Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Kyoto, Japan
Only outside Kyoto in Japan, you could visit a majestic site sometimes called either Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, or Sagano Bamboo Forest, which is Japan's most renowned bamboo forest with walking pathways that has a dazzling effect on all tourists on account of its magic. I have put together several noteworthy facts about this unusual forest that borders the city. It's definitely a must-see, majestically filled attraction you won't want to miss as you tour this part of Japan.
1. Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is located in Kyoto's western outskirts.
The capital city lies in the Kansai Region on the biggest and most populated Japanese island Honshu. Kyoto, which has almost 1.5 million people, is part of Keihanshin that includes Osaka and Kobe and is home to almost 20 million inhabitants.
Moreover, Kyoto is regarded as Japan's cultural capital and once Japan's capital until Tokyo was adopted as the new capital. It's a major tourist destination home to many palaces, temples, gardens, and enchanting forests.
2. It comprises mostly of one kind of bamboo trees
Many tourists visit the highly popular bamboo forest because of its stunningly scenic walkways around it. The forest contains mostly a certain kind of bamboo referred to as Moso Bamboo.
This kind of enormous timber bamboo is strangely not native to this region but really from Taiwan and China. This type of bamboo has seen successful introduction in big portions of Japan.
It's truly a huge kind of bamboo for it could attain heights such as 28 meters, or 92 feet, which is a feature adding to the striking sights everywhere in the forest.
3. These trees make a unique sound
As you must have already seen, these trees are located rather closely together throughout the dense forest. When combined with their soaring height and a little wind, the bamboo forest creates an amazingly captivating noise.
What's even most astonishing about this forest in particular is that this amazing sound has been listed in the "100 soundscapes of Japan." The Japanese Ministry of Environment gathered this list so their people can enjoy the wondrous sounds of nature, as though it were speaking through its own "native tongue."
4. The forest's pathways could grow very crowded at times
It may not always be so simple to listen to the natural sound that these bamboo trees make on account of the hordes of tourists visiting through the walkways of this majestic site, especially during weekends and holidays; the human factor tends to interfere or block out the sound nature is trying to convey.
This just means that you truly must drop by here in the early morning or later in the evening hours, and certainly never on the weekends, for that is when a lot of Japanese residents usually take strolls.
5. A famous temple sits across the river, too
Although the forest is home to many beautiful walkways that permit anyone to enjoy hours of the enchanting scenery, there's another tourist attraction not far off.
One of Japan's most renowned temples is situated across the Katsura River, known as the Tenryu-Ji Temple. It's Kyoto's most significant temple and the central temple belonging to the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism.
This intriguing temple was constructed during the 1339 and 1345 time period and was given a UNESCO World Heritage Site status back in 1994 on account of its historical and cultural importance. There's the assumption that it was erected close to the bamboo forest in order to ward off evil forces as well as for good luck.
6. A very famous Japanese actor used to reside near the forest
Only west of the lovely temple you could see the old residence once owned by a leading Japanese actor named Denjiro Okochi.
His beautiful villa together with gardens situated in Kyoto's outskirts have been preserved well and today serves as both a tourist attraction and where you could relax and drink tea.
Because of its elevated terrain along the slopes of Mount Ogura, some parts of the garden provide incredible views of Kyoto.
7. Tourists have been coming here since as early as the 8th century!
The Japanese government has designated the Arashiyama area as a National Historic Site as well as a place of Scenic Beauty; that's certainly no shocking news.
The forest-shrouded hills, breathtaking vistas from the Katsura River, and extraordinary bamboo forest have proven popular tourist destinations for many Japanese, particularly the rich since the 8th century.
But the wildly popular attraction to this day has been through a scenic boat trip for appreciating the natural marvels and admiring the varying colors as the seasons change.
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