🐦 Ancient Mounds and Modern Trails: A 9km Ptarmigan Art in Tobe 🐦
Tobe Town in Ehime Prefecture is widely known as the home of “Tobe-yaki” pottery, but it is also a region characterized by beautiful rolling hills and lush forests. This 9km GPS art course invites you to sketch a Ptarmigan (Raicho), starting from the iconic Tobe Zoological Park. As one of the largest zoos in Western Japan, it provides the perfect thematic backdrop for this creative trek through the hills of Iyo.
The journey navigates through Tobe’s diverse landscape, connecting ancient history with modern community life. You will pass the Ooshimoda Tumulus Group, where ancient burial mounds whisper stories of the past, and the spiritual Ōmiya Hachiman Shrine. The route also loops around the Ehime Prefectural Sports Complex, a hub of athletic energy, and the Ehime Prefectural University of Health Sciences. Geographically, the area features the gentle slopes typical of the region, offering a refreshing breeze and scenic vistas for walkers and runners alike.
The Ptarmigan is a sacred alpine bird and a national special natural monument, a relic of the Ice Age inhabiting Japan’s highest snowy peaks. Drawing this symbol of mountain majesty here is particularly meaningful, as Tobe Zoo is an active participant in the national conservation program for the endangered Japanese Ptarmigan. Completing this 9km loop allows you to appreciate the seamless blend of Tobe’s archaeological heritage and its commitment to wildlife. By the time the digital Ptarmigan appears on your smartphone screen, you will have experienced the soulful essence of this verdant pottery town. Lace up your shoes and take flight in Tobe!
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.
