Walk Through History’s Heat! Create “HOT” GPS Art in Shimanto✨
Shimanto City, located in Kochi Prefecture, made history on August 12, 2013, when it recorded Japan’s highest temperature at the time: a scorching 41.0 °C. That record remained unbroken for five years, becoming a milestone in Japan’s climate history. Today, the area around Shimanto City Hall serves as the starting point for a unique 3 km GPS art walking course, where participants can draw the word “HOT” on the map through their steps. With its compact distance, this route is perfect for enjoying even under the blazing sun.
The course begins at City Hall and meanders through local shopping streets and quiet residential areas, carefully laid out to form the letters H-O-T. Along the way, walkers can glimpse scenes reminiscent of the clear waters of the Shimanto River and the gentle rural landscapes typical of this region. Historically, Shimanto has thrived as a community closely tied to the river, preserving traditions and cultural practices that trace back to the Edo period. On this course, participants not only retrace the memory of Japan’s record-breaking heat but also experience the everyday life and natural charm of Shimanto.
Though short, this 3 km walk leaves a strong impression—combining the challenges of summer heat with the joy of creating art. When the letters “HOT” appear on your GPS map, you’ll feel the thrill of having captured a piece of summer’s history in your own footsteps. Why not turn Shimanto’s unforgettable heat into a personal work of art?
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.
