I continued to flaunt my beautiful
blush-pink kimono at Arashiyama Bam-
boo Forest. It is one of those incredible al-
ien worlds which invite you to admire it for
hours without getting tired of it. It’s green and
peaceful. The weather was windy during my
visit which made the tall bamboo stalks look
very dreamy and mesmerising as they gen-
tly rock back and forth with sunlight shoots
through their delicate foliage. As the wind
blows against the bamboo a soft resonating
tune is produced, masking out city noise and
creating a natural music experience.
The place was both scenic and photo-
genic - with each angle, every pathway, has
its photo taken by someone. The forest is a
place of natural yet ordered beauty. The nat-
ural vegetation creates a striking scene of tall
and straight bamboo stalks which contrasts
to the plain and unadorned pathway.
The simple and linear shape of the
bamboo is markedly present throughout Jap-
anese history, in tea houses, on walls, in art
materials, in music and interior design. Be-
cause of its firm and durable nature, by the
5th century bamboo was already consid-
ered the finest and most unique material for
making everything from bows and arrows to
whistles and pots. Arashiyama Bamboo For-
est is a tribute to the beauty and usefulness of
these giant grasses.
16