🐦 From Manga Magic to Historic Post Towns: A 10km Ptarmigan in Takarazuka 🐦
Takarazuka City in Hyogo Prefecture, framed by the Rokko Mountains and the Mukogawa River, is legendary as the home of the Takarazuka Revue and the creative cradle where Osamu Tezuka, the “God of Manga,” spent his youth. It also holds deep historical layers as a prosperous post town along the ancient Arima Highway. This 10km GPS art course invites you to sketch a Ptarmigan (Raicho), tracing a grand cultural loop starting from The Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum.
The journey begins in the artistic heart of the city, leading you past the iconic Takarazuka Grand Theater before heading toward the classical architecture of Vega Hall and Kiyoshikōjin Station. From there, the trail extends to the Kohamajuku Museum, which preserves the fascinating samurai-era heritage of the old post town. Crossing the scenic Mukogawa River, you will navigate through the energetic Takarazuka City Sports Center, past the modern Takarazuka City Hall, and into the expansive lawns of Takarazuka Suehiro Chūō Park. The route seamlessly connects the lively neighborhoods around Sakasegawa and Takarazuka-Minamiguchi Stations.
The Ptarmigan is a sacred alpine bird and an Ice Age relic. Drawing this majestic symbol of wilderness in a city tied to Tezuka’s legendary theme of life echoes a poetic harmony. This flat, 10km loop offers a refreshing urban trek. By the time the digital Ptarmigan appears on your screen, you will have experienced Takarazuka’s rich historical depth and artistic brilliance.
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.
