Footpath in the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Kyoto, Japan

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A grove glows green. World Bamboo Day

One of the most photographed places in Japan is this otherworldly grove of towering bamboo. The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in the outskirts of Kyoto is surrounded by temples and shrines along the Katsura River, rising as a manicured oasis of stories-high bamboo that seems to turn the world green. The former villas and temples of the old noble class are located near the Arashiyama Grove, and its single 500-yard path is usually filled with visitors wielding cameras and selfie sticks, making this serene view a rare one.