Arashiyama Bamboo Grove

In Arashiyama, on the western edge of Kyoto, a path winds between walls of giant bamboo that rise high overhead and creak gently in the wind. Light filters through the stalks in green and gold, and early in the morning the grove is magical.

The grove adjoins Tenryu-ji, a UNESCO-listed Zen temple with a celebrated garden. Nearby, the Togetsukyo Bridge spans the river, and the Sagano scenic railway and river boats lead into the gorge beyond. In autumn the maples on the hillsides turn red and gold.

The grove is small and crowded by mid-morning, so arrive by eight. Allow half a day for Arashiyama as a whole, and try yudofu, simmered tofu, a Kyoto vegetarian speciality served in restaurants around the temple.