Japan Castle Nightingale Floor

In english they are known as nightingale floors.

Japan castle nightingale floor.

These are the places we know of that have a nightingale floors or in japanese. Nightingale floor uguisubari 鴬張り we have had the distinct pleasure of walking over the nightingale floor at nijo castle and in toji in temple both in kyoto. Matsumoto castle 松本城 matsumoto jō is one of japan s premier historic castles along with himeji and kumamoto castles. Inside ninomaru palace of the nijo castle where nightingale floors are installed.

Which leads us to nijō castle a large fortification situated in the former japanese capital of kyoto. Squeaky floor castle japan nijo castle in kyoto the nijo castle in kyoto was home to shogun ieyasu tokugawa when he was visiting kyoto. The most famous examples of nightingale floors are found in kyoto exhibit a being the ninomaru palace within nijo castle where the sound of chirping fills the air due to the extensive nightingale floor installation and the number of tourists going through the palace. I found it fascinating and could t wait to wander the floor of nijo castle and hear it for myself.

Ninomaru palace s nijo castle nightingale floor. Kyoto s nijo castle built as a residence for the shogun during visits to kyoto is probably the nightingale floor location best known to international travelers but it s not the only place to see this clever and classic home security system. It s a floor that sounds like birds. These floors were used in the hallways of some temples and palaces the most famous example being nijō castle in kyoto japan dry boards naturally creak under pressure but these floors were built in a way that the flooring nails rub against a jacket or clamp.

Nightingale floors were popular during the edo period a period stretching from the early 17th century to the mid 19th century when japan was under the rule of the tokugawa. This castle is known for having perhaps the best example of the japanese nightingale flooring system which was specially designed to catch uninvited guests penetrating the castle s boundaries. The uguisubari or nightingale floor was japan s earliest alarm system and was essentially a floor that when stepped upon created a shrill chirping noise. Nightingale floors 鴬張り or 鶯張り uguisubari listen help info are floors that make a chirping sound when walked upon.

There s some books by lian hearn called the tales of the otori. Nijo castle is a. Without previous warning we where even more surprised by the experience.