For years, tourists carved names, messages on bamboo stalks at Kyoto’s Arashiyama grove. Years later, about 350 damaged plants near the path have been cut and moved away to protect the forest

For years, tourists visiting Kyoto’s famous Arashiyama Bamboo Grove have left more than photographs behind. Some have carved names and messages directly into the bamboo stalks, and the damage has now pushed officials to physically change parts of the forest.

A Kyoto city investigation found about 350 damaged bamboo plants along the popular walking path since spring 2025. During an inspection on November 17, officials found carvings on bamboo on both sides of the busy route, including names such as “Kate” written in English and “Yoshitaka” written in hiragana.