Nijo-jo nightingale floor

This recording was taken inside Nijo castle, one of Kyoto's Cultural World Heritage site, which features a 'nightingale floor': the wooden floor's nails are positioned in such a way that they rub against a jacket or clamp, and overtime produce squeaking or chirping noises when walked on, sounding almost like the bird it is named after. Legend has it these floors were installed as an analog security system to ward off intruders, but it seems that the effect initially arose by chance. You can hear these floorboards singing in the recording, along with the sounds of the flow of tourists that make them sing. In the first half an anouncement in Japanese (and then English) can be heard, and the overall atmosphere gradually changes as we move through the building. Some handling noise can be heard too (recorded with a phone handheld).

UNESCO listing: Nijo Castle

Recorded by Virginie Lesaffre.

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This sound is part of the Sonic Heritage project, exploring the sounds of the world’s most famous sights.

Find out more and explore the whole project: https://www.citiesandmemory.com/heritage