🐦 A Sacred Messenger in the Forest of Culture: A 5km Ptarmigan Art in Ueno 🐦
Ueno in Taito Ward, Tokyo, is a unique plateau known as the “Forest of Culture.” This 5km GPS art course invites you to sketch the form of a Ptarmigan (Raicho), starting and ending at the legendary Ueno Zoo. Originally the vast grounds of Kanei-ji Temple, this area was transformed into Japan’s first public park and now hosts the nation’s greatest concentration of museums and universities.
The journey begins with the serene waters of Shinobazu Pond and the Bentendo Temple, weaving through the mystical atmosphere of Gojo Ten and Hanazono Inari Shrines. As you climb the hill, you enter an architectural wonderland. The route takes you past the majestic Tokyo National Museum, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, and the stunning International Library of Children’s Literature. The area also pulses with academic energy from Tokyo University of the Arts and the University of Tokyo.
Drawing a Ptarmigan here is particularly meaningful. This alpine bird, a national special natural treasure, typically lives in the high mountains of the Japanese Alps. However, Ueno Zoo plays a vital role in its conservation and breeding. By tracing its outline past sites like the Sogakudo Concert Hall and the Yayoi Museum, you are paying tribute to this “Messenger of the Gods” in the heart of the city.
The terrain offers gentle undulations characteristic of the Ueno terrace, making for a refreshing and intellectually stimulating walk. By the time your digital Ptarmigan blooms on your smartphone screen, you will have connected the dots between Edo-period spirituality, Meiji-era modernization, and modern ecological preservation. Lace up your shoes and enjoy a high-altitude masterpiece at sea level!
TOURISTS SPOT
- Ueno Zoo
- Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
- Tokyo National Museum
- Sogakudo Concert Hall
- International Library of Children’s Literature, National Diet Library
- Shinobazu Pond
- Shinobazu no Ike Bentendō
- Kanei-ji Temple
- Gojo Ten and Hanazono Inari Shrines
- Yayoi Museum
- University of Tokyo
- Tokyo University of the Arts
REFFERENCE
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.
