100 Soundscapes of Japan


In 1996, as part of its efforts to combat noise pollution and to protect and promote the environment, the Ministry of the Environment designated the 100 Soundscapes of Japan. There were 738 submissions received from all over the country and the 100 "best" were selected after examination by the Japan Soundscape Study Group. These soundscapes are intended to function as symbols for local people and to promote the rediscovery of the sounds of everyday life. The follow-up Sixth National Assembly on Soundscape Conservation was held in Matsuyama in 2002.
SoundscapeCategoryLocationPrefectureImageSound
Drift ice in the Sea of OkhotskSeaSea of Okhotsk shoreHokkaidō
Bell of Sapporo Clock TowerBellsSapporoHokkaidō
Bell of Hakodate Russian Orthodox ChurchBellsHakodateHokkaidō
Mountain creatures in Asahidake, Mount DaisetsuWildlifeHigashikawaHokkaidō
Japanese crane sanctuary, Tsurui, HokkaidōBirdsTsuruiHokkaidō
black-tailed gullBirdsHachinoheAomori Prefecture
Wild birds of Lake Ogawara shoreBirdsMisawaAomori Prefecture
Oirase River streamWaterTowadakoAomori Prefecture
Neputa festivalMatsuriAomori/HirosakiAomori Prefecture
Kaminari-iwa, Goishi coastlineSeaŌfunatoIwate Prefecture
Nambu Furin at Mizusawa StationLocal lifeŌshūIwate Prefecture
Bells of Chagu Chagu UmakkoMatsuriTakizawaIwate Prefecture
Suzumushi in MiyaginoInsectsSendaiMiyagi Prefecture
Kajika frogWildlife/BirdsSendaiMiyagi Prefecture
PhragmitesVegetationIshinomakiMiyagi Prefecture
greater white-fronted gooseBirdsKurikoma/Wakayanagi/HasamaMiyagi Prefecture
Pinewoods of windVegetationNoshiroAkita Prefecture
Cicadas at Yama-deraInsectsYamagataYamagata Prefecture
"Matsu-no-Kanjin" conches MatsuriTsuruokaYamagata Prefecture
Swans at the mouth of Mogami RiverBirdsSakataYamagata Prefecture
Little Birds Forest in Fukushima, FukushimaBirdsFukushimaFukushima Prefecture
Natural irrigation channel of Ōuchi-jukuWaterShimogōFukushima Prefecture
LoomTransport/IndustryShōwaFukushima Prefecture
Wind waveSeaKita-ibarakiIbaraki Prefecture
Japanese tree frogFrogsTochigiTochigi Prefecture
Suikinkutsu in Suikintei GardenDaily lifeYoshiiGunma Prefecture
Time bell of Kawagoe, SaitamaBellKawagoeSaitama Prefecture
Insects singing in Oshikiri, Arakawa River InsectsKumagaya Saitama Prefecture
Waterfall on conduit bridgeWaterKatori Chiba Prefecture
Himeharuzemi cicadas in MamenbaraInsectsŌtakiChiba Prefecture
Vicinity of Shibamata Taishakuten and "Yagiri-no-Watashi" ferryComplexMatsudo/KatsushikaChiba Prefecture/Tokyo
Time bell at the hill of Ueno, TokyoBellsTaitōTokyo
Sounds of birds, water, and trees at Sanpōji-ike PondBirds/Water/VegetationNerimaTokyo
Zelkova serrataVegetationMusashinoTokyo
Whistle#BoatsLocal lifeYokohamaKanagawa Prefecture
Approach to Kawasaki Daishi TempleLocal lifeKawasakiKanagawa Prefecture
Stream and wild birds singing sounds in Dohogawa ParkWater/BirdsSagamiharaKanagawa Prefecture
Bean gooseBirdsNiigata Niigata Prefecture
Himeharuzemi cicadas in OyamaInsectsItoigawa Niigata Prefecture
Shōmyō FallsWaterfallsTateyamaToyama Prefecture
"Ennaka" channel and Owara Kaze no bonMatsuriToyama Toyama Prefecture
Wood carving in InamiCraftsNanto Toyama Prefecture
Cicada chorus droning in Honda-no-Mori ForestInsectsKanazawaIshikawa Prefecture
Bells of temples in Kanazawa, Ishikawa#Temple areasBellsKanazawaIshikawa Prefecture
Tokimizu fountain in MinowakiWaterEchizen Fukui Prefecture
