Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

se_0.0

Memories of Kyoto's West. Taking the train from Kyoto Station and heading west for about 40 minutes, high mountains become visible and the urban landscape gradually fades. Tourists visiting at the end of the year disembark from the train all at once. Following the footsteps of locals, low houses and cyclists over the tram tracks can be seen. The square taxis and rickshaws moving around reminded me of the past, similar to when I visited Shinsekai in Osaka. The reason a place embeds itself as a good memory isn't only the influence of the space but also the process. For me, that place was Arashiyama. On the last day of my trip to Japan, during a holiday when there were few places to go, I ended up visiting the bamboo forest by chance. The old tram, rails seen only in animations, and the quiet scenery, unlike the city, made Arashiyama a memorable place for me. Walking through the bamboo forest, you can often hear Korean tourists saying, "Isn't this in Damyang too?" Even knowing that, why do people bother to visit a bamboo forest far away? The reason varies by person, but for me, it was to experience something I couldn't in the city. The narrow path through dense bamboo, reaching far higher than a person and covering the sky, gives a different feeling from the urban environment. In other words, it offers a different sense of space than walking between buildings. Arashiyama is an area where the Hozukyo Gorge, formed by Mt. Arashiyama and Mt. Atago, and the widely spread Katsura River pass through. It was a resort for nobles during the Heian period. The river is connected by the Togetsukyo Bridge, often referred to as the bridge that the moon crosses, surrounded by ryokan and commercial facilities. The terminal station of the tram, 'Randen Arashiyama' station, is also renowned for its surrounding kimono pillars, where kimono fabric is wrapped around acrylic sculptures illuminating the night. Photo, text by Jung Se-young (@se_0.0) #Additional information about Arashiyama 📍Location: Japan 〒616-8393 Kyoto, Ukyo Ward, Saganonomiyacho, within Nomiya Shrine