AN AUDITORY JOURNEY

Kyoto, in Sound

Mindful sound walks through Japan's ancient capital

Book a Sound Walk

The Experience

Most people see Kyoto. You'll hear it.
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A private sound walk through Kyoto’s quietest neighbourhoods. A unique way to experience this city—by shifting from sightseeing to deep listening.

BEYOND THE CHECKLIST

Fushimi Inari. Kinkaku-ji. Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. Check, check, check. Then what?

On a sound walk, we step past the photo queues into the city's atmospheric pockets. The hidden side of the city, untouched by the rush of the typical tourist circuit. This is Kyoto as few experience it: unhurried, unfiltered, felt.

The SHIFT

When you put on the headphones, the world changes. Using high-fidelity field recorders, we amplify the textures of the city—from the rhythmic crunch of temple gravel to the silence of a small shrine garden. It's less history lecture and more engaging with our senses.

Your Kyoto, Preserved

You'll leave with an audio postcard—professionally mixed, yours to keep. Whilst photos fade in a digital cloud, this audio postcard allows you to close your eyes six months from now, and be back on that temple path, with this city moving around you again.

Listen to a recent sound walk—a taste of what we may discover together:

Guided by a Composer

A headshot of your guide on these sound walks: Simon.

I’m Simon, a sound artist and composer. For years, my life was defined by the relentless pace of London, but eventually, my wife and I left the ‘rat race’ behind for a life of more intention here in Kyoto.

Upon arriving, I realised that most people visit this city to see it, but very few truly hear it. My goal is to help you bypass the ‘tourist noise’ and find the signal. This isn't a history lecture; it’s an invitation to slow down, tune in, and discover the hidden textures of Kyoto that most travellers walk right past.

Previous Sound Walks

A guest on a recent sound walk recording the sound of a small river at Shimogamo Jinja, a shrine in Kyoto.
Shimogamo Shrine: A Place where water tells the story.
A photograph of a recent sound walk guest who joined a Kyoto, in Sound walk. This photograph is of the sound of a Kyoto Garden being captured with a sound recorder by a young man wearing binaural microphones in his ears.
Translating the quiet of a Zen garden into an audio postcard.
A guest on a Sound Walk recording the peaceful sound of the tranquil Japanese Pond at Shoren-in Temple.
Recording the sound of THE Pond AT SHOREN-IN TEMPLE.
A photograph of a recent sound walk guest who joined a Kyoto, in Sound walk. The photograph features a young boy waving at a Japanese lady whilst he records sound in Demachiyanagi Shopping Street in Kyoto.
the warmth of a neighbourhood greeting Demachiyanagi.
A guest recording the sound of the Kamo River. Birds, water flowing and the sound of the city.
The Kamo River: A Soundtrack of Birds, water, and wind.
A photograph of a recent sound walk guest who joined a Kyoto, in Sound walk. The photograph features a young lady recording sound of bamboo swaying in the wind.
Capturing the Sound of bamboo in the wind.

Testimonials

SHIMOGAMO SHRINE
The recording Simon made of the sounds I captured is a precious souvenir. It’s an entirely other way of knowing a place.
Elizabeth • United Kingdom
Demachiyanagi Shōtengai
Slowing your pace and narrowing your focus lets you discover the hidden heartbeat of Kyoto comprised of a thousand tiny sounds overlooked by most.
Karu & Adriana • NORWAY
Renge-ji Temple
Simon is a really great guide: he combines the insight of a resident with all the enthusiasm of an outsider.
Alex E • United Kingdom
BOOK NOW

Reserve Your Sound Walk

¥15,000 / Person

A 2-3 hour immersive journey. Includes all equipment rental and a professionally mixed audio postcard.

Check Availability
To maintain an intimate atmosphere, walks are typically limited to 2 guests.
Larger groups? Email me and let's discuss a tailored experience.
© 2026 Kyoto, in Sound
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