Arashiyama at the Weekend

　The weather in Kyoto this weekend has been fine; although the cherry blossoms are beginning to fall, the streets are bustling with foreign tourists everywhere you look. The path through the bamboo grove, in particular, is absolutely teeming with people.

　It is not clear exactly when this bamboo grove was established. The bamboo is of the species mōsō bamboo, native to China. Although it is said that monks brought it back from Tang China in either the 9th or 13th century, it is believed that the species was not introduced on a large scale until the 18th century, so it is thought that the bamboo was planted around that time.

　Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a sharp rise in graffiti on the bamboo, presumably by foreign visitors, and last year 25 bamboo plants were felled. The fact that the beautiful scenery is preserved is thanks to the efforts of the local community. I hope that visitors will respect the local people’s attachment to this place.