Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Towering green stalks of bamboo sway above the path, creating a canopy that filters the sunlight into a soft, filtered glow. This grove is part of the former villa grounds of the monk Muso Soseki, who founded the nearby Tenryu-ji temple in thirteen thirty-nine. While the forest draws millions today, it began as a private retreat for the aristocracy to enjoy the sound of wind rushing through the dense, hollow stems. Farmers still harvest the bamboo here to craft traditional baskets and tea whisks.