Take no Michi
🎍 Muko’s Secret Bamboo Grove in the South of Kyoto
Take no Michi (also Takenomichi) is a bamboo path located in Muko city in the south-west of Kyoto. Forming a green tunnel, this narrow 2-kilometers long road crosses a natural bamboo groove that can make for a crowd-less and more quiet alternative to Arashiyama’s.
Take-no-michi is part of a small town called Muko, wedged between Kyoto’s Nishikyo-ku ward and Nagaokakyo. Being the main attraction of Muko, this (literal) "bamboo path" runs in the east of the city that used to be part of Nagaoka-kyo, an ephemeral imperial capital in the 8th century.
The Takenomichi walk extends over approximately 1,8 km and crosses a bamboo forest constituted of 8 local bamboo species. The plants are protected by traditional fences, made with woven bamboo and displaying various shapes and patterns, such as arches, cross-brace patterns or simple reeds, recreating fencing styles of different periods.
The path is indeed limited to a flat asphalted road that is easy to tread, but it does not give direct access to the tall stems.
While less impressive, Take no Michi is nonetheless a good alternative to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove: its maintains a beautiful view on the plants and pictures of the bamboo tunnel are at least as beautiful, with much less visitors as a bonus. Sometimes there is even no one in sight !
Relaxing walk under a vegetal tunnel
Around midway of the Take-no-michi path, the Kyoto Rakusai Bamboo Park (or Chikurin Koen) welcomes visitors since 1981. This botanical garden is exclusively dedicated to bamboos and is aiming at preserving part of the natural bamboo grove typical of this area of Kyoto. Its small free museum offers a nice break in a climatized room and the discovery of about 110 bamboo species spread on 5,000m² throughout Japanese gardens and small forests.
A few traces of the area’s rich history can be spotted here and there, including a kofun burial mound, but they are not particularly highlighted.
Take no Michi is enjoyable all year round, but especially in summer thanks to the cool shade of the bamboos. In autumn 🍁, the part of the path located in the south of the Bamboo Park turns into a magical place for Kaguya no yube: for 2 evenings in mid-October, the foot of the fences is lit up with thousands of bamboo lanterns 🏮.
Takenomichi is definitely not a must-see of the Kansai area, however Kyoto returners may enjoy the place. With less crowds than Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, it is equally photogenic and more pleasant to walk, especially for those who like walking in a quiet environment, even if Arashiyama undoubtedly remains the most spectacular with its temple and mountains environment. Take no Michi makes a relaxing break at about 15 minutes from the center of Kyoto and can be visited over half a day, to complete with other visits in connection to the antique Nagaoka-kyo.