Famous Bamboo Forest in Kyoto victim of Vandalism

The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in Kyoto is one of the most famous tourist attractions of the city.

It is a popular spot attracting many tourists from abroad who come to experience the charm of the ancient capital.

However, a serious problem now plagues the attraction.

Ishikawa Keisuke, Arashiyama Shopping Street Association Chairman: That’s a heart, isn’t it? And these roman letters here…they’re someone’s initials, aren’t they?

This is thoughtless vandalism.

While it’s mostly roman letters, there’s also hearts and numbers that appear to be dates.

They appear to have been carved with something like a knife or key.

An investigation by the City of Kyoto confirmed damage to at least 350 bamboo plants.

According to the Kyoto Botanical Gardens, bamboo cells do not regenerate once damaged, meaning that the scars will be permanently visible.

Furthermore, the damage may prevent photosynthesis, potentially causing the plant to wither and collapse.

Kyoto is considering cutting down the severely damaged bamboo for safety reasons.

The local shopping district has implemented measures such as creating awareness posters and distributing them to nearby shops.

They are urging visitors to engrave their memories of Arashiyama upon their hearts, and not on the bamboo.