🌸 Messenger of the Gods: A 10km Ptarmigan GPS Art in Historic Kasai 🌸
Edogawa Ward, Tokyo, is a quintessential “water city” nestled between the Arakawa and Edogawa Rivers. This 10km GPS art course begins at the Edogawa City Nature Zoo, a beloved community spot where you can meet red pandas and penguins for free. From here, you will embark on an urban adventure to sketch the form of a Ptarmigan (Raicho), a national treasure typically found only in the high Japanese Alps.
As you start from Gyosen Park and its beautiful Heisei Garden, you’ll transition into the historic atmosphere of the Shinkawa Canal. During the Edo period, this waterway was vital for transporting salt to the capital. Today, sites like the Shinkawa Sakura Hall and the Shinkawa Senbonzakura (1,000 cherry trees) celebrate this maritime heritage. Geographically, this area is famous as a “zero-meter zone,” and following the Old Kasai coastal dikes offers a fascinating glimpse into where the land once met the sea before reclamation.
The Ptarmigan is known as the “Messenger of the Gods,” inhabiting snowy peaks above 2,500 meters. Drawing this alpine icon at sea level in Tokyo is a witty and creative way to experience the city’s diverse landscape. The route is mostly flat and easy to navigate, passing through Nishi-Kasai Station and the Edogawa City Sports Center.
After completing your 10km loop back at the zoo, treat yourself to a visit to Otome-yu Public Bath. Soaking in its famous natural “Kuroyu” (black water) hot springs is the ultimate reward for your artistic trek. By tracing the lines of a mountain bird across the water-hewn streets of Edogawa, you connect the spirit of nature with the pulse of the city. Lace up your shoes and let the “God’s Messenger” guide your footsteps!
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.
