🐦 Through Shimosa Hills and Historic Shrines: A 16km Ptarmigan Art in Ichikawa 🐦
Ichikawa City in northwestern Chiba is a captivating destination where the Shimosa Upland features gentle valleys and pure springs. This 16km GPS art course invites you to sketch a Ptarmigan (Raicho), starting from the popular Ichikawa City Zoo. The route spans a lush, hilly environment, providing a wonderful physical challenge for runners and long-distance walkers.
The journey weaves through a network of refreshing parks, including the Ichikawa City Botanical Garden, the wetland trails of Omachi Park, and the beautiful Rose Garden. As you trace the bird’s silhouette, you will visit spiritual landmarks like Komagata Daijinja Shrine and the historic Honko-ji Temple, both deeply rooted in local history. The path extends to the vast, park-like grounds of the Yahashira Cemetery and the spacious Higashimatsudo Central Park. Geographically, the route introduces pleasant undulations as it loops near Ichikawa-Ono, Higashi-Matsudo, Matsuhidai, and Omachi Stations, linking the dynamic urban rail network with peaceful natural sanctuaries.
The Ptarmigan is a sacred alpine bird, a relic of the Ice Age inhabiting Japan’s snowy peaks. Etching this majestic icon into the warm lowlands of Ichikawa—an area historically celebrated since ancient times—is a creative irony that defines the joy of GPS art. By the time the digital Ptarmigan appears on your screen, you will have discovered the hidden layers of Chiba’s forested plateau. Lace up your shoes and embark on this artistic odyssey through the scenic hills of Hokuso!
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.
