🐦 Through Red-Tiled Castle Ruins and Samurai Spirit: A 6km Ptarmigan Loop 🐦
Aizuwakamatsu City in Fukushima Prefecture, nestled in the southeastern part of the Aizu Basin, is a legendary destination that flourished as a proud samurai capital and served as the tragic, heroic stage of the Boshin War. This 6km GPS art course invites you to sketch a Ptarmigan, starting near the historic West Otemon Gate ruins. The flat and scenic trail circles the iconic red-tiled Aizu Tsuruga Castle in all four directions before passing directly through the citadel into the second and third castle bailies.
The historic loop begins by leading you past the traditional sake cellars of Miyaizumi Meijo and the bustling Tsurugajo Kaikan visitor hub. Winding east, you will pass Aizuwakamatsu Historical Archives Center MANABEKO and the modern Aizu Fugado Performance Hall. After completing the outer loop, you will enter the inner park to visit the sacred Tsurugajo Castle Inari Shrine and marvel at the majestic castle keep. The final stretch guides you east through the gates toward the tranquil fields of Tsurugajoninomaru City Park and the Fukushima Prefectural Museum in the former third baily (Sannomaru).
This highly accessible 6km loop beautifully connects Aizu’s samurai spirit with its rich brewing and artistic traditions. When the digital bird appears on your map, you will have traced the very soul of this historic fortress city with every single 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.
