🐦 From Modern Oases to Ancient Shrines: A 10km Ptarmigan Art in Nerima 🐦
Hikarigaoka in Nerima City is a unique district where Tokyo’s post-war history breathes through the leaves of giant ginkgo trees. Once a military housing complex known as Grant Heights, the area has transformed into Hikarigaoka Park, one of the city’s largest green lungs. This 10km GPS art course invites you to sketch a Ptarmigan (Raicho), tracing a path through modern parks and ancient spiritual sites.
The journey starts in the vast lawns of Hikarigaoka Park before heading to Aki-no-hi (Autumn Sunlight) Park, famous for its small rice paddy that recalls Nerima’s agricultural roots. As you trace the silhouette of the bird, you’ll visit the Tagara Atago and Tagara Tenso Shrines, quiet sanctuaries that have guarded the residents of the Musashino Plateau for generations. The route also bridges the gap between Nerima and Itabashi, leading you near Shimoakatsuka Park and the bustling shopping districts around Narimasu and Shimo-akatsuka Stations.
The Ptarmigan is a sacred alpine bird and a relic of the Ice Age, traditionally inhabiting Japan’s highest snowy peaks. Drawing this “Messenger of the Gods” across the urban grid is a creative way to appreciate the biodiversity of these local parks. The terrain is mostly flat and pleasant, passing by the Hikarigaoka Library and through shaded residential paths. By the time your digital Ptarmigan takes flight on your smartphone screen, you will have experienced the perfect blend of Tokyo’s modern convenience and its hidden historical depth. Lace up your shoes and explore the “green heart” of Nerima!
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.
