Bamboo forests cover 37 million hectares – making up only 1% of the world’s forests – so the chances of visiting one make it quite a memorable experience.
The city of Kyoto in Japan is home to one of the world’s most famous called Arashiyama Bamboo Forest.
The 16-square-kilometre area is made up nearly entirely of moso bamboo and has several pathways for tourists and visitors to explore.
The huge bamboo sticks hover over you and they are sure to make you feel like you’ve entered another world.
Before 2015, people who wanted to visit the forest used to have to pay a price, but now access to the popular site, which is open 24/7, is completely free – meaning it does get pretty busy.
The hotspot has become one of Japan’s most photographed sites, so it is recommended to visit during the early morning hours as it is less busy. Also, the morning sunshine filtering through the 90m Bamboo stalks creates a beautiful effect.
What makes the forest so great is that visitors can enjoy a trip no matter what time of year they visit. The months of November and December are when people tend to visit the most because the forest becomes a gazing winter wonderland, emphasising its picture-perfect beauty.
The easiest way to access the forest is directly from the main street of Arashiyama. However, there is another route that is less crowded.
Entering via the north exit of Tenryu-ji Temple will get you to the best parts of the bamboo forest while missing the crowds and getting to explore the temple, another one of Kyoto’s treasured sites.
A walk uphill through the famous “Bamboo Valley” is said to take up to an hour if visitors do not stop, but it’s worth taking breaks to really grasp the nature around you. At the end of the route, there is an entrance to Okochi-Sanso Villa and garden, which is a recommended visit.
It does cost to visit the villa; prices are 1,000 Yen for adults (£5.07) and 500 Yen (£2.54) for children, but with the ticket, visitors get a cup of matcha tea and sweet once finished looking around the superb garden.
