🐦 High Altitude Wonders: A 9km Ptarmigan Art Trail in Sendai’s Hills 🐦
Sendai, the “City of Trees,” boasts a dramatic skyline in the Yagiyama district of Taihaku Ward. This 9km GPS art course invites you to sketch a Ptarmigan (Raicho) across the highest residential hills in the city. The journey begins near the Yagiyama Zoological Park and the Yagiyama-Zoological Park Station, which famously sits at the highest elevation of any subway station in Japan.
The route weaves through a series of lush neighborhood sanctuaries, including Matsukaze Park, Yokomori Hikari Park, and Amanuma Park. These green spaces reflect Sendai’s identity, offering a forest-like atmosphere within the urban grid. As you trace the silhouette of the bird, you will also pass the Research Center for Accelerator and Radioisotope Science at Tohoku University, adding an intellectual vibe to your trek. Geographically, Yagiyama’s undulating terrain provides a refreshing physical challenge, echoing the rugged slopes of the bird’s natural habitat.
The Ptarmigan is a sacred alpine bird, a relic of the Ice Age that usually thrives above 2,400 meters. Drawing this “Messenger of the Gods” here is particularly significant, as Yagiyama Zoo is a leading facility in the national effort to conserve and breed the endangered Japanese Ptarmigan. Completing this 9km loop allows you to appreciate both the panoramic views of downtown Sendai and the critical environmental work happening on this hill. By the time the digital Ptarmigan appears on your screen, you will have experienced the perfect blend of Sendai’s scenic beauty and its commitment to nature. Lace up your shoes and take flight in the city’s highest garden!
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.
