The 100 Soundscapes of Japan (日本の音風景100選) are a number of noises selected by the Ministry of the Environment as particularly representative of the country. They were chosen in 1996, as part of government efforts to combat noise pollution and to protect and promote protection of the environment.[1]
There were 738 submissions received from all over the country and the 100 "best" were selected after examination by the Japan Soundscape Study Group.[1] These soundscapes are intended to function as symbols for local people and to promote the rediscovery of the sounds of everyday life.[1] The follow-up Sixth National Assembly on Soundscape Conservation was held in Matsuyama in 2002.[2]
| Soundscape | Category | Location | Prefecture | Image | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drift ice in the Sea of Okhotsk (オホーツク海の流氷) | Sea | Sea of Okhotsk shore | Hokkaidō |  |
|
| Bell of Sapporo Clock Tower (時計台の鐘) | Bells | Sapporo | Hokkaidō |  |
|
| Bell of Hakodate Russian Orthodox Church (函館ハリストス正教会の鐘) | Bells | Hakodate | Hokkaidō |  |
|
| Mountain creatures in Asahidake, Mount Daisetsu (大雪山旭岳の山の生き物) | Wildlife | Higashikawa | Hokkaidō |  |
|
| Japanese crane sanctuary, Tsurui (鶴居のタンチョウサンクチュアリ) | Birds | Tsurui | Hokkaidō |  |
|
| Black-tailed gulls in Kabushima, Hachinohe Port (八戸港・蕪島のウミネコ) | Birds | Hachinohe | Aomori Prefecture |  |
|
| Wild birds of Lake Ogawara shore (小川原湖畔の野鳥) | Birds | Misawa | Aomori Prefecture |  |
|
| Oirase River stream (奥入瀬の渓流) | Water | Towadako | Aomori Prefecture |  |
|
| Nebuta (Neputa) Festival (ねぶた祭・ねぷたまつり) | Matsuri | Aomori/Hirosaki | Aomori Prefecture |  |
|
| Kaminari-iwa (Thunder Rock), Goishi coastline (碁石海岸・雷岩) | Sea | Ōfunato | Iwate Prefecture |  |
|
| Nambu Furin (wind chimes) at Mizusawa Station (水沢駅の南部風鈴) | Local life | Ōshū | Iwate Prefecture |  |
|
| Bells of Chagu Chagu Umakko (チャグチャグ馬コの鈴の音) | Matsuri | Takizawa | Iwate Prefecture |
| |
| Suzumushi (bell-ringing insects) in Miyagino (宮城野のスズムシ) | Insects | Sendai | Miyagi Prefecture |  |
|
| Singing frogs and wild birds of the Hirose River (広瀬川のカジカガエルと野鳥) | Wildlife/Birds | Sendai | Miyagi Prefecture |  |
|
| Reed fields at the mouth of the Kitakami River (北上川河口のヨシ原) | Vegetation | Ishinomaki | Miyagi Prefecture |  |
|
| Wild geese in Izunuma and Uchinuma lakes (伊豆沼・内沼のマガン) | Birds | Kurikoma/Wakayanagi/Hasama | Miyagi Prefecture |  |
|
| Pinewoods of wind (風の松原) | Vegetation | Noshiro | Akita Prefecture |  |
|
| Cicadas at Yama-dera (山寺の蝉) | Insects | Yamagata | Yamagata Prefecture |  |
|
| "Matsu-no-Kanjin" conches (trumpet shells) (松の勧進の法螺貝) | Matsuri | Tsuruoka | Yamagata Prefecture |  |
|
| Swans at the mouth of Mogami River (最上川河口の白鳥) | Birds | Sakata | Yamagata Prefecture |  |
|
| Little Birds Forest in Fukushima City (福島市小鳥の森) | Birds | Fukushima | Fukushima Prefecture | ||
| Natural irrigation channel of Ōuchi-juku (大内宿の自然用水) | Water | Shimogō | Fukushima Prefecture |  |
|
| Weaving of ramie fabric (からむし織のはた音) | Transport/Industry | Shōwa | Fukushima Prefecture | ||
| Waves of Izura-kaigan coast (五浦海岸の波音) | Sea | Kita-ibaraki | Ibaraki Prefecture | ||
