Kyoto's Iconic Bamboo Forest Plagued by Graffiti... Hangul Inscriptions Also Found

Graffiti Found on 350 Out of 7,000 Bamboo Stalks
City Considers Cutting Down Severely Damaged Bamboo

The famous tourist attraction 'Arashiyama Bamboo Forest' in Kyoto, Japan, is suffering from an increase in graffiti left by visitors. The city of Kyoto is even considering cutting down damaged bamboo as a countermeasure. On October 15 (local time), the Asahi Shimbun reported that graffiti damage has been on the rise in the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest as the number of tourists has rebounded following the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a survey conducted by the city of Kyoto on October 6, graffiti was found on 350 out of approximately 7,000 bamboo stalks across a 2.3-hectare area in Arashiyama. Most of the graffiti appeared to have been carved with sharp objects such as knives or keys.

Most of the graffiti consisted of initials engraved in the alphabet, visit dates, or lovers' names carved inside hearts. In addition to the alphabet, some graffiti presumed to be in Japanese or Chinese characters were also found, and there were even graffiti boldly inscribed with names in Hangul. Yara-Shiyama Bamboo Forest Facebook

Most of the graffiti consisted of initials engraved in the alphabet, visit dates, or lovers' names carved inside hearts. In addition to the alphabet, some graffiti presumed to be in Japanese or Chinese characters were also found, and there were even graffiti boldly inscribed with names in Hangul. The problem is that scratches on the surface of bamboo cannot be restored, so the marks remain semi-permanently. To prevent further graffiti, the city of Kyoto has attached green curing tape to some sections of bamboo, but this has raised concerns about damaging the landscape. As a result, the city is urging visitors to respect proper etiquette, while also considering cutting down bamboo that has been defaced by graffiti.

Seven years ago, in 2018, the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest also suffered from graffiti damage, sparking public outrage. However, as the number of tourists declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, graffiti naturally disappeared. Since the beginning of this year, though, graffiti has started to reappear, and by summer, the problem had significantly worsened. Ishikawa Keisuke, president of the Arashiyama Merchants Association, appealed, "I hope visitors will engrave their memories of Arashiyama in their hearts, not on the bamboo." The Arashiyama Bamboo Forest is a walking path that runs along the north side of Tenryuji, a UNESCO World Heritage site. With the sound of bamboo swaying in the wind and sunlight filtering through the grove, it is considered one of Japan's most iconic tourist destinations. It was also featured in the Hollywood film 'Memoirs of a Geisha,' making it a globally renowned attraction.