Wild birds forest at Saiko LakeBirdsFujikawaguchikoYamanashi Prefecture
Bell of Zenkō-jiBellsNaganoNagano Prefecture
Little birds singing in EnreiBirdsOkaya/ShiojiriNagano Prefecture
Frogs singing in Yashima-shitsugen WetlandWildlifeShimosuwa/SuwaNagano Prefecture
Suikinkutsu in Udatsu-no-machiLocal lifeMinoGifu Prefecture
Playing in Yoshida RiverLocal lifeGujō Gifu Prefecture
Cormorant Fishing on the Nagara RiverLocal lifeGifu/SekiGifu Prefecture
"Nami-Kozo", rumbling of the Enshunada SeaWaterEnshunada SeaShizuoka Prefecture
Steam locomotives of Ōigawa RailwayTransport/IndustryKawanehon Shizuoka Prefecture
Wild birds of Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical GardensBirdsNagoyaAichi Prefecture
Wind waveSeaTahara Aichi Prefecture
Isobue whistling of Ama Local lifeToba/ShimaMie Prefecture
Evening bell of Mii-deraBellsŌtsuShiga Prefecture
Hikone Castle time bell and insects singingBells/InsectsHikoneShiga Prefecture
Bamboo forest in KyotoVegetationKyotoKyoto Prefecture
Rurikei streamWaterNantan Kyoto Prefecture
Squeaking sand of Kotobikihama BeachSinging sandKyōtango Kyoto Prefecture
Matsumushi Cricket InsectsOsakaOsaka Prefecture
Kawachi Ondo song in the precincts of Jōkō-jiMatsuriYaoOsaka Prefecture
Sand lanceLocal lifeKobeHyōgo Prefecture
Danjiri Drums at Kenka Matsuri of NadaMatsuriHimejiHyōgo Prefecture
Sika deerWildlife/BellsNaraNara Prefecture
Kino River heard inside the giant rock of Mount FudōWaterHashimotoWakayama Prefecture
Nachi FallsWaterfallsNachikatsuuraWakayama Prefecture
Migratory birds at Mizutori ParkBirdsYonagoTottori Prefecture
Mitoku River and Kajika FrogWildlifeMisasaTottori Prefecture
Inshu WashiCraftsTottori Tottori Prefecture
Squeaking sand of Kotogahama BeachSinging sandŌdaShimane Prefecture
Stream and Water wheelWaterManiwa Okayama Prefecture
Brooks of ShinjōshukuWaterShinjōOkayama Prefecture
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park#Peace BellsBellsHiroshimaHiroshima Prefecture
Kyo-onro tower bell at Senkō-ji BellsOnomichiHiroshima Prefecture
Yamaguchi Line steam locomotivesTransport/IndustryOgōri/TsuwanoYamaguchi/Shimane Prefecture
Naruto whirlpoolsSeaNarutoTokushima Prefecture
Awa Odori danceMatsuriTokushimaTokushima Prefecture
Ōkubo-ji bell and Shikoku pilgrimageBellsSanuki Kagawa Prefecture
Mannō-ike Pond "Yuru-nuki" streamsWaterMannōKagawa Prefecture
Time drums of Shin-u Kaku Hotel, Dōgo OnsenDrumsMatsuyamaEhime Prefecture
Wind waveSeaMurotoKōchi Prefecture
Kaki Yamakasa of Hakata Gion YamakasaMatsuriFukuokaFukuoka Prefecture
List of National Treasures of Japan #Temple bellsBellsDazaifuFukuoka Prefecture
Wind waveSeaKitakyūshū/ShimonosekiFukuoka/Yamaguchi Prefecture
Karatsu Kunchi#List of hikiyamaMatsuriKaratsuSaga Prefecture
Imari porcelainCraftsImariSaga Prefecture
Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki#NagasakiVegetationNagasakiNagasaki Prefecture
Water discharge at Tsūjun BridgeWaterYamato Kumamoto Prefecture
Dolphins in the sea of Itsuwa, KumamotoWildlifeAmakusa Kumamoto Prefecture
Water scoop of Onta SarayamaWater/CraftsOntaŌita Prefecture
Soughing of the wind through PineVegetationTaketaŌita Prefecture
"Yagura WaterfallsKobayashiMiyazaki Prefecture
Sika deerWildlifeEbinoMiyazaki Prefecture
Crane BirdsIzumiKagoshima Prefecture
Chigami River stream and tramsWater/Local lifeYakushimaKagoshima Prefecture
Subtropical creatures along Shiira RiverWildlifeTaketomi Okinawa Prefecture
Eisa MatsuriYonashiro/KatsurenOkinawa Prefecture