🐦 Through Asaka Pioneer Heritage: A 7km Ptarmigan Loop in Koriyama 🐦
Koriyama City in Fukushima Prefecture, nestled in the heart of the Koriyama Basin, is a thriving commercial hub with a proud history born from the Asaka Land Reclamation Project during the Meiji era. This 7km GPS art course invites you to sketch a Ptarmigan (Raicho), using the historic grounds of Kaiseizan Park—the very symbol of the city’s pioneer spirit—as your creative canvas.
The journey begins within the scenic, expansive park and guides you through a living museum of regional modernization. You will pass the Kaiseikan, which preserves the history of the early pioneers, and the Asaka History Museum (Former Fukushima Prefectural Ordinary Middle School Main Building), an elegant Western-style structure designated as an Important Cultural Property. The trail also loops near the sacred Kaiseizan Daijingu Shrine, affectionately known as the “Ise Grand Shrine of Tohoku,” which served as the spiritual bedrock for the settlers.
The Ptarmigan is a sacred alpine bird and an Ice Age relic that symbols the snowy grandeur of Japan’s highest peaks. Drawing this mountain icon across the flat, historic plains of Koriyama creates a playful and poetic contrast. This short, flat 7km loop is perfect for a casual run or walk. By the time the digital bird appears on your smartphone, you will have connected Koriyama’s pioneering past with every step.
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.
