Immerse yourself in nature: Introducing Pixel's “Wild Hokkaido” sound collection

By: Aditi Kale, Sustainability Strategy, Platforms & Devices
Henry Daw, Google Sound Design, Platforms & Devices

Following the positive reception of our “Dawn Chorus” collection, we are thrilled to introduce “Wild Hokkaido,” the second chapter in our Sound Matters series for Pixel phones and tablets. This new collection of ringtones, notifications, and alarms, launching later this year, was recorded in the wild forests of Hokkaido, Japan.

With “Wild Hokkaido,” we want to transport people to the serene forests of Japan, to not only offer a moment of calm in their busy lives but also to highlight the profound stories that sound can tell about our planet's health and the importance of conservation.

The Healing Power of Forest Sounds & Shin-rin Yoku

Our “Wild Hokkaido” collection is inspired by the Japanese practice of “Shin-rin Yoku,” or “Forest Bathing.” This practice involves immersing oneself in the forest atmosphere to enhance well-being, engaging with nature through all five senses, and disconnecting from the stresses of daily life. It is a conscious connection with the forest environment, a concept that the Google Arts & Culture “Shin-rin Yoku” initiative has also highlighted.

The health benefits of listening to nature are well-documented.¹ Studies have shown that the sounds of nature can help lower stress, reduce anxiety, and improve our mood. While urban noise can increase health risks, nature sounds may be an antidote.

We chose Hokkaido to showcase a lesser-known, wilder side of Japan, one of the most forested countries in the world. Our team, led by wildlife sound recordist George Vlad and supported by Googlers Henry Daw, Conor O’Sullivan, and Haruko Ayabe, embarked on a 16-day expedition in May 2025 to capture the unique sounds of this region as the snow melted and springtime began. The recordings were made using specialized microphone rigs, often left for 24 hours to capture the natural soundscape without disturbing the wildlife.

Google sound designer Henry Daw, gives an insight into what it was like on the expedition:

“We covered four main locations in all—from Matsumae, the most Southern tip of Hokkaido, then up to the stunning Mount Yotei and surrounding area, before covering two major national parks as we travelled East; Daisetsuzan and Shiretoko. Each day out in the field meant a very early start—visiting planned locations and slowly driving around, often under intense focus and keeping an ‘eagle eye’ on our surroundings—in the literal sense during one amazing moment, when spotting a magnificent white-tailed eagle high up in a tree. Whilst deep in the forests, we’d stop regularly, get out of the car, and just listen—part of our routine to find suitable locations to set up recording rigs, which we then left and collected one or two days later.”

Building on Google's Bioacoustics and Nature Research

The Sound Matters project aligns with Google's broader bioacoustics research. For years, Google Research and DeepMind have been developing AI tools to help scientists monitor ecosystem health, with projects focused on whales, coral reefs, and birds. Our research around forests in particular is featured in a recent Google Arts & Culture Forest Listeners citizen science platform, which invites users to contribute to conservation efforts while enjoying beautiful forest sounds. This work is a testament to our belief in the power of sound to help us better understand and protect our planet.

Experience the Sounds of Wild Hokkaido

The “Wild Hokkaido” collection will be available on Pixel 4 and later devices as custom ringtones, alarms, and notifications. For a more immersive experience, we have also released a 1-hour long-form soundscape on our YouTube channel and in the Fitbit app. You can also check out a “behind-the-scenes” video that tells the story of our expedition.

Google’s Commitment to Sustainability

Google’s commitment to sustainability goes beyond designing our physical products with sustainability in mind. We believe our products can play a role in raising awareness about biodiversity and sharing the beauty of nature with our users.

The “Wild Hokkaido” collection continues our mission to use sound to create meaningful connections. Google’s sound design lead Conor O’Sullivan adds:

“We’re excited to build on the success of our first collection, by broadening the range of biodiversity people can listen to. We hope that everyone can use these sounds in their daily lives to feel transported to another landscape and appreciate the magnificence of Japan’s natural environment.”

We're excited to keep exploring how sound can inspire positive change and we look forward to sharing more sounds that matter in the future.

We invite you to discover the “Wild Hokkaido” collection and take a moment to connect with the natural world through the power of sound.