See a bamboo forest in Japan

“I visited Arashiyama Bamboo Forest (Arashiyama Bamboo Grove) in October 2023, and even though I had seen countless photos beforehand, stepping into the tall, whispering bamboo felt entirely different. Early in the morning, the light slid through the stems like soft ribbons, creating a calm atmosphere for a short while. Then, almost suddenly, the crowds arrived – and for families, that shift can be overwhelming. But once you continue a little farther uphill, the atmosphere changes again, becoming quieter and more open.”

“I’ve visited this bamboo forest twice, once before Japan exploded in popularity with Western visitors and once in recent times. On my first visit, jet lag worked in my favor. I arrived around 7 AM on a cold December morning, and the path was nearly empty, and the forest felt at peace. It was one of those rare moments where a place looks and feels exactly like the photos. [...] I arrived around 8:30 AM and ran straight into the tour bus crowds. It was hard to move slowly or take in the atmosphere with so many people jostling for photos.”

“This was still far from the center of the forest yet you could already see the bamboo just drowning out the view of the sky with their height. [...] After a short walk, I then found myself at the entrance of the Bamboo Forest. If you've seen my writeup of Hokokuji Temple, you'd automatically notice just how significantly taller the bamboo here is. I particularly liked how the leaves at the very top of the bamboo look like they're glistening as they catch the sunlight.”