Japan is a country which is very versatile when it comes to the attractions that it offers its tourists and its locals. You are sure to find several attractions for the different interests a person may have on an adventure. If you are looking for unique attractions that highlight the beautiful nature of Japan, you should definitely look into the bamboo forests found here. Only a handful of countries have these bamboo forests to show off and Japan’s forest has got to be the best among any of countries.
Map and Facts about the Bamboo Forests Found in Tokyo, Japan
Now that the long relationship of the bamboo tree and Japan has been identified, it is easier to understand why there are so many bamboo forests in Japan. It has become a cultural tradition and this is proven by the many bamboo forests found in Tokyo. In Tokyo, you will be able to find at least 10 quality bamboo forests you can go.
You can start off with the bamboo forest found in Torai, Kagoshima. This bamboo forest is called the Chikurin Park and the name of the park itself translates to “bamboo forest park”. There are 7 kinds of bamboo trees to be found here which make up the 5100 bamboo trees in this park. This place is accessible through many routes. You can walk to this place from the Miyanojo Railroad Memorial and that walk should take around 25 minutes. You can walk here from the Higashi-Kurume Station which is a station on the Seibu Ikebukuro line.
The next park you can check out that has a relatively large bamboo grove is the Suzume-no Oyado Ryokuchi Park found in Himonya, Meguro-ku. It isn’t the big park but a place where you can enjoy the peace and tranquility offered by this type of nature.
Aside from the beautiful grove found here, visitors can make use of the open space for picnics or any outdoor games. You can also find a refurbished Japanese home here that is open for public viewing from Wednesdays to Sundays between the times of 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM. It is a 10-minute walk from the Toritsudaigaku Station and a 15-minute walk from the Gakugeidaigaku Station on the Tokyo Toyoko line.
The Higashiterakatabashi Ryokuchi Park is a pretty unique bamboo grove park because of the way it looks. All other groves already mentioned above a bit more organized than this park. This is not to take away from the beauty that the bamboo grove of the Higashiterakatabashi Ryokuchi Park offers its adventurers. This simply means that it looks more natural because of how wild and scattered the bamboo trees are in this place. To get here, you can take a bus from the Sakuragaoka Station of the Keio Line and that ride should take you about 15 minutes.
The Jidayubori Park is also a unique location of these bamboo groves because, although it has a large bamboo grove, it is primarily a site for restored historic Japanese buildings that intends to recreate how Japan was in the Edo and Meiji periods. Going to this park gives you the chance to educate yourself and have a feel of how the farming estates were before while also enjoy the wild and relaxing bamboo grove found here. You can access this place via Seijo Gakuenmae Station and from there, it should be a 15-minute walk away.
Shrines and temples can also be places to find great bamboo groves in Japan. The Meiji shrine near the Yoyogi Park is a perfect example of this. A lot of tourists have visited this shrine many times but there are still some who are unaware of the bamboo grove located here. It isn’t the biggest of bamboo groves but it is still worth seeing, especially if you are already near the area.
Shokoin Temple Bamboo Grove in Miyanosaka and the Baisouin Temple in Aoyama. Between these two groves, the more visited one is the grove of the Baisouin temple because it is located nearer to central Tokyo which makes it more attractive to tourists since it is generally nearer to them usually. The Baisouin Temple is steps away from the Gaiemmae Station so even if it isn’t on your itinerary, it would be so easy for you to pass by.
There are many other bamboo groves in Tokyo but you will have to search for these ones yourself because some of them are unnamed. Don’t let the fact of it being an unnamed bamboo grove fool you though because some of these unnamed bamboo forests are even more extravagant than those mentioned above. Regardless of whether you choose to go to the named groves or unnamed groves, you will still surely enjoy yourself because all these locations are beautiful and definitely worth the time to visit.
The Famous Sagano Bamboo Forest in Japan Offers Many Things like Giving You the Perfect Picture for a Wallpaper
There is a district in the western outskirts of Kyoto known as Arashiyama and this district is considered to be a tourist district because of the many attractions found here. It has been a popular destination for locals since the Heian Period because of the beautiful natural setting to be seen here. Nowadays, both locals and tourists go here to enjoy a variety of things and among these things is the famous Sagano Bamboo Forest.