| Tree frogs in Ajisai-zaka, Mount Ohirasan (太平山あじさい坂の雨蛙) | Frogs | Tochigi | Tochigi Prefecture |  |
|
| Suikinkutsu in Suikintei Garden (水琴亭の水琴窟) | Daily life | Yoshii | Gunma Prefecture |  |
|
| Time bell of Kawagoe (川越の時の鐘) | Bell | Kawagoe | Saitama Prefecture |  |
|
| Insects singing in Oshikiri, Arakawa River (荒川・押切の虫の声) | Insects | Kumagaya (Kōnan) | Saitama Prefecture |  |
|
| Waterfall on conduit bridge (樋橋の落水) | Water | Katori (Sawara) | Chiba Prefecture |  |
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| Himeharuzemi cicadas in Mamenbara (麻綿原のヒメハルゼミ) | Insects | Ōtaki | Chiba Prefecture |  |
|
| Vicinity of Shibamata Taishakuten and "Yagiri-no-Watashi" ferry (柴又帝釈天界隈と矢切の渡し) | Complex | Matsudo/Katsushika | Chiba Prefecture/Tokyo |  |
|
| Time bell at the hill of Ueno (上野のお山の時の鐘) | Bells | Taitō | Tokyo | ||
| Sounds of birds, water, and trees at Sanpōji-ike Pond (三宝寺池の鳥と水と樹々の音) | Birds/Water/Vegetation | Nerima | Tokyo | ||
| Keyaki (zelkova), tree-lined boulevard in Seikei Gakuen Campus (成蹊学園ケヤキ並木) | Vegetation | Musashino | Tokyo |  |
|
| Ship whistles for the New Year at Yokohama Port (横浜港新年を迎える船の汽笛) | Local life | Yokohama | Kanagawa Prefecture |  |
|
| Approach to Kawasaki Daishi Temple (川崎大師の参道) | Local life | Kawasaki | Kanagawa Prefecture |  |
|
| Stream and wild birds singing sounds in Dohogawa Park (道保川公園のせせらぎと野鳥の声) | Water/Birds | Sagamihara | Kanagawa Prefecture | ||
| Bean Geese in Fukushimagata Lagoon (福島潟のヒシクイ) | Birds | Niigata (Toyosaka) | Niigata Prefecture |  |
|
| Himeharuzemi cicadas in Oyama (尾山のヒメハルゼミ) | Insects | Itoigawa (Nō) | Niigata Prefecture | |
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| Shōmyō Falls (称名滝) | Waterfalls | Tateyama | Toyama Prefecture |  |
|
| "Ennaka" channel and Owara Kaze no bon (エンナカの水音とおわら風の盆) | Matsuri | Toyama (Yatsuo) | Toyama Prefecture |  |
|
| Wood carving in Inami (井波の木彫りの音) | Crafts | Nanto (Inami) | Toyama Prefecture | ||
| Cicada chorus droning in Honda-no-Mori Forest (本多の森の蝉時雨) | Insects | Kanazawa | Ishikawa Prefecture |  |
|
| Bells of temples in Teramachi (寺町寺院群の鐘) | Bells | Kanazawa | Ishikawa Prefecture | ||
| Tokimizu fountain in Minowaki (蓑脇の時水) | Water | Echizen (Takefu) | Fukui Prefecture | ||
| Wild birds forest at lakeshore at the foot of Mount Fuji (富士山麓・西湖畔の野鳥の森) | Birds | Fujikawaguchiko | Yamanashi Prefecture |  |
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| Bell of Zenkō-ji (善光寺の鐘) | Bells | Nagano | Nagano Prefecture |  |
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| Little birds singing in Enrei (塩嶺の小鳥のさえずり) | Birds | Okaya/Shiojiri | Nagano Prefecture | ||
| Frogs singing in Yashima-shitsugen Wetland (八島湿原の蛙鳴) | Wildlife | Shimosuwa/Suwa | Nagano Prefecture |  |
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| Suikinkutsu in Udatsu-no-machi (卯建の町の水琴窟) | Local life | Mino | Gifu Prefecture |  |
|
| Playing in Yoshida River (吉田川の川遊び) | Local life | Gujō (Hachiman) | Gifu Prefecture | ||
| Cormorant Fishing on the Nagara River (長良川の鵜飼) | Local life | Gifu/Seki | Gifu Prefecture |  |
|
| "Nami-Kozo", rumbling of the Enshunada Sea (遠州灘の海鳴・波小僧) | Water | Enshunada Sea | Shizuoka Prefecture | ||
