen, and Konohana Onsen. Moving toward the coast, you will encounter Tokiwa Beppu, YouMe Town Beppu, and the retro-modern Beppu Tower, before enjoying seaside breezes at Kitahama Park and Matogahama Park.
Featuring flat, highly walkable streets filled with steam and maritime nostalgia, this 7km route captures Beppu’s timeless warmth. As the digital silhouette completes on your map, you are left with a memorable impression of this thermal paradise.
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.
