Arashiyama (literally meaning “Storm Mountain” in Japanese) is a picturesque mountainous region on the western outskirts of Kyoto. Situated near the base of the mountain, just next to the Katsura river is the Sagano Bamboo forest.

And this magical bamboo forest can sing.

(above) Azure blue skies were a welcome sight as it had been drizzling most of the days with nothing but dull, gray skies while I was in Kyoto, making landscape photography deeply unattractive.

Whenever a gale would glide down from the mountains through the forest the windswept leaves rustle akin a thousand whispers in the air, and the careening hollow stems knock and chafe against each other, creating a most gentle, soothing percussion that is music to the ears.

(above) A newly wedded couple in traditional Japanese costume quickly became the subject of one too many (unwanted) photographers.

(above) Lovely Momiji leaves in a popular Shinto Shrine near the entrance to the forest. (below) Porcelain figurines of Kitsune, (fox deites) at an altar, not unlike the ones I saw in Fushimi-Inari.

The swift flowing Katsura river, with the Storm Mountains in the background. As befitting of its name dark angry clouds were looming in the distance as if beckoned, and I took a couple of parting shots before calling it a day as rain started to fall.