Oto Kinoko ('Sound Mushroom')



There is another tourist interest in Kyoto. (Please click Read More)

Oto Kinoko is a shop you can buy 'sound' (not music). It is located around Sannenzaka area, which is close to some famous temples like Kodai-ji. There are many traditional souvenir shops in this area, so it is very easy to find this new and strange shop.

Once you step in the shop, you will find mushroom like machines shown as below. Each machine has a screen, a dial, and two headphones.It is quite similar to those listening spots in some CD shops.



You pick up a headphone and select what kind of sound you want to try. The classifications are: City, Insects, Fish, Natural...and Fart.



In this Fart section, you can listen to some animals fart. What I like most funny (well which will stink most) is rhinoceros. The sound is just long, yes too long. The screen shows how it farts.

↓A rhino's butt



Hippopotamus could be the second. It farts as long as rhinos and splatters the dung with its tail. It will be quite dangerous to get close to it when you visit safaris or zoos.

Each sound sold here was collected by the stuff with a special microphone. It has a set of ears shaped as those of humans. They also sell it at 280,000 yen!



In other classifications, you can also listen to the sound you usually do not have access. In the Insects section, you can listen to insects having sex. Well, if you respect their privacy, I recommend not to listen to the sound...

Once you leave Oto Kinoko, you will find people like these.



Will they sell 'Maiko' sound? Maybe not.

Posted: (日) - 12 7, 2003 at 09:20 AM          

©