Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, also called the Sagano Bamboo Forest, is a short stretch of path in the west of Kyoto where tall stems of moso bamboo crowd in on either side and filter the light into a soft green. The grove lies at the foot of the Arashiyama hills, and the Ministry of the Environment includes its rustle in the wind among the soundscapes of Japan. There is no charge to walk through it; a former access fee was dropped in 2015.

The main path runs from near the north gate of Tenryu-ji uphill to the gate of Okochi Sanso, the former villa and garden of the silent-film actor Denjiro Okochi, with a branch leading to Nonomiya Shrine, a small shrine with a black wooden torii. Walking the grove itself only takes ten to fifteen minutes, but it makes a natural thread linking several of Arashiyama's sights. Beyond Okochi Sanso, quieter lanes continue north into the Sagano district, towards Jojakko-ji and Gio-ji, temples known for their moss and maples.

Because the path is short and very famous, it becomes extremely crowded from mid-morning onwards, and the classic empty-path photograph is only possible soon after sunrise. The path is open at all times, so an early start is the single most useful tip. Stay on the path and do not touch or carve the bamboo, which is easily damaged. The path is paved and fairly level, so it is manageable with a pushchair outside the busiest hours, although there are slopes near the villa end.

The grove suits almost everyone, from families to photographers, but it is best treated as part of a wider day in Arashiyama rather than a destination on its own. A good route starts early at the bamboo, then visits Tenryu-ji when it opens, and continues to the Togetsukyo Bridge, the Katsura River and the monkey park on the far bank. In December, the Arashiyama Hanatouro illuminations light up the path in the evening for a short period.

From central Kyoto, take the JR Sagano Line to Saga-Arashiyama Station, about ten minutes' walk from the grove, or the Randen tram to Arashiyama Station. The Hankyu line also serves Arashiyama, on the south side of the river. Arashiyama has plenty of places to eat, with tofu, soba and sweet shops along the main street, and the area makes a full day out with a boat trip or the Sagano scenic railway.