| Steam locomotives of Ōigawa Railway (大井川鉄道のＳＬ) | Transport/Industry | Kawanehon (Honkawane) | Shizuoka Prefecture |  |
|
| Wild birds of Higashiyama Botanical Garden (東山植物園の野鳥) | Birds | Nagoya | Aichi Prefecture |  |
|
| Wave sounds at Kojigahama Beach, Cape Irago (伊良湖岬恋路ヶ浜の潮騒) | Sea | Tahara (Atsumi) | Aichi Prefecture |  |
|
| Isobue whistling of female divers in Ise-Shima area (伊勢志摩の海女の磯笛) | Local life | Toba/Shima | Mie Prefecture |  |
|
| Evening bell of Mii (三井の晩鐘) | Bells | Ōtsu | Shiga Prefecture |  |
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| Hikone Castle time bell and insects singing (彦根城の時報鐘と虫の音) | Bells/Insects | Hikone | Shiga Prefecture |  |
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| Bamboo forest in Kyoto (京の竹林) | Vegetation | Kyoto | Kyoto Prefecture |  |
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| Rurikei stream (るり渓) | Water | Nantan (Sonobe) | Kyoto Prefecture |  |
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| Squeaking sand of Kotobikihama Beach (琴引浜の鳴き砂) | Singing sand | Kyōtango (Amino) | Kyoto Prefecture | ||
| Matsumushi crickets (Xenogrillus marmorata) at the banks of Yodo River (淀川河川敷のマツムシ) | Insects | Osaka | Osaka Prefecture | ||
| Kawachi Ondo song in the precincts of Jōkō-ji (常光寺境内の河内音頭) | Matsuri | Yao | Osaka Prefecture |  |
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| Sand eel fishing at Tarumi Port (垂水漁港のイカナゴ漁) | Local life | Kobe | Hyōgo Prefecture |  |
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| Danjiri Drums at Kenka Matsuri of Nada (灘のけんか祭りのだんじり太鼓) | Matsuri | Himeji | Hyōgo Prefecture |  |
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| Deer of Kasugano and temple bells in the neighbourhood (春日野の鹿と諸寺の鐘) | Wildlife/Bells | Nara | Nara Prefecture |  |
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| Kino River heard inside the giant rock of Mount Fudō (不動山の巨石で聞こえる紀ノ川) | Water | Hashimoto | Wakayama Prefecture | ||
| Nachi Falls (那智の滝) | Waterfalls | Nachikatsuura | Wakayama Prefecture |  |
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| Migratory birds at Mizutori Park (水鳥公園の渡り鳥) | Birds | Yonago | Tottori Prefecture |  |
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| Mitoku River and singing frogs (三徳川のせせらぎとカジカガエル) | Wildlife | Misasa | Tottori Prefecture | |
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| Inshu paper-making (因州和紙の紙すき) | Crafts | Tottori (Aoya/Saji) | Tottori Prefecture | ||
| Squeaking sand of Kotogahama Beach (琴ヶ浜海岸の鳴き砂) | Singing sand | Ōda | Shimane Prefecture |  |
|
| Stream and waterwheels of Bitchu River, Suwada Cave (諏訪洞・備中川のせせらぎと水車) | Water | Maniwa (Hokubō) | Okayama Prefecture | ||
| Brooks of Shinjōshuku (新庄宿の小川) | Water | Shinjō | Okayama Prefecture | ||
| Bell of Peace in Hiroshima (広島の平和の鐘) | Bells | Hiroshima | Hiroshima Prefecture |  |
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| Kyo-onro tower bell at Senkō-ji (千光寺驚音楼の鐘) | Bells | Onomichi | Hiroshima Prefecture |  |
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| Yamaguchi Line steam locomotives (山口線のＳＬ) | Transport/Industry | Ogōri/Tsuwano | Yamaguchi/Shimane Prefecture |  |
