🐦 Birthplace of Ieyasu: A 8km Ptarmigan GPS Art through Okazaki’s Castle Town 🐦
Okazaki City, Aichi, is celebrated as the birthplace of the great Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. This 8km GPS art course invites you to sketch a Ptarmigan (Raicho) while exploring a city where samurai history and modern life harmonize. The journey begins at Okazaki Castle Park, home to the iconic reconstructed keep and the Mikawa Warriors & Iyeyasu Museum, where the legacy of the Tokugawa clan breathes through the artifacts.
As you trace the silhouette of the bird, you will traverse the scenic Otogawa River Greenbelt, a vast open space beloved by locals. The route takes you to the spiritual Rokusho Shrine, a beautifully preserved sanctuary known for its connection to the Ieyasu birth legend. Along the way, you’ll discover the Okazaki Shinkin Bank Museum, a Western-style brick building from the Taisho era, and the vibrant Kagoda Park. The course also leads you near Higashi-Okazaki Station and the ComTown shopping area, providing a glimpse into the daily pulse of this historic hub.
The Ptarmigan is an alpine bird revered as a “Messenger of the Gods,” inhabiting Japan’s highest peaks. Drawing this symbol of snowy mountains across the warm, river-fed plains of Okazaki is a creative juxtaposition that defines GPS art. Geographically, the terrain is mostly flat and pleasant, making it an ideal canvas for walkers and runners alike. By the time the digital Ptarmigan appears on your screen, you will have experienced the soulful history and the refreshing river breezes of the Shogun’s hometown. Lace up your shoes and take flight through the heart of Mikawa!
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.
