Travel: Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove – it’s such an awesome place to check out if you’re in Kyoto. Like most places, the photos online are vastly edited. In person, the bamboo is very, very green. It also sways back and forth in a calming, soothing way. Let’s check out some photos.

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

We took the train from Kyoto station and if you see other tourists on the train, you’re probably headed to the same neighbourhood. There are about 3-4 sights in that area. The walk from the train station to the bamboo grove is delightful – take the back ally if you can, you get to experience people’s back porches and it’s a lot of fun. Okay, photos.

The small path won’t take you very long – maybe about 15-20 minutes if you take your time, yet it’s worth it. The photos don’t do the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove justice. Be sure to take a few different paths, some of them are quieter.

We’re in awe!

At the edges of the grove there are other trees mixed in. A few hundred meters in, though, all bamboo.

If you’re looking for smaller crowds, then show up early in the morning – the later in the day, we hear it gets busy. We enjoyed the nice cool air with all the shade the bamboo brings.

Did you know that bamboo will reach maturity in 3-4 months. Of course, after that, it’ll keep growing, like the trees above, yet it’s strong and ready in one growing season. That’s wild.

This bamboo grove isn’t too big, about 16 square km – it’s most certainly impactful, though. We found ourselves just looking at it – it’s super neat.

Well, hopefully you get a chance to visit, and if not this bamboo forest, hopefully another one! Just dont’ carve your initials into the tree, that’s yuck! Happy travelling.