Magic bamboo forest in Arashiyama (Kyoto) in Japan

The characteristic rustling made of bamboo trees swaying from the wind has been inscribed by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment on the list of one hundred sounds of Japan. When you look at the many strong, high piles in the Arashiyama grove, you can experience incredible delight. And relax ... because the greenery that surrounds us on all sides has a calming effect on the nervous system. I saw bamboo forest for the first time many years ago in a Chinese movie. I was impressed by the elongated trunks from which long, green leaves grew. Bamboo also has strong symbolism - it is a sign of longevity and durability.

It used to be the basic building material in Japan, now other, less natural materials have taken precedence, but it is still used in the production of many items - e.g. fences, furniture, mats, boxes, dishes, baskets, etc.

And finally I went to Japan and came to Kyoto, where one of the most famous bamboo forests in Japan is located. On the internet you can find a lot of desktop wallpapers with the theme of this forest. It looks magical, like some paradise place ... I really wanted to go there and see it live.

Thousands of years ago, Arashiyama bamboo forest was visited by families of Japanese aristocrats. Now anyone can see it.

The gentle wind that sways the stems adds magic. It is thanks to him that the forest becomes audible and makes characteristic creaky sounds.

The forest is usually visited by walking around it, but you can also use a rickshaw. Rickshaws in Kyoto look a bit like vehicles from a different era, and unlike those that can be found in Europe, they are not connected to the bicycle, but the rickshaw driver accelerates them using the strength of his muscles. I was impressed by these strong men who were dragging behind a huge vehicle on large wheels, filled with tourists. And at the same time smiling and showing no signs of fatigue.

Kimono rental is very popular in Kyoto. Both women and men rent them for a few hours, walk around them in the city and take pictures of themselves. In the bamboo forest, many people were wearing traditional Japanese clothes. Some also wad Japanese umbrellas. After entering the words "Arashiyama umbrella" in Google search engine, more than 1 million results pop up. If you want you can check it out for yourself. By the way, you'll see how wonderful this forest looks when the sun shines (and it is also retouched in photoshop ;) ). Unfortunately, I was there on a trip on a cloudy day, so my photos do not look spectacular.

In the crowd of visitors I was able to see a geisha.

There are many types of bamboo in the forest. I also liked those thinner, more delicate trees with various colors.

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