Wind Chime

The furin (風鈴) — Japan's traditional wind chime — is one of the most evocative sounds of the Japanese summer. Hung from eaves, balconies, and garden trees, a furin produces a delicate, high, clear tone when touched by the breeze, a sound so closely associated with summer in Japan that it has inspired centuries of haiku poetry and is officially recognized as one of Japan's intangible cultural treasures of everyday life.

The sound of a furin is considered more than pleasant — in traditional Japanese thinking, it signals the presence of a cool breeze and provides a form of psychological relief from summer heat, a concept known as kaze-suzumi (風涼み), or "cooling by the wind." This is why furin are traditionally hung where they will catch the smallest movement of air — beside a window, under a porch roof, or in the shade of a garden.

Japanese wind chimes are made from three primary materials, each producing a distinct character of sound. Glass furin, particularly those from Edo Kiriko and traditional glassblowing regions, produce a bright, sharp, crystalline tone. Ceramic furin offer a softer, more diffuse sound with subtle overtones. Iron furin — originally made as temple bells in miniature — produce a deeper, more resonant tone that carries further on the wind.

At Great Zakka, our furin collection includes hand-blown glass wind chimes with traditional painted tanzaku paper strips, ceramic pieces from Mino and Hasami with understated glazed finishes, and cast iron furin in the classic temple style. Many feature hand-painted designs of seasonal motifs — dragonflies, morning glories, goldfish — that are quintessentially Japanese.

Furin make beautiful gifts for garden lovers, fans of Japanese culture, and anyone who appreciates objects that engage more than one sense. All pieces are made in Japan and ship from our US warehouse.