One of the most photographed places in Japan is this otherworldly grove of towering bamboo. The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove on the outskirts of Kyoto is surrounded by temples and shrines along the Katsura River, rising as a manicured oasis of stories-high bamboo that seems to turn the world green. The former villas and temples of the old noble class are located near the Arashiyama Grove, and its single 500-metre path is usually filled with visitors wielding cameras and selfie sticks, making this serene view a rare one.
Bamboo is not a tree but a grass. This useful and versatile plant that flourishes in East Asia can grow up to 30 metres. Known for its light weight, strength and rapid growth, bamboo can be used to make almost anything, from clothing to building materials – and its shoots can even be consumed as food. Because it grows as much as a metre a day, it's a highly renewable resource. While bamboo grows best in tropical and warm climates, it adapts well to cool temperatures and high altitudes. And though it might have the most cultural value in Asia, it grows wild in Africa, the Americas and Australia, too. Though perhaps nowhere it grows is as beautiful or picture worthy as the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.
