Staring at a Map at Night—My Favorite Kind of Escape
There’s something magical about sitting alone at night and staring at a map.
I pour a quiet drink into my glass, take small sips, and let my imagination drift toward unknown corners of town.
That, to me, is pure bliss.
And when the map is hand-drawn—picked up during a trip somewhere—it sets my soul ablaze.
Crude little sketches scribbled in the corners, those skinny lines that look like hidden backstreets…
They ignite my wild imagination.
One map in particular completely blew me away: a map of Sekigahara, the historic battlefield in central Japan.
As I traced the terrain, I could see it all come to life—like a movie unspooling in my head.
Ah, this must be where Tokugawa Ieyasu surged forward.
And right here is where Kobayakawa Hideaki came charging in—BOOM!
This little ridge—was this where Ishida Mitsunari’s forces collapsed?
I got way too into it—alone, night after night, fired up in front of a map.
I Always Dreamed of Drawing a Map Like That
I wanted to create something that could spark the same fire in someone else.
That dream lived in me for a long time.
But there were two thick walls standing in the way.
Wall #1: The Trap of My Logical Brain
I’m a science guy through and through.
Sure, I’ve got the skills to make maps—clean, accurate, precise in both distance and direction.
But what I ended up creating?
Lifeless technical drawings.
Yes, the information was correct.
But they had zero soul.
Let’s be honest—they looked more like architectural diagrams than actual maps.
Wall #2: No One to Share Them With
The second wall? There was no one to look at them.
I’d draw a map, stare at it myself, and grin with satisfaction.
It wasn’t the worst feeling in the world.
But deep down, I wanted more.
I wanted these maps to actually be something for someone.
To make their day better somehow.
Lately, that second wall has started to crack just a bit.
I had this idea:
What if I left a walking map at a neighborhood café I go to often?
Picture it: someone grabs the map, goes for a walk, and the café is the finish line.
After walking, they sit down and toast with a coffee—or maybe a drink.
How great would that be?
That little daydream hit me so hard I couldn’t sit still.
I rushed to make a prototype and headed straight to that café.
“Hey… would it be okay if I left a map like this here?”
They didn’t say no. It just might work.
How I Broke Through the First Wall
So how do you make a map that moves people?
I had a bit of an edge: I know my way around Adobe Illustrator.
If it’s a blueprint you want, I can knock one out instantly.
But lifeless maps aren’t what I wanted anymore.
I tried using brush-like strokes and handwriting-style fonts.
Looked decent… but it still felt off.
Too clean. Too calculated.
There was no heartbeat behind it.
I hit a wall again.
Until—
💡 An idea struck me, like a flash of lightning.
“Oh! I’ll just… trace it.”
Yes! I’d print out my Illustrator map faintly, then trace over it by hand with a pen.
Line by line.
Letter by letter.
In my own rhythm.
The layout would stay tidy, but the lines… the breath in each stroke… that’s where the human touch would live.
The subtle shakiness. The little imperfections.
That’s what gives it soul.
And because the layout is digital, I can still tweak and fix things beforehand—no fear of screwing up.
I can draw little illustrations myself.
Maybe even add a quiet little message in the corner of the map.
When I feel good about it all, I take the final step: ink it in by hand, with care.
And just like that—
I found my own way to draw a map.
Now Let’s Create a Map That Sparks Joy
That’s how I knocked down both walls.
And now, in front of me: pen, paper, and a lightly printed map base.
It’s finally happening.
My hand-drawn map journey begins.
What I’m pouring into each one is the glowing ember of a long-smoldering dream.
If someone picks up this map…
If they wander through town on a whim…
If they discover something unexpected, and raise a glass with a smile at the café—
In that moment,
my map becomes more than paper.
It becomes a light that brightens someone’s day.
