Kimono Forest

se_0.0

Memories of the West of Kyoto.
-
Taking a train from Kyoto Station and heading west for about 40 minutes, high mountains come into view, and the urban scenery gradually disappears. Tourists flock here at the end of the year, disembarking from the train all at once. Following the footsteps of locals, one can see low houses and occasionally people riding bicycles over the tram tracks. The squared taxis and rickshaws moving about here and there reminded me of my visit to Shinsekai in Osaka, giving me a similar feeling of having stepped into Japan's past.
-
The reason for having good memories of a place is not only the space itself but also the process is quite important, I believe. For me, Arashiyama was such a place. On the last day of my trip to Japan, I visited the bamboo grove by chance during a holiday when there was nowhere else to go. The old tram lines and the calm scenery, unlike the urban areas, made Arashiyama a fond memory for me.
-
Walking through the bamboo grove, one can often hear Korean tourists saying, "Isn't this also in Damyang?" Knowing that, what is the reason for purposely visiting a bamboo grove in a different place? Each person may have their reason, but in my case, I went there for an experience that can't be felt in the city. The narrow path made through dense bamboo, and the bamboo themselves stretching much higher than people and covering the sky. The width of the path is made for people, but the height we experience is dictated by the bamboo, offering a different feeling from walking between buildings.
-
Arashiyama is an area where the Hozukyo Gorge, created by Mount Arashiyama and Mount Atago, spreads widely, and the Katsura River flows through. It was used as a villa for nobles during the Heian Period. The river is connected by Togetsukyo Bridge, known as the moon-crossing bridge, and its surroundings are full of ryokans and commercial facilities. The terminus of the tram, 'Randen Arashiyama' station is famous for its surroundings adorned with kimono fabric pillars, which are sculptures wrapped in acrylic that illuminate the night.