Kyoto - Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

High on my to-do list in Kyoto was to take a day trip out to Arashiyama to see the bamboo forest.  It was only a short train ride out of Kyoto.   The bamboo grove was made famous in the movie Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and has become so famous that it was difficult to get a shot without the crowds!

 

 

 

 

Leaving the bamboo forest, we came across some steps that took us down to to Hozu river.  It was a very pleasant walk along the river as we watched the boats being guided the old fashioned way. 

 
 

Even more pleasant was stumbling upon a restaurant right on the river and where big bowls of tempura noodles cost us about $5AUD! 
 

 

 

 

There was a long queue for a table as we left the restaurant!

 After lunch we strolled around some more and saw Arashiyama's landmark, the Togetsukyo Bridge.

Curious fashions on the river

Strolling around saw plenty of street food and could not resist trying the mochi balls which was sweet inside. 

Mochi balls

Couldn't resist!

We then headed to Tenryu-Ji Zen Temple which is ranked among Kyoto's top 5 zen temples.  

 To keep the zen, Pokemon Go was prohibited!

 

The temple gardens were immaculate so precise.  No wonder as we saw gardeners painstakingly pulling out weeds one by one by hand. 

   

 
 

 

 

 

 

 On the way back to the train station we came across this weird stone pile-up

Dinner that night ...we accidently ordered skewers of offal and liver!