NABARI, Mie -- The sound of a flowing stream mingles with the gentle clinking of 2,000 glass wind chimes, creating a soothing retreat for visitors to the Akame 48 Waterfalls gorge in this western Japan city.

A "path of wind chimes" has been set up along a walking trail in the gorge in Nabari, Mie Prefecture, to enhance the natural scenery and create a cool atmosphere for visitors. Decorated with bamboo art, the path stretches from the trail entrance to Fudo Falls, about a five-minute walk away.

In recent years, extreme summer heat has made even this cooler mountain gorge warm enough for visitors to work up a sweat while hiking. The nonprofit Akame 48 Falls Valley Environment Preservation Association organized the event for the first time this year in hopes of "doubling the feeling of coolness." It will run through Sept. 23.

The event's title roughly translates to "Out of the blue, 2,000 wind chimes are lined up." The nonprofit group, whose members are relatively young, put special care into the name as well.

The wind chimes hang from a variety of bamboo structures, including arches, fences and large spheres made by bending thick bamboo strips. The venue was designed to combine the wind chimes with bamboo art in preparation for the association's autumn and winter event, which lights up the walking trail with bamboo lanterns. Kohei Nishi, 29, of the preservation association, designed the event layout, drawing inspiration from wind chime events at Buddhist temples.

The organizers also prepared for rainy weather. Ten staff members replaced the paper strips that normally hang from commercially available wind chimes with thin wooden tags, then installed them while carrying out their regular gorge maintenance duties. The collection includes many different designs, with some featuring red goldfish and others containing pale artificial flowers inside the glass. Care was taken to ensure the wind chimes complemented the gorge's natural beauty, including its waterfalls, flowing stream, rock walls, vibrant green trees and moss.

Nishi said, "We managed to finish the preparations just in time. I hope visitors will enjoy both the wind chimes and the Takiakari (bamboo lantern) event that begins in the fall."

Admission to the gorge is 1,000 yen (about $6) for those of high school age and older. The fee includes admission to the Akame Waterfall Aquarium. For inquiries, please contact the Akame 48 Falls Valley Environment Preservation Association at 0595-41-1180 (in Japanese).

(Japanese original by Teruko Kukita, Nabari Bureau)