Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

Right in the center of Arashiyama is a bamboo forest.  When we found out we were coming to Japan, we began making a list of things we wanted to see and do by looking online.  This forest often came up as a wonderful place by tourists and we put it on our list of things that we "must do".   

We found the forest shortly after lunch, but it was wall to wall people walking on the paths....

....along with many rickshaws trying to maneuver through the people.

We couldn't really enjoy the peaceful environment that this forest offers, so we left and came back later on in the day.

When we came back, there were not many people here, and the sun was at just the right place in the sky to be shining through the bamboo trees.  It was a beautiful sight.

 We came across these two beautiful ladies in the forest, and Tayla got the courage up to ask if she could take a picture with them.  They were gracious enough to oblige, and were so excited by it that they had me take a picture of them with Tayla on their phone.  Tayla was pretty excited about this picture!

 The pathway through the forest was flanked by fences that added to the peace found here.

There's something about bamboo trees....no picture can capture the feeling of standing in the midst of this sprawling bamboo grove.  The whole thing has a feeling of tranquility that is very different from the many other forests that we have been to in America.