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| Eddying current of Naruto (鳴門の渦潮) | Sea | Naruto | Tokushima Prefecture |  |
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| Awa Odori dance (阿波踊り) | Matsuri | Tokushima | Tokushima Prefecture |  |
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| Ōkubo-ji bell and pilgrim bells (大窪寺の鐘とお遍路さんの鈴) | Bells | Sanuki (Nagao) | Kagawa Prefecture |  |
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| Mannō-ike Pond "Yuru-nuki" streams (満濃池のゆるぬきとせせらぎ) | Water | Mannō | Kagawa Prefecture |  |
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| Time drums of Shin-u Kaku Hotel, Dōgo Onsen (道後温泉振鷺閣の刻太鼓) | Drums | Matsuyama | Ehime Prefecture | .JPG) |
|
| Wave sounds of Mikurodo Cave, Cape Muroto (室戸岬・御厨人窟の波音) | Sea | Muroto | Kōchi Prefecture |  |
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| Kaki Yamakasa of Hakata Gion Yamakasa (博多祗園山笠の舁き山笠) | Matsuri | Fukuoka | Fukuoka Prefecture |  |
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| Bell of Kanzeon-ji (観世音寺の鐘) | Bells | Dazaifu | Fukuoka Prefecture |  |
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| Wave sounds and ship whistles at the Kanmon-kaikyo Strait (関門海峡の潮騒と汽笛) | Sea | Kitakyūshū/Shimonoseki | Fukuoka/Yamaguchi Prefecture |  |
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| Hikiyama-bayashi music at Karatsu Kunchi Festival (唐津くんちの曳山囃子) | Matsuri | Karatsu | Saga Prefecture |  |
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| Imari pottery (伊万里の焼物の音) | Crafts | Imari | Saga Prefecture |  |
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| Atomic air-raided camphor tree at Sanno Jinja (山王神社被爆の楠の木) | Vegetation | Nagasaki | Nagasaki Prefecture |  |
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| Water discharge at Tsūjunkyō Bridge (通潤橋の放水) | Water | Yamato (Yabe) | Kumamoto Prefecture |  |
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| Dolphins in the sea of Itsuwa (五和の海のイルカ) | Wildlife | Amakusa (Itsuwa) | Kumamoto Prefecture |  |
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| Water scoop (hydropower) of Onta Sarayama (小鹿田皿山の唐臼) | Water/Crafts | Onta | Ōita Prefecture |  |
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| Soughing of the wind through pine trees of Oka Castle remains (岡城跡の松籟) | Vegetation | Taketa | Ōita Prefecture |  |
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| "Yagura-no-Todoro" water roaring at Sannomiyakyō Gorge (三之宮峡の櫓の轟) | Waterfalls | Kobayashi | Miyazaki Prefecture | ||
| Wild deer of Ebino-kōgen Highlands (えびの高原の野生鹿) | Wildlife | Ebino | Miyazaki Prefecture |  |
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| Cranes of Izumi (出水のツル) | Birds | Izumi | Kagoshima Prefecture |  |
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| Chigami River stream and trams (千頭川の渓流とトロッコ) | Water/Local life | Yakushima | Kagoshima Prefecture | ||
| Subtropical creatures along Shiira River (後良川周辺の亜熱帯林の生き物) | Wildlife | Taketomi (Iriomote) | Okinawa Prefecture | ||
| Eisa (エイサー) | Matsuri | Yonashiro/Katsuren | Okinawa Prefecture |  |
