In Kyoto: The Bamboo Forest
The bamboo forest in Kyoto was a place I had wanted to go for so many years. A short distance into the Arashiyama area, take a turn up a small unassuming road and there it is, the bamboo forest. A beautiful area, cool in climate with tall shoots. With my slight detour I arrived a little too late to avoid the crowds so getting shots was a little tricky. 
What I was surprised by is that it’s one single path with a dead end. I had visions of a walk though a forest and you’d come out on the other side of the area, kind of thing but it’s not. It’s just a walkway and then you turn around and go back. Now by all means it’s still beautiful.
I think it should definitely be on the list but the Inari Shrine site was even better than I had expected and I though the bamboo forest was going to be a similar experience but maybe there is a difference if you are first on site. So my number one tip is get up early! 
Although it wasn’t what I expected, I will definitely be back again, it’s really a must see.
Happy Travels!
It has a little bit of an Ikea vibe to it, by no means does it have meetballs and a desk you assemble yourself but it has a route and you are ushered on through. It is such a stunning area, the whole scene is perfectly manicured. I thought it would be like Plitvice National Park, where you could walk around and then come upon the gloriously gold building but unfortunately it’s not. 
I visited the area at 11am and there was already quite the queue forming. It only costs 400 yen to enter the site, so its pretty cheap. The gardens around the pavilion are beautiful, there are traditional buildings scattered around the area too and at the end of the walk there is food and stalls with trinkets. 
I think you have to go see it if you are in Kyoto but don’t expect it to be quiet or a place for a walk because it’s not that kind of place. So put it on the list of places to go!
Although it’s not a particularly strenuous climb the heat makes it more difficult and in Summer months it gets unbearably hot in Japan. In October it was about 24 degrees, which for an Irish girl was hot enough! Bring water as at the top of the mountain I found that I had none left but there are vending machines at the main shrine so you wont shrivel from dehydration. 
Foxes are seen to be the messengers of the shrine so there are fox statues dotted around the sites. I really feel like this place was a good fit for me because not only are there foxes, my favourite little woodland creature, Inari is the god of rice and I love rice a lot, as in I’d like it for every meal. In all seriousness, this area is beautiful and peaceful, even with the mass of people, it was just so incredible that the first thing I do in Japan is seeing this fantastic site. 
It doesn’t have closing times and is free to explore. Go early and enjoy this incredible place. I noticed on the way down to the exit there were a lot more people so if you want a selfie with a free path you aren’t going to get it at lunch time. Also as the walk takes 2-3 hours in total go early to make the most of your day!