Princess Kaguya is the main character in the oldest known fictional story in Japan, “The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter”. This popular story was even made into a Studio Ghibli movie titled, “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya” and the bamboo forest of Sagano in Arashiyama is said to be the hometown of Princess Kaguya.

In October, Muko City will hold a bamboo lighting event celebrating this story. The “Bamboo Path-Kaguya Evening” event will use over 4,000 bamboo lanterns to illuminate the path. When the wind blows, the cool sound of rustling bamboo echoes and the warm light from the bamboo lanterns shimmers and casts dancing shadows.

The bamboo path has been selected as one of the “Cultural Landscapes of Kyoto Prefecture,” and the charm of the path is that there are eight different types of bamboo fences strung together over a distance of just over 1 km and made from neglected and reclaimed bamboo.

You also can enjoy local gourmet food at #6 Koyo Elementary School located next to the bamboo path. Food stalls will have light snacks, drinks such as juice and coffee, and alcohol.

The special bamboo path is located about a 15-minute walk from Hankyu Rakusai-guchi Station and about a 25-minute walk from Hankyu Higashi Muko Station. You can even walk there from Kyoto Kawaramachi Station in the center of Kyoto City in around 30-40 minutes.

Photo courtesy of Muko City Tourist Association

Details: Bamboo Path and Kaguya Evening
Date and Time: October 12 (Sat.) and 13 (Sun.), 2024.
Food and beverage area: Starting at 16:00
Light-up: from 17:30 – 20:00 *weather permitting　
Venue: Bamboo Path, #6 Koyo Elementary School Ground (food and drink area), Muko City, Kyoto, Japan

Please use public transportation or a free shuttle bus (capacity of about 25 people) when coming to the venue as the Bamboo Forest Park parking lot will be closed during the event.

For more information, please visit ☞https://www.muko-kankou.jp/recommend/detail.html?id=124

The URL is also posted on Instagram highlights “event”