MAEBASHI, Japan - From traditional folk songs to modern pop hits, Japan is turning stretches of ordinary road into unlikely tourist attractions, with melodies that spring to life as motorists drive over them.
Originally intended to improve road safety by encouraging motorists to obey speed limits, the musical roads are increasingly being used to attract tourists and promote local culture.
Around 50 can be found across Japan, many built by Suehiro Sangyo Co., a construction company based in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, that developed the technology.
The company says requests for new installations are increasing as local authorities look for ways to promote their communities and generate interest among visitors.
"Every road has its own story," said Kunihiro Adachi, 69, the company's chairman. "We want to bring out the memories and character of each area."
The system relies on a series of shallow grooves carved at varying intervals into the road surface. As vehicles pass over them, the sound of their tires reverberates through the grooves, producing different notes. Closely spaced grooves create higher pitches, while wider gaps produce lower ones.
The grooves are designed so the melody sounds best when motorists drive at the speed limit, encouraging them to maintain a steady, legal speed.
Suehiro Sangyo applied for a patent for the technology in 1988 and later secured it. Its first musical road was installed in 2007 in Numata, Gunma Prefecture, at the request of the prefectural government.
That stretch played "Natsu no Omoide" (Memories of Summer), a children's song about nearby Oze, a popular tourist destination. It was eventually removed after the road surface deteriorated and the grooves disappeared.
The idea nevertheless caught on, with installations spreading through tourism initiatives involving the prefecture and JR railway companies. Gunma now has 11 such roads, a relatively high concentration compared with other areas, according to the company.
Most commissions come from prefectural governments, with songs chosen through discussions with the company or based on its suggestions. The selections often reflect local pride and a playful approach to attracting visitors.
In the hot spring resort town of Kusatsu, Gunma, motorists hear the traditional folk song "Kusatsubushi."
On Nikko's winding Irohazaka road in Tochigi Prefecture, the tune is "Monkey Magic" by Japanese band Godaigo, a reference to the famous three wise monkeys depicted at Nikko Toshogu Shrine.
In Ikata, Ehime Prefecture, one of Japan's top producers of citrus fruits, the road plays the children's song "Mikan no Hana Saku Oka" (The Hill Where Mandarin Orange Blossoms Bloom).
One of the latest additions opened in March in Nagashima, Kagoshima Prefecture, where drivers can hear "Happiness," a hit by singer AI, who is from the prefecture.
Town officials invited the public to suggest songs and received 100 submissions covering 73 titles from within and outside the prefecture. AI was the most frequently nominated artist, prompting the choice of her song.
The road has since attracted attention on social media.
"We hope it will encourage people to visit our town for a drive," a town official said.
But not every road is suitable. Installations require relatively straight stretches of pavement and enough distance from homes to limit noise. Some have previously been removed following complaints from residents.
Adachi hopes to expand the network while improving the sound quality.
"I hope the melodies will inspire people to think about the history and culture of the places they're driving through," he said.
