🌸 Winds of the Ancient Capital: A 9km Sakura course through Heijo Palace 🌸
Embark on a 9km GPS art journey to sketch a grand cherry blossom (Sakura) across the historical landscape of Nara City, centered near the Nara Palace Site Museum. This area was the heart of Japan’s capital 1,300 years ago, and today it remains a place where the whispers of the Nara period can still be heard beneath the vast, open skies.
The highlight of this course is the profound sense of scale provided by the UNESCO World Heritage site and the surrounding ancient tumuli. As you navigate the loop, the path leads you north to the Saki Shield-shaped Tumulus Cluster. Here, you will encounter the Mausoleum of Empress Kōken and the Mausoleum of Emperor Seimu. These massive, keyhole-shaped burial mounds are surrounded by seasonal flora, and the cherry blossoms framing these ancient structures offer a mystical and serene beauty unique to Nara.
Continuing westward, the route brings you to the hallowed grounds of Saidai-ji Temple (Great Western Temple). Once a rival in prestige to the famous Todai-ji, its tranquil atmosphere provides a moment of spiritual reflection. The journey then transitions into the modern pulse of the city near Yamato-Saidaiji Station and the Nara Family shopping complex. This mix of ancient heritage and contemporary life is a hallmark of Nara’s urban geography, reflecting how the “City of Nara”—named for its “leveling” or flat land—has evolved over centuries.
With mostly flat terrain, this 9km circuit is perfect for those who wish to combine exercise with a deep dive into Japanese history. Every step traces the delicate petals of a digital flower on the very soil where emperors once walked. Lace up your shoes and let your creativity bloom amidst the timeless monuments of the ancient capital!
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.