This forest is one of the most famous ones in Japan. The area that it covers should make it obvious why this is as famous as it is with locals and foreigners because it extends to over 500 meters long, spreading from the Tenryuji Temple to the Nonomiya Shrine. Walking along the stretch of the bamboo forest, you will notice that the spaces between the bamboos increase as you head deeper along the path. This is a good thing because this is usually when tourists realize just how many trees are in this area alone.
You can either walk through the path on foot or rent a bike to do so. Considering the length of the path and how the sunlight gives the path the lighting worthy of photo shoots, it is easy to understand how people can find it relaxing and mesmerizing to stroll down this bamboo forest path. If you want a more hands-on experience in exploring this forest, you can also avail of a rickshaw ride from Japanese men who will guide you through the bamboo forest path to reach the other areas of Arashiyama. This rickshaw ride would cost around 5000-7000 yen, depending on where you want to end up eventually.
Getting to this place is relatively easy because it is very near two train stations. The first station it is near is the Saga Arashiyama Station that is on the JR Sagano Line. From this station, you should be able to walk to the bamboo grove within 10 minutes. The other station it is near is the Arashiyama Station of the Henkyu Railway. From this station, it should take you a 15-minute walk to reach your destination. With regards to accommodations, there are two great hotels found near the area of Arashiyama too. These are the Hoshinoya and Suiran. If these are not places you want to stay in, you might also want to check of the great hotel called Arashiyama Benkei Ryokan.
Other Things You Can Enjoy By the Bamboo Forest in Arashiyama
The bamboo forest might be Arashiyama’s most talked about attraction but as stated earlier, there are a lot of other things to be found here. The other attractions found here aren’t just secondary attractions because they are just as beautiful as the Sagano Bamboo Forest. Take the Togetsukyo Bridge, for example. This bridge is Arashiyama’s most iconic landmark and this has been there since the Heian Period.
Like most historic landmarks in Japan, this too was damaged due to the wars and it was reconstructed in the 1930’s. This landmark is sought out for because of a combination of things that make it a premier place to see when in Japan. It is surrounded by a forested mountainside as it stands over the river. Also visible from this bridge is the riverside park that has dozens of cherry trees on it so come the season of this blooming, this place is definitely a place to bring your cameras to.
Another prime attraction here can be found at the back of the bamboo groves and this the former villa of Okochi Denjiro, who was a famous actor of Japan. It is called the Okochi Sanso Villa and it is quite rare to see a villa of an actor treated as a tourist attraction. Though, considering that this place has several gardens and buildings that were very well preserved, it is understandable why it gets the treatment it does. This villa is open all days of the week from 9 AM to 5 PM but there is an admission fee of 1000 yen. It is quite pricey but the admission fee does include matcha green tea and a snack for the guest.
The Monkey Park Iwatayama is another unique attraction to be found around this area. As its name suggests, this place is a sanctuary to over a hundred monkeys of different species. It is located in the mountains of Arashiyama and you would have to hike uphill for a bit to reach this park but rest assured that your efforts on that uphill hike will be well worth it once you see what the monkey park is like and the view that it has to offer.
There are many more attractions and tourists activities to be found here and done here. To name some, there are the Otagi Nenbutsuji Temple. Adashino Nenbutsuji Temple, Saga-Toriimoto Preserved Street, and the Daikakuji Temple. As for the activities, you can do here, there are the Hozu River Boat Tour, Saga Scenic Railway, and the Cormorant Fishing. All these activities are unique to this area so don’t hesitate to spend on these experiences.
Overall, it is pretty apparent that Japan has been able to utilize their nature to promote their country and to preserve the nature as well. They have even been able to build other establishments around their bamboo groves to provide more services to those who wish to enjoy these attractive locations. Aside from the attractions found in the bamboo groves, the bamboo groves themselves are generally free to the public. This leaves you with only one task and that is to make sure that your camera is fully charged when you hit up these beautiful and hypnotizing bamboo groves.