There’s something about standing
in the midst of a pathway surrounded by trees where the sunlight is relatively
prevented from permeating due to the canopies’ natural shade. The feeling of seclusion is what makes this
sojourn even more rejuvenating.
I was standing in the middle
with a row of bamboo groves on both sides, which resembles a rainforest one
touristy afternoon. That was Arashiyama
Bamboo Grove situated at the outskirts of the main city of Kyoto, Japan.
The alley adjacent to the 19th
Century Hall SL and Piano Museum would be the point of reference en route to
the forest. It was another stint of
walking, this time from the Saga Arashiyama Station JR Sagano Line to the
Bamboo Forest. Bikes for rent were
likewise displayed along the way as an alternative.
There are organized tours
provided for a more relaxing discovery and the pulled rickshaws are a common
sight within the vicinity. They say to
appreciate more of the Japanese culture we have to at least ride a
human-powered rickshaw once in our lifetime.
However, apart from budget constraints, being a first time wanderer in
Japan never made me entertain the idea of riding the two-seater rickshaw. To be lost and to discover new alleys is an
anticipated adventure. Speaking of
which - we did wander and lost track of the trail.
We passed by a residential
area with the autumn foliage slowly becoming dominant, then a railway and a
river. It was another long and worthy
walk until we found the narrow path of bamboo grove flocked by a number of
tourists.
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| welcome autumn season! |
 |
| railway |
 |
| the river scene |
 |
| green for the coming season - Christmas tree? |
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| flowers for you... |
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| what is my scientific name? |
The sun was about to set in
the horizon yet we continue to stroll and feel the cold autumn breeze that
envelopes the grove. The landscape
composed of imposing stalks of tall grass is quite therapeutic. This is after-all a highly recommended bikers
lane apart from being a mandatory trail for a walking tour.
For minutes we loiter and
waited for the number of tourists to decrease.
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| green green grass... |
 |
| kimono-dressed tourists |
Green is a constant in a
tropical country where I live and bamboos are not even that special (speaking
for myself), yet a bamboo forest in a country expected to produce varied colors
of changing seasons becomes just extraordinary.
As of writing, green has never been scenic to my senses except at the
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove of Kyoto, Japan.
1 comments
Love the pictures. They are all beautiful. And these pictures made me look at the green color differently. All in all, this is great post to read!
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