Draw “HOT” in Date City! GPS Art Commemorating Japan’s Hottest 39.2℃ Day✨
On July 26, 2025, Date City in Fukushima Prefecture recorded Japan’s highest temperature of the day at a blazing 39.2℃, earning its place as a true “hot spot” of the summer. Starting from the area around the former weather observatory, this unique 4km GPS art course invites you to embrace the heat by literally walking out the word “HOT” on your map.
The route begins near the old observation site and takes you through a mix of town streets and pastoral scenery. As you trace the letters “HOT” with your GPS, each step intertwines the memory of the heat with a personal summer story of your own.
Date City is located in one of Tohoku’s richest agricultural regions, where fertile lands and farming traditions still play a vital role in daily life. Historically, the city flourished under the Date clan, leaving behind ruins and cultural landmarks that continue to tell its story. Along the Uchide River, the summer sunlight filters through the trees, offering welcome patches of shade in contrast to the season’s intensity.
At just 4km, the course is designed for comfort, making it manageable even under the midsummer sun. By completing the GPS art spelling “HOT,” you will not only experience the charm of Date’s landscape, but also transform the sweltering heat into a playful and unforgettable summer adventure. This short walk is more than just a route—it’s a living memory of a historic day of heat, captured in both steps and art.
TOURISTS SPOT
REFFERENCE
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.
