🐦 Across the Shinano River and Retro Streets: An 11km Ptarmigan Art in Niigata 🐦
Niigata City, situated at the mouth of the Shinano River, has thrived for centuries as a bustling port town. This 11km GPS art course invites you to sketch a Ptarmigan (Raicho), tracing a grand loop through the historic downtown starting near Niigata Station.
The journey begins in the vibrant Bandai district, passing the music hub NIIGATA LOTS, before leading you across the iconic Bandai Bridge. This six-arched stone monument is a designated Important Cultural Property and the beloved symbol of the city. After crossing the river, you will pass the modern RYUTOPIA Niigata City Performing Arts Center. The route then dives into the historic Shimomachi district, guiding you through the hip, traditional avenues of Kamifurumachi Shopping Street and the nostalgic, Showa-era alleyways of Ninjo Yokosho Shopping Street.
The Ptarmigan is a sacred alpine bird and an Ice Age relic that survives on high snowy peaks, including Mt. Hiuchi in Niigata Prefecture. Etching this mountain icon across the coastal, flat plains of Niigata creates a playful contrast that defines the joy of GPS art. The course is entirely flat and pedestrian-friendly. By the time the digital Ptarmigan appears on your screen, you will have woven together Niigata’s rich port history and scenic waterscapes 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.
