Bamboo Forest, Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan.

Sagano Bamboo or Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is a natural forest of bamboo in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan. The forest is comprised mostly of Moso Bamboo and consists of several pathways for tourists and visitors. The Ministry of the Environment considers it a part of the soundscape of Japan. Prior to 2015 there was a charge to access the area. The forest is not far from Tenryū-ji Temple, which is the location of Rinzai School, and the Nonomiya Shrine.

Arashiyama district is located at the base of the so called “Storm Mountains”, in northwest Kyoto. Its main street and Togetsu-kyo Bridge have been called a “tourist circus,” but beyond this thoroughfare, Arashiyama offers an authentic and unforgettable Japanese experience.

  

Arashiyama’s Sagano Bamboo Forest, or Bamboo Grove, is both locall famous and world-renowned. Visitors can stroll paths lined with endless rows of towering bamboo. The experience has been described as other-worldly, serene, and dreamlike. The sound of the rustling bamboo within this forest has been named one of the “100 Soundscapes of Japan” by the Japanese Ministry of Environment. Together with Fushimi Inari and the Kinkaku-ji, it offers a Kyoto experience not to be missed. The bamboo grove is open 24 hours a day and boasts no admission fee, so it is recommended that during peark season, you visit it early in the morning or at sunset.

Right outside the Bamboo Forest entrance is the northern gate of Tenryu-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Kyoto-gozan -- five major temples of Kyoto. This is no coincidence. In Japan, Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples are often situated near bamboo groves, which are viewed as a clever means of warding off evil, while the bamboo is seen as a symbol of strength.

Built in the 14th century by a shogun in honor of the passing of Japan's emperor, Tenryu-ji has one of the country's most incredible Zen gardens and is today the headquarters of the Rinzai School of Zen Buddhism. At the other end of the Bamboo Forest trail sits Okochi-Sanso Villa (open daily, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.), the former home of late silent film star Denjiro Okochi.A massive complex of gardens with plants and trees that are famed for catering to all four seasons, there's also a temple, study, tea hut and museum highlighting the life of Denjiro.

The best way to explore the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove is by following our Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Walking Tour, which outlines the best route to follow.