Hokokuji Bamboo Forest — Attraction in Kamakura

Hokokuji Bamboo Forest Temple was an amazing experience and one of the highlights of my visit to Kamakura. Walking through the serene bamboo grove felt otherworldly, like stepping into a peaceful retreat far removed from everyday life. The tall, graceful bamboo swaying gently in the breeze creates an ambiance that is both calming and inspiring.

Adding to the charm, I saw some visitors wearing kimono, which brought a touch of elegance to the atmosphere. It almost felt like being transported to Kyoto, with its traditional and cultural vibe. The sight of these visitors, some styled like geisha, perfectly complemented the timeless beauty of the grove.

I’d highly recommend pausing to enjoy a bowl of matcha in the teahouse nestled within the bamboo grove. Sipping the warm tea while surrounded by the tranquil greenery enhances the reflective and meditative quality of the visit. It’s the perfect moment to slow down and connect with nature and yourself.

Hokokuji offers more than just beautiful scenery—it’s an experience of serenity, culture, and mindfulness. If you’re in Kamakura, this temple is a must-visit and a wonderful place to reflect and recharge. It’s truly like a slice of Kyoto...

The Shunan Bamboo Sea is located in Yibin of southern Sichuan Province. Covering over 4,000 hectares with a vast plantation of bamboo, the site has been a rare and famous scenic area since ancient times. The core scenic area is of 44 square kilometers, a total of eight main scenic area two order 134 sights. A total of 58 species of bamboo, the scenic spot is more than 70000 acres, where is China's largest collection place of landscape, caves, lakes, waterfalls, with a long history of human landscape and it is one of the biggest original “green bamboo park”; Vegetation coverage is 87%, and the natural oxygen bar with extremely high content of air negative ions in the country. Literally a world of different types of bamboo trees covering over 500 hills, the forest stretches as far as the eye can see and fills the air with the fragrance of bamboo. Favorable mild temperatures year-round make it an ideal tourist destination. Among the ocean of bamboo lies a narrow five-kilometer path. Walking along this "Jade Green Corridor", the fresh air and sound of the green waves rustling in the wind create a...

Had matcha there but the person at the shop was impatient and rude.

We were a group of 6 and they made us sit in 3 for 2 row (1 row of 3 is behind the other, ie without a view), even though there are other seats with view that are empty and we said we can be separated. She replied impolitely in Japanese that we should sit where we are told, and not sure why she doesn’t agree to us sitting separately.

Then very quickly another group left, so there was a row where it should sit 6 of us. I asked (I’m pretty sure quite politely) if we could move there, and she replied ‘can you please wait?’ (in Japanese).

In the end she let us sit together in one row with the bamboo view. Not sure why the impoliteness and grumpiness … if she doesn’t like tourists then please don’t work at a tourist spot.

Later on a white couple came in and she spoke English to them immediately, and not as rude as to us. Sucks to be an Asian foreigner in Japan….

Toilet there wasn’t as clean as we would expect from Japan too.

Place is small.. although it was...