Oto no Tabi Blog – Reflections on Japanese Sound
Latest Reflections
The Soundscapes of Japan: A Journey Through Natural and Urban Ambience
From forests to train stations — how ambient sound shapes the emotional experience of travel in Japan.
Japanese Onsen Culture: The Art of Rest and Reflection
Hot springs as rituals of renewal — soothing the body, quieting the mind. With photos, notes, and soundscapes.
Slow Travel in Japan: Finding Meaning in the Moment
Why moving slowly reveals deeper layers of people, places, and perception.
Wabi-Sabi Aesthetics in Daily Japanese Life
Discover how imperfection and impermanence shape architecture, daily life, music, and travel.
Field Recordings: Capturing the Soul of Japanese Landscapes
A guide to recording Japan’s natural textures — rain in Kyoto, temple bells, rice fields in the breeze.
Train Journeys Through Japan: Stories Between Stations
Moments in motion: windows, announcements, rhythms — and what remains in memory.
The Ritual of Tea: Sound, Silence, and Stillness
The tea ceremony as an act of presence — where sound and stillness unfold together.
Voices of the Streets: Everyday Music of Tokyo
From street musicians to vending machines — Tokyo’s ambient soundtrack of daily life.
Kyoto at Dawn: A Photographic and Sonic Essay
Images and sounds of the early morning — quiet light, distant footsteps, and sacred stillness.
Seasonal Japan: Listening to the Changes of Nature
Cicadas in summer, snow in winter, wind in spring — a sensory map of seasonal transitions.