The Sounds of Kyoto: An Audio Guide to the Seasons

Keywords: Kyoto in Autumn, Sounds of Japan, Japanese seasonal traditions

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‍Kyoto is a city that marks time not just by the colour of the leaves, but by the changing of its soundtrack.

If you close your eyes, you can tell exactly what time of year it is. The humid roar of summer sounds nothing like the crisp, dry silence of winter. For those planning a trip, understanding these seasonal soundscapes can help you decide when to visit—or simply help you dream of being here.

Here is what Kyoto sounds like throughout the year.

Spring in Kyoto is a sound of awakening, but also of celebration.

The most distinct sound is the uguisu (Japanese bush warbler). Its call—Hoh-hokekkyo—is the first true sign that winter has broken.

Then comes the human layer: the sound of Hanami (flower viewing) parties along the Kamo River. It is the sound of blue tarpaulins being unfolded, cans of beer cracking open, and laughter drifting under the cherry blossoms. It is a happy, communal noise.

Summer here is defined by one sound above all others: the cicadas.

It begins with the Niinii-zemi in the rainy season, builds to the deafening roar of the Kumazemi in high summer, and fades with the melancholic evening call of the Higurashi (my personal favourite).

July also brings the Gion Matsuri. The city centre fills with the distinctive Kon-chiki-chin rhythm of the festival music—flutes, bells, and taiko drums echoing from the massive hoko floats. It is a hot, hypnotic sound that pulses through the humidity.

As the heat lifts, the volume drops. Kyoto in Autumn is quieter, crisper.

The insect chorus changes from a roar to a rhythm. You hear the suzumushi (bell crickets) and korogi (crickets) in the bushes. Their sound is delicate, almost like a tiny bell ringing.

In the temples, the sound of the season is the rustling of dry maple leaves. The wind picks up, and the leaves skitter across the stone courtyards. It is a dry, scratching texture that speaks of change.

Winter is the season of silence. The heavy, damp air of Kyoto muffles sound.

But there is one sound that cuts through it all: the Joya no Kane on New Year’s Eve. At midnight, temples across the city ring their massive bells 108 times to banish the 108 worldly desires. The boom of the bells reverberates across the valley, a deep, physical wave of sound that you feel in your chest.

And if we are lucky, we get the sound of snow. A soft, damp silence that blankets the city, broken only by the crunch of boots.

No matter what season you visit, there is always something unique to hear if you pay attention.

I run sound walks in Kyoto year-round, adapting the route to the season. Whether it’s the insect chorus of autumn or the deep quiet of winter, we will find the sounds that define the moment.

‍Join me on a sound walk to hear the seasons for yourself.