Earth Plaza

A spherical model of the Japanese archipelago is on display to give visitors an idea of the roundness of the Earth.
A real airplane now in retirement is another attraction of the Earth Plaza. It is "Kunikaze" (meaning wind of the country in Japanese), the memorial survey airplane of GSI.

The spherical model represents a portion of the globe covering an area of 2,200km radius around the Japanese archipelago, at a scale of 1:200,000. Topographic maps of this scale are printed on ceramics of the model. Four stone markers are installed at the four corners to show the exact distances of one second of longitude and latitude.
Experience the curvature of the Earth and the smallest unit used in measuring the Earth!

　

Survey Airplane "Kunikaze"

"Kunikaze" is the first survey airplane of GSI that was operated from 1960 to 1983. It played an active role in aerial surveying and magnetic survey.