A photograph of a recent sound walk guest who joined a Kyoto, in Sound walk. This photograph is from Keihoku forest, north of Kyoto. It features a person standing underneath the tall trees recording sound with a field recorder.

I’m SJF, and as a sound artist, I’ve spent years guiding sound walks and gathering field recordings from around the world. From Tokyo’s neon canyons to shrines engulfed in moss and riversides here in Kyoto via Seoul and the jungles of Borneo.

My music and recordings have featured in installations, films, and collaborations with artists and listeners who want to experience a place with more presence.

I recently moved from London to Kyoto and wanted to know what happens when I stepped quietly through this ancient city and tuned into what could be heard rather than just seen.

Over-tourism causes Kyoto to feel more hurried every year. Yet, pockets of calm can still be found within this fascinating city. Places where you can hear the silence between the temple bells and the sound of leaves being swept.

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