🐦 From Castle Ruins to Cultural Groves: A 10km Ptarmigan Art in Tokushima 🐦
Tokushima City, a vibrant “Water Capital” nurtured by the Yoshino River, offers a unique blend of samurai heritage and modern culture. This 10km GPS art course invites you to sketch a Ptarmigan (Raicho), starting from the historic Tokushima Central Park. Built upon the ruins of Tokushima Castle, the park is a sanctuary of greenery and stone moats reflecting the legacy of the Hachisuka clan.
The journey begins near the Tokushima Castle Museum, where the exquisite Omote-goten Garden transports you back to the feudal era. As you trace the silhouette of the bird, you’ll visit the Tokushima Prefectural Museum of Literature and Calligraphy, gaining insight into the region’s rich artistic traditions. The route provides a dynamic experience of the city, weaving past the energetic Tokugin Tomony Arena, the Tokushima Prefecture Budokan, and the modern Tokushima City Hall. You’ll also find moments of zen at the serene Manpuku Temple.
The Ptarmigan is a sacred alpine bird and a relic of the Ice Age, typically found on the high peaks of the Japanese Alps. Sketching this symbol of the high mountains in the subtropical climate of Tokushima is a creative irony that defines the charm of GPS art. While the terrain is mostly flat, following the park paths and crossing the city’s many bridges provides a refreshing physical engagement. By the time your digital Ptarmigan takes flight on your screen, you will have explored the soul of Tokushima—from its ancient castle walls to its contemporary cultural heart. Lace up your shoes and embark on this 10km artistic adventure!
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.
