Avoid Kyoto's jostling crowds at these hidden bamboo groves of serenity and silence

Kodai-ji Temple

Hidden away in Higashiyama, east of Kyoto, Kodai-ji Temple is a tribute to the maple and bamboo plants that dominate its expansive gardens. Surrounding the place of worship for followers of the Rinzai School of Japanese Buddhism, the bamboo-flanked gardens at Kodai-ji Temple are dedicated to the country's cultural heritage.

Designed to pay homage to the most remarkable traits of Japanese botany, the gardens include low-hanging maple leaves stained scarlet in the fall. The scenery is poetic, with undulating man-made hills sculpted in mimicry of a dragon's back, ponds flush with koi fish, and the gravel of its rock garden is carefully combed. Exemplifying a tsukiyama-style garden, the meticulously curated hills lead gradually upwards, carrying travelers to the bamboo forests of the inner grounds and the scenic mountain foothills. The temple's bamboo grove is smaller than its counterparts but impressive and far less frequented by the tourist crowds.

After roaming among the tall, slender trees, visitors can explore the large Kodai-ji complex in greater depth. Constructed in 1605, the temple also houses an eponymous museum, where the artworks accumulated by centuries of monastic collectors are on display. There are two teahouses hosting traditional ceremonies. You'll also find the mausoleum of the famed samurai and imperial minister Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his wife Nene, sumptuously adorned with lacquerwork of silver and powdered gold.

Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple

Located within the same bamboo forest as the world-famous Arashiyama, the groves that shroud Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple are only distinguishable from their notable neighbor by the conspicuous lack of tourist crowds. Weaving slowly upward on a paved stairway of long, low steps, the narrow lane that the temple's path cuts through the forest is a relaxing alternative within the vicinity of Arashiyama's myriad attractions.

Cloistered in a cluster of tall, serene bamboo trees, the quiet Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple was founded some 1300 years ago. Established by one of Japan's most beloved Buddhist saints, the temple houses around 8,000 stone statues placed to commemorate the lives of those who died without family to mourn or memorialize them. Unable to revisit the world of the living during Obon, when the Japanese believe spirits are reunited with loved ones, a special ceremony is held for the forsaken souls of Adashino Nenbutsu-ji Temple. Plan your bamboo forest excursion on the 23 or 24 of August to see thousands of candles illuminating the temple grounds during the annual Sento-Kuyo ceremony.

Its proximity to Arashiyama makes the temple an obvious add-on for travelers seeking to skip the crowds while still seeing the best that the area has to offer. There's far more to Adashino Nenbutsu-ji and the surrounding region than its famed bamboo forest: stroll the scenic Togetsukyo Bridge with views of the forested hills, share the trail to Iwatayama with more than 100 pink-faced Japanese macaque monkeys, or enjoy verdant vistas on a boat ride down Hozugawa River.

Kyoto City Rakusai Bamboo Park

Devoting the entirety of one of Kyoto's green urban parks solely to bamboo, the serene forests of Kyoto City Rakusai Bamboo Park house more than 100 bamboo species. Here, the trees are bamboo, the grasses are bamboo, and even the paths are paved with bamboo — the sparse crops of visitors touring the groves are among the only features of the park not crafted from the eponymous tree. There is also a scenic bridge built from — you guessed it — bamboo. Linger on the footbridge for views of the quiet forest and the moss-fringed pond without fear of being hurried along by crowds angling for the best photography spot. An unsung attraction in the inner-city action, this quiet park in Kyoto is an ideal option for travelers seeking a serene and solo experience among droves of bamboo.

The park has its own bamboo museum and ecological garden, both dedicated to educating visitors about Japan's native botany. Citing the deep connection between bamboo and Japanese life, culture, art, and industry since antiquity, the park built its ecological garden by importing varieties from all over the country. It expounds upon that connection in the on-site Bamboo Museum, where informative panels explain the physiology and ecology of bamboo, along with traditional items crafted from bamboo